The Smart Start Georgia Early Care & Education Substitute Teacher Program supports quality early care and education centers and facilities that need trained substitute teachers. This program is available throughout most of Georgia.

This program was specifically designed to provide qualified, caring teachers to work with children six weeks to five years of age when their regular teachers are out.

Current and past early care and education childcare teachers and childcare professionals, parents, grandparents, retired or non-working community members, students in technical schools, colleges and universities, are encouraged to participate in the substitute teacher training program. This program is for everyone who is interested in the holistic development of young children, whether early care and education is your field or not.

Applicants must be 18 or older, have a minimum of a high school or GED diploma, and be able to pass a criminal background check with a clear record.  All serious candidates should be willing and able to attend the full training preparation course and commit to teach a minimum number of days a month in one or multiple Bright from The Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) licensed or registered childcare programs.

During the five-day course, participants take part in four days of state approved training with a practical, on-site experience on the fifth day. Each day of the interactive training provides practical educational content, theory and tools that will enhance substitute teachers’ knowledge of child development, culturally and developmentally appropriate practices, the needs of Georgia’s childcare programs, and early care and education to support his/her success in the classroom.

For more information, contact Hollie Pavloff, Program Director, at 404.614.1020 or hpavloff@unitedwayatlanta.org, or visit www.ecegasubs.org for a schedule of classes and an online application.