Lincoln Public Schools

---

WELCOME

Welcome to the substitute teaching staff of the Lincoln Public Schools! You are a very important and vital component in the educational system of Lincoln. We believe that students deserve the opportunity to learn from, and with, adults who truly care about them and have the skills to teach. All of you are uniquely qualified in one way or another to teach our students.

I realize the work you do is not easy. Many of you are awakened very early and report to a different assignment daily. Frequently you go to work in a new building, with new students and new staff each day of the school year. In spite of the difficult situation in which you are placed, you are able to touch the lives of your students by your words and actions.

Thank you for accepting the important role of a substitute teacher in the Lincoln Public Schools.

Dr. Nancy Biggs
Associate Superintendent for Human Resources

---

INTRODUCTION

Each year, substitute teachers provide an invaluable service to students in the instructional program of the Lincoln Public Schools. They do this even though numerous obstacles are encountered: little advance notice, meager orientation to each specific individual school, its students, curriculum, facilities and special equipment, and they occasionally are asked to serve outside their field of preparation. This handbook contains general information deemed important by substitutes in removing some of the barriers mentioned above. Instructions and directions for teaching a particular assignment will be supplied to you when you report to the school. Additional suggestions are always welcome. Be sure to contact your school principal if you have questions not answered in this booklet. We appreciate your willingness to assist us in providing quality education to students every day of the school year. Best wishes for a successful school year.

Kay Byers, Ph.D.
Supervisor of Elementary Personnel Services

---

PURPOSE OF THE SUBSTITUTE TEACHER HANDBOOK

Welcome to Lincoln Public Schools. This handbook is intended to be used by substitute teachers to provide general information about LPS and to serve as a guide to policies, rules and regulations, employment and performance expectations.

Each substitute teacher is responsible for becoming familiar with the handbook and knowing the information contained in it. Although the information found in this handbook is detailed and specific on many topics, the handbook is not intended to be all encompassing so as to cover every situation and circumstance that may arise. This handbook is intended to supplement other documents and sources of information that deal with employment, including information regularly provided at Substitute Teacher Orientations, Substitute Teacher Conferences, the SubWays newsletter, the monthly substitute staff meetings, and the policies and regulations of the Board of Education.

This handbook does not create a “contract” of employment. Substitute assignments may be ended or changed on an “at will” basis.

The administration will be responsible for interpreting the rules contained in this handbook and shall have the right to make decisions and make rule revisions at any time. Should a situation or circumstance arise that is not specifically covered in this handbook, the administration will make a decision based upon applicable school district policies, state and federal statutes and regulations, and the best interests of the District.

This handbook will be in effect for the 2006-2007 and subsequent school years unless replaced by a later edition.

---

LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS MISSION STATEMENT AND GOALS FOR STUDENTS

School Mission Statement

The Lincoln Board of Education is committed to providing the highest quality education for all Lincoln Public Schools students. The board sees the primary mission of the schools to be the development of responsible adults:

• who are productive citizens of a pluralistic community, nation and world;
• who are prepared to learn throughout their lives; and
• who are appreciative of the arts, history and culture.

The board holds the district staff accountable for achieving the schools' mission through the most effective and efficient use of available resources.

The board further recognizes that students in the Lincoln Public Schools are educated for the future and therefore expects the school district to be self-renewing, flexible and capable of adjusting to the needs of its various constituencies.

As the elected governing body of the school district, the board believes in sharing its decision-making processes with parents, students, and other citizens and staff members.

Statement of Purpose

The Lincoln Board of Education supports the educational mission of the State of Nebraska. In accordance with this commitment, the board declares that it is the purpose of the Lincoln School District to:

• Offer each individual the opportunity to develop competence in the basic skills of communications, computations and knowledge of basic facts concerning the environment, history and society;
• Offer each individual the opportunity to develop higher order thinking and problem-solving skills by means of adequate preparation in mathematics, science, the social sciences and foreign languages and through appropriate and progressive use of technology;
• Inspire in each individual the ability and desire to continue learning throughout his or her life;
• Encourage knowledge and understanding of political society and democracy in order to foster active participation therein;
• Encourage the creative potential of each individual through exposure to the fine arts and humanities;
• Encourage a basic understanding of and aid the development of good health habits; and
• Offer each individual the opportunity for career exploration and awareness.

Goals for Students

The students in the Lincoln Public Schools enter school with diverse talents, interests and needs. Throughout the course of their public school education, students will have the opportunity to develop to their greatest potential. It is the intention of the Lincoln Public Schools that all students will achieve the following:

• Demonstrate competence and fluency in the essential skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening, in the English language, and mathematics.
• Think critically and creatively, using higher order thinking skills to make decisions, solve problems, and create new perspectives and possibilities.
• Understand the important ideas from the arts, humanities, sciences, and mathematics, and understand the relationships among them.
• Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for living in a democracy and becoming a contributing member of society.
• Understand and celebrate the diversity and interdependence of our pluralistic, multicultural community, nation, and world.
• Respect and care for themselves and others.
• Respect and care for the natural environment.
• Work with others productively and cooperatively.
• Develop the skills and attitudes essential to enter the work force.
• Become a lifelong learner

---