ARIN IU28.org

Guest Teacher Program

What is a Guest Teacher?

A Guest Teacher serves as a substitute to replace teachers when they are absent from their classrooms.

The primary requirements for becoming a Guest Teacher are 1) completion of a Bachelor’s degree program (a teaching certificate is NOT required) and 2) completion of the Guest Teacher training provided by the ARIN Intermediate Unit 28.

NOTE: Those with PA teaching certificates are not eligible for the Guest Teacher Program and should contact directly those districts in which they wish to substitute.

ARIN IU provides Guest Teachers for both member districts and intermediate unit classrooms and is responsible for their recruitment, training and certification.

If you are interested in becoming a Guest Teacher, please read the information below and download and read the attachments.

If you do not have access to a printer, you may request a paper Guest Teacher Application packet from Milissa Johns, Secretary For Business/Personnel Office, 724-463-5300, ext. 1251; or mjohns@iu28.org.

  • ARIN Guest Teacher Consortium members
    • Armstrong
    • Blairsville-Saltsburg
    • Freeport Area
    • Indiana Area – Due to sufficient substitutes at this time, Indiana Area School District will not be accepting Guest Teachers.
    • Marion Center Area
    • Penns Manor Area
    • United - Due to sufficient substitutes at this time, United Area School District will not be accepting Guest Teachers.
    • ARIN (for ARIN-operated special education classrooms)
  • ARIN Guest Teacher Program Brochure (.pdf file only – format to print 2-sided, if available)[DOWNLOAD FILE]
  • Deadline for submission of the Guest Teacher Application Packet: Tuesday, January 3, 2012. (Note: If you miss the deadline, ARIN plans to recruit again next winter – continue to check this webpage for updates.)
  • All prospective Guest Teachers who submit an application packet by the deadline must also complete a two-day Guest Teacher Orientation, and one day of classroom observations

The next Orientation is scheduled for Monday, January 30 and Tuesday, January 31, 2012. If you are applying, you must attend both days. (NOTE: In the event one of these days is cancelled due to inclement weather, please also be prepared to attend on Wednesday, February 1, if needed for a "make-up" day.)

Both days of the orientation will be held at ARIN’s Main Office at 2895 West Pike, Indiana, PA – click on the “Get Directions” tab along the left.

The schedule for both days will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with lunch provided. NOTE: For both days, you are required to arrive on time and stay for the entire day – do NOT make plans that will require you to leave early.

Preferably, if you receive them prior to the application deadline, copies of the Act 34 PA State Police Criminal Background Check and Act 151 PA Child Abuse History Clearance results should be submitted as part of your Guest Teacher Application packet. However, if you do not receive them in time, you should go ahead and submit the rest of the application packet prior to the deadline.

In either case, you must bring the originals of these clearances with you to the Guest Teacher Orientation for verification by ARIN.

Also, as part of the Guest Teacher Application Packet, you must submit a check or money order made out to “ARIN Guest Teacher Program” for $25. This fee is charged to cover costs for meals and materials associated with the required two-day Guest Teacher Orientation. If your check is returned due to insufficient funds, you will be charged an additional $7. In the event you are unable to attend the two-day Orientation, the $25 fee will be returned to you ONLY if you cancel via an email to Danielle Kalgren at least 48 hours prior to the start of Day One of the Orientation.

To apply, download the following documents. The first document contains necessary directions.

  • ARIN IU28 Guest Teacher Application Form [DOWNLOAD FILE]
  • Guest Teacher Application Packet Directions [DOWNLOAD FILE]
  • Act 34 PA State Police Criminal Background Check: Application options:
    • Apply online at epatch.state.pa.us.
      This is preferable if you would like a quick response. A credit card is required. Once you reach the website, click on “Record Check” in the middle, near the top but under the banner, and select “New Record Needed” from the dropdown menu. Follow the directions from there.
    • Or download a form to submit by mail. [DOWNLOAD FILE]
  • Guest Teacher Instructions for Act 151 PA Child Abuse Clearance form [DOWNLOAD FILE]
  • Act 151 PA Child Abuse History Clearance form (PDF format) [DOWNLOAD FILE]
  • School Personnel Health Record (PDF format) [DOWNLOAD FILE]
  • PDE 338_G (PDF format; modified for ARIN Guest Teacher Program) [DOWNLOAD FILE]

If you do not have access to a printer, you may request a paper Guest Teacher Application packet from Milissa Johns, Secretary For Business/Personnel Office, 724-463-5300, ext. 1251; or mjohns@iu28.org.