Secrets of AesopOnline

[Bobthesub]

Hello,

Many districts, 500, use the AesopOnline.com sub finder system. Based on the research I've done I've uncovered the following bits of information. What I describe my not apply to districts where you sub since some of the features may be extra cost options that some districts have decided not to use. My research is based on personal experience, speaking with trusted teachers, administrators, secretaries and using Google to verify facts. There is a wealth of training materials districts have put online that describe Aesop’s features.

1. You have two logins to the Aesop system. The first being your social security number with the last four digits of your telephone number being your pin. The second is your telephone number with the last four digits of your social security number being the pin. In any case you should change your pin number something else, and certainly not your zip code.

2. Jobs do not show up (on the web site) immediately after being posted by the teacher, up to ten minutes may elapse before the job is on the web site. This is so the teacher can make changes and/or cancel the job before a sub can accept it.

3. Districts can edit jobs without notice to you by Aesop. For example a two day position can be edited to a 1/2 day position and unless you view your schedule, you will be none the wiser.

4. There are two types of cancellations that Aesop will tell you about. The first being when the job has been canceled. You may receive a message that the sub job starting on (date) has been canceled. The second message you may receive will say you have been removed from the job. If you are removed from a job and don't know why this may be a cause for concern that the district or teacher considers you to be an ineffective sub. It could also mean that the teacher has a favorite sub that they want to have the job.

5. Some districts have a feature called save and assign where the teacher can create an absence, save it and assign it to a teacher of their choosing. Districts that use this feature are very hard to get into and typically only 1/2 days at the end of the year make it to the web site without being assigned to a sub.

6. Teachers can have a list of favorite subs that Aesop will contact either in the order listed or randomly before allowing other subs to accept the position. If a district is using this feature, other subs won’t see the job until the time limit has passed. This limit is based on how far into the future is the job. A job for the next day could have a four hour limit, while a job next week could have a four day limit.

7. Substitutes can be blocked by a teacher or the entire school can be blocked. Subs that are blocked will never see any jobs for that teacher or in that building. From the viewpoint of the sub, nothing has changed – you will still see schools where you have been blocked, just no jobs at that school.

8. Accepting jobs and then canceling them supposedly will cause you problems. Aesop is rumored to use a scoring system where the more jobs you accept for a given district the better your chances are of being shown jobs for that district. Viewing jobs and/or accepting and then canceling them will cause your score to go down.

Thanks

 

[Bobthesub]

Hello,

It doesn't look like it has many, http://www.uintah.k12.ut.us/SubFinderTeacher.html

but I could be wrong, http://www.tstboces.org/tfiles/folder1194/SubFinder%20Sample%20Reports.pdf

I found these two using this search, http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=subfinder+%2Bcrs&btnG=Search

Thanks

 

[WMaupinj]

Sems

Hi! The district I sub in uses the Substitute Employee Management System (SEMS) by eSchool Solutions. Anyone else use this and do you have any inside information?

 

[h0kie]

"Secrets"

My district uses Aesop and we have been made aware of most of the information you supplied. I don't think districts are trying to be "secretive" most of this stuff is covered in the users guide. Just like a person calling for subs there are bound to be problems with any system.

I don't believe #2 is true in my district, as I have been on the phone with a teacher who wanted me to sub for them and refreshed after they said they had entered the job and it was there. Maybe that's a special feature or something my district doesn't use. My district does employ permanent subs though, and if a teacher posts a job (if anyone posts a job) and one of the four of them does not have a job that day - the job is automatically theirs. That upsets me.

As for #3 and #4, we receive an email notifying us that the job has been changed or cancelled. I have been removed from a position so that a permanent sub could remain in the classroom - no biggie. They want the kids to have some consistency. I've also had a job switch days. In all of these situations I received an email AND a notification when I logged into AESOP of the change/cancellation.

#5 we don't have. Only principals and secretaries can put a sub in without putting the job in the system and then, as the sub, I must be contacted and give verbal consent.

#6 is something my district has. Not only are there teacher specific preferred subs, there is also a school specific list of preferred subs. I believe the job is shown to the preferred list up until 2 days before the actual assignment starts, then it is open to anyone. I am usually one of the first ones called for those early morning cancellations for the schools I am on the preferred list for. (The system starts calling at 5:30...I get called around 5:40)

#7 is only "fair". If we can block schools/teachers, they can block us in turn.

#8 is not possible through our system unless you contact the school directly. I can't cancel a job through AESOP. I've had to cancel a job once this year (for surgery) and it hasn't hurt me whatsoever.

However, there is a rating system that teachers can give you. 0 - 5 and all you will see is your rating. For example, three teachers have given me a rating of 5 apples out of 5. Other subs have 9 ratings some still have none. It all depends on if the teacher fills out the evaluation (some in our district don't even know about it). I fill out the feedback for each job I do. The teacher can view my feedback. BUT if I receive a score from the teacher, I do not get to see what they said. I would like to see that changed. Especially if someone gives me a bad score (which I hope never happens).

Oh, we were also told that, while the system does track when we turn down a job, it will not be used against us. I don't chance it and accept all my jobs online.

Thanks for the information. I am amazed at the levels of "sneakiness" some districts have gone to for/against certain subs. Sad really.

 

[GatorMan]

SEMS also

SEMS is a good system. I have no complaints about it. I haven't heard anything about it taking down certain data in order to accept/reject jobs. I'm more concerned about the human sub finders than the online one!

 

[Sue2]

Sems

We have SEMS also. Actually, I rather like it. It doesn't, as a practice, exclude you from jobs, like the live ones do. But I do wonder about their calling practices. I've looked at jobs I've accepted in a row, and sometimes there is a 50/60 span between them. Who got all the other jobs in between, since there is supposedly only 30 subs on our list? The other downside is it's calling practices. There may be 3 or 4 nights when it doesn't call, and the one night you decide to go down to the basement or Lowe's it calls. I always wonder what I didn't get offered.

The way the system was discribed reminded me of the RCI (Resort Condonminium (sp) International system. You get better choices of your preference of timeshare if #1, buy an expensive timeshare; #2, spacebank your timeshare up two years in advance; and #3, take what is offered instead of turning them down.

 

[meme]

substitute teacher

I believe Butler Area School District Butler PA uses this system

 

[JEANIE WILSON]

substitute teacher

Ive been on aesop for 3 years now. The caller is an automated man and there is no guilt involved in turning down a job...No human on the other end,,,I love it, and yes, definatell the more jobs you take the more you get...techers get to know who shows up or not real fast...

 

[LongTimeSub]

I have been a substitute teacher in all grades, and all classes (special education, honors, resource areas - art, PE, music, etc.) in several of my district's schools for over 5 years. Our district this year implemented the AESOP system because they said it was too much work for the sole Substitute Teacher Placement Clerk.

All the school administrators love this system because they don't get the 5:30am phone calls from their teachers saying they need a substitute for the day. It also 'works' 24 hours a day, doesn't get sick, and doesn't need to get paid overtime or a raise.

Hoever, most of the long time, experienced substitute teachers don't like this system because they aren't working as much as they have in the past. The reasons for this are as follows:

Our school district hired over 400 substitutes, so there are more substitutes than there are assignments for almost every day of the school calendar. Some vacancies are posted online, but with the sheer volume of substitutes, those assignments are usually not available online for more than 5-10 minutes (from my personal experience, and from interviews with other substitutes) at any given time or day.

While I have picked up assignments at midnight, and at 5:00am, and at all hours of the day inbetween, very, very rarely are there two or more available assignments at any time. For 90% of the time I check AESOP, either online or by phone, there are no jobs available. I estimate that for every day I secure an assignment by myself (meaning I am not asked to work by a specific teacher), it may take me an hour to get that day of work. I am a parent also, and I don't have time to sit in front of the computer (or be on the phone) all day, every day if I'm not working (and if I am working, I certainly can't check for jobs every hour either because I am in the classroom); in the past, I would usually get a phone call at 7:00am telling me where to report for the day.

There are preferred lists of subsitutes available for schools, but this 'preference' is only available for assignments 2 weeks in advance of the vacancy. The reality is that 90% of the absences are 'last-minute' (less than 3 days notice) because the teacher is sick, or someone in their family is sick. So, the 'preference' that has been stated to us long-time, experienced substitutes in reality doesn't exist for the overhwelming majority of assignments.

AESOP is very impersonal, and does not have the flexibility of a human mind to ensure consistency for unexpected multi-day absences (one substitute may be in on one day, and different substitutes on subsequent days). While the school administrators (or secretaries) could be proactive to ensure consistency, the reality is that it is not happening. Some administrators (and secretaries) don't even check the substitute list to see who is in their building on some days!

The school secretaries can override assignments, and a substitute would never know. If I hadn't asked about a 'removal' (which the secretary said was by mistake), I never would have known about this
feature, and you can imagine my surprise when I was the person who told the school prinicipal about this feature (even she didn't know).

If a subsitute accepts a half-day assignment, AESOP will not let you cancel that half-day to accept a full-day assignment the same day. While the administrators call this 'surfing for jobs', I prefer to call it 'maximizing my experience and availability'. Consequently, I accept very few half-day assignments, and never accept an assignment for less than a half-day.

I think teachers prefer to have experienced subsitutes, and I have heard from several teachers that this year they are seeing more new, inexperienced substitutes than they have ever before. In the past, the placement clerk would know which substitutes preferred which schools, and those reliable substitutes would usually be the first ones assigned for vacancies in those schools. The teachers knew the substitutes, and the substitutes knew the schools, the students, and individual teacher expectations. This familiarity and reliability doesn't account for hardly anything with a computer system.

I have suggested to our school district that they do a survey to the substitutes to ask for our opinions and suggestions to improve the AESOP system, but I'm not holding my breath. AESOP puts a body in a classroom, but it doesn't ensure that the body is the best body to be in that classroom.

 

[Bill]

What a joke

Aesop is a big joke!

 

[Gabrielle]

sub ratings

How do you find your rating on the site to know how you were rated? I have looked but see no option to click that would give the information.

 

[MrBill0206]

Ohiosub

I received a poor 2/5 rating from a teacher but feel I did not deserve it. What can I do to try to prevent that rating from influencing future job availability,etc.?

 

[steelcitymom]

Classroom teacher's side

I like Aesop. When we had a "substitute coordinator" making the calls, he would just stop at 6:30 and not get coverage.

I like that I can leave a note for the sub. Maybe its a special day and she needs to dress comfortably, or I need to give her some other info.

We do get to fave a favorite five but it's really useless. The fave five get first notice but only more than 5 days out then it is open to all.

We can not save and assign. The building primcipal can assign a sub but uses it sparingly. I was out for surgery and had an autistic boy. We chose a sub tht we knew would be good for him.

We do not rate subs or block subs. Principals can block subs but you really need a good reason. Multiple severe incidents have to be reported. If you are blocked you know why. We had a sub blocked for leaving kindergarten students unsupervised on 2 different occasions.

Turning down jobs does not affect you seeing other jobs in our district. Taking a job then cancelling for no reason might.

I think the most impoprtant thing you can do as a sub is make a positive impression. Stop and meet hte secretary, follow the lesson plans, leave the room tidy... Every job could be a job interview,ou never know whos watching.

 

[zjm1000]

aesop

i just started subbing. the county schools that i sub for use aesop online, but the city school system doesnt. i was thinking about signing up to be a sub for the city schools as well, as i need to sub as much as i can, for the money to pay bills. does anyone sub for multiple districts that use different systems? does it negatively affect getting jobs if you turn them down a lot because they are working another district?

 

[subbie12]

teacher

Thanks for all the info. I recently received a job assignment cancellation which indicated that I was "removed" from the assignment. I was concerned and annoyed about this because I had accepted this assignment a week to 10 days in advanced of the cancellation. The "removal" occurred at 3:30 the day before the actual assignment. What bothered me the most is that I had introduced myself to the teacher about a week before the assignment. She knew that I was already assigned for the job. Also, I had just been at that school on the day of the "removal". Another substitute teacher said that she had thought that removing and cancelling the assignment were actually the same.

I can understand if a teacher would want a particular person as his/her substitute but I think that it is inconsiderate to "remove" someone so close to the assignment date.

 

[beth sy]

substitute teacher

yes bill, aesop is a joke, a big joke! i use ti go to many schools. now, i go to one school only. that is what aesop is giving me. work is also bery slow after each orientation. those poor new subs, they thought they have found a goldmine. sad to say, my school district does not appreciate us subs who have been subbing for years. we are the diehards, the dependable and the reliable ones, the retire who have so much to offer to the children.

 

[rubytadpole]

Newbie

An experienced sub does not always equal a good one. Also, everyone is new at some point. I like AESOP in that it allows new subs to get a chance to sub. This way, I am networking and introducing myself to faculty and staff. If not for AESOP, I would never sub. The job market for teachers is very tough right now, especially in my state. There are many of graduating college with our licenses and no jobs are available. I even went back to school and got an additional license in hopes to get a teaching job, but still no luck.

AESOP sort of evens the playing field a bit. And teachers can still request the subs that they want as long as they make sure they give plenty of time. I was requested as a sub and sent an email from AESOP idenifying me as a Preferred Sub. I was told that the system will try preferred subs first as long as the request is put in at least 7 hours before the time is needed. I could be wrong on this though.

That being said, I do agree that AESOP is annoying in that jobs are taken so quickly, at least in my district. Sure, you can use Jobulator or Sub Sidekick but those only run if your computer is on (and I don't leave mine on all day to waste energy). Sub Sidekick will send you text message alerts, but again only runs if your computer is on and you cannot accept the jobs via text. (I don't have internet on my phone, but those who do could receive the text messages, then log onto to AESOP to accept the jobs).

I kinda like some of the impersonalness that comes with AESOP. I don't have to feel bad for not accepting a job. I don't even reject--just like someone else take it. Even with AESOP, I'd had school secretaries ask me to stay for the whole day when I'm just there for AM subbing. I have a hard time saying "no" and feel guilty when I do.

As with everything, there are pluses and minuses.

 

[fe]

substitute teacher

i agree with bill. aesop is a big joke. hope our school district will go back to the old subfinder system. i suspect that aesop would cancel us without the knowledge of the teacher who listed us as their favorite. and yes, we are just a body. i got a call to sub for men p.e. and i am a 62 tear old woman.

 

[fe]

correction to my own message - - i am the 62 year old woman who got a call from aesop to sub for middle school men p.e. aesop does not even know what our gender is nor our age. aesop is ridiculous. i cannot understand why our school district went for aesop.

 

[eppie]

substitute teacher

our school district has orientation several times a year and there is always one held at the third week of march right after spring break, that leaves two months more to go and the school year is over. there are not that many jobs in april because it is taks time and then comes may, very unlikely for teachers to be absent or go on training. so why have a new batch of substitutes. i feel like our school district does not have any regards or respect for education as they have reduced the educational requirement from 60 college hours to just 48 hrs. and of course they get the calls, while the older ones, several with college degrees stay at home not getting any call from aesop. our school district does not have any loyalty at all to the older substitutes.

 

[SuperSub!]

I dislike Aesop!

As an experienced substitute, I really dislike this system. It wastes my time. I have used a variety of different systems both as a substitute and a regular classroom teacher. As a regular educator, I am sure that there are advantages to this system, but as a sub, the system works because I work for "free" doing aesop job searches that for the most part are fruitless!

 

[jamied]

Fyi

Why does Frontline charge 9.99 to subbs using Jobulator while also charging districts a fee for usage? Should'nt the Jobulator features already be a part of AESOPs features? I think that is really taking advantage of people during these hard economy times. Subs do not make a lot of money, especially during the increase of gas prices.

Also, subsidekick is an application that is perfect for those who want consistant sub work, but do not have the time to sit within a close distance of a computer to hear the "ding ding" there is an available job. However, frontline consistantly runs bugs through AESOP to complicate the subsidekicks application.

In closing, AESOP is wonderful for managing your substitute teaching jobs, but it is all about the money for them an not about customer service.

 

[Gary Seven]

Experienced Educator

I could not agree more. Today I subbed at a high school, for an English teacher. I was told when I checked in, that due to the number of subs and teachers out, I would have to fill in for those subs who did not show up during my "planning" periods. So, I ended up having to fill in during the two planning periods and half of my 1/2 hour lunch break. If I had not asked an assistant principal, another sub, and a coach, if they could help I never would have gotten a 20 minute lunch break. And the lesson plans for one HS English class I had consisted of asking the 40 students in the room to fill out a hand-out sheet and underline the verbs. Of course, the students completed the assignment in roughly 5 minutes-and we had 40 more minutes to fill with no back-up plans, no help of any kind, no DVD/VHS player, and no classroom materials other than the four walls.

And I was scheduled to sub at the same school next week. So on the way out, I figured I'd check with the "substitute clerk" at the school. She told me that the teacher I was supposed to sub for next week does not work at that school and is not listed on their roster, but that if I subbed for that class next week "we'll find something for you to do." Another sub told me that this could entail subbing for any class, lunch room duty, helping security, anything; just putting a body in a room. So I went home and e-mailed HR and cancelled that assignment. It might get me in a little trouble, but I'm a grown adult man with a college education and professional experience-and don't want to just be a warm body that's perceived as a piece of garbage.

 

[nko7]

I like Aesop as it gives all subs a chance to work. There are excellent subs who are veterans but there are also new subs that are excellent. I have 10 years classroom experience as a TA and about 5 years as a sub teacher. I went back to school and have a Master's Degree as well as certifications to teach birth through 9th grade special education and general education. The job market is terrible and I depend on subbing as much as any other sub for my income. I also feel subbing is helping me to become established in the school districts. I am sure the preferred subs also once did not have a lot of experience but they were given the chance to work. The new subs now also deserve the same opportunity.

 

[Rhodus]

Substitute Teacher

I sub in a district that uses AESOP. Can anyone tell me if there is any system in play when substitutes are selected? Some weeks I get called for four days and others I may get only one. Sometimes I get called at 9:45 in the evening and some days at 5:40 AM. I can't figure out the system. I have also been called two days in advance. Does anyone know how the system is programmed or how it can be figured out?

Thanks