Guest Teacher Program - Winter 2027

About the Program

The Guest Teacher Program is a service offered by the CLIU to the community and local school districts. It provides quality substitute teacher training to individuals with limited or no teaching experience, enabling them to substitute teach in participating districts and Career and Technical Institutes. Upon completion, participants receive an emergency permit issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), allowing them to substitute teach on a day-to-day basis.

Important Dates

• Application Open: Monday, August 24, 2026
• Deadline to Apply: Friday, October 2, 2026
• Interviews:
  • Wednesday, September 23, 2026 and Thursday, September 24, 2026
  • Wednesday, October 14, 2026 and Thursday, October 15, 2026
• Training: Wednesday, December 2, 2026 & Thursday, December 3, 2026
• Final Paperwork Packets Due: Friday, January 8, 2027
• Meet and Greet: Wednesday, January 13, 2026

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college/university (official sealed transcripts required).
• Individuals educated outside the U.S. must submit a credential evaluation from an approved agency showing equivalence to a U.S. bachelor’s degree (120 credits). For details, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) website.
• Completed Guest Teacher application submitted by the deadline.
• Availability for interviews on specified dates (September 23–24 or October 14–15, 2026).
• Availability for mandatory two-day training (December 2–3, 2026).

Program Costs

• Official sealed transcripts (university charges apply).
• PA Criminal Clearance: $22 (apply online).
• Child Abuse Clearance: $13 (apply online, may take up to 3 weeks).
• FBI Clearance: $24.95 (schedule online).
• Health physical and TB test (cost varies, due at final paperwork).
• $30 program fee (paid upon acceptance by check or money order only).

Note: Clearances must not be older than September 30, 2026.

Program Expectations

• Applications must be submitted by the deadline; no exceptions.
• All submitted applications will be reviewed.
• Selected applicants must attend one of the specified interview dates.
• If selected, attendance at the two-day mandatory training (December 2–3, 2026) is required.
• Upon training completion, candidates receive final paperwork (I-9 forms, physical/TB forms) for onboarding.

For questions about interview availability, contact Gouri Deshpande (deshpandeg@cliu.org) or Emily Brackman (brackmane@cliu.org).

Conclusion of the Program

The program concludes with the distribution of the Guest Teacher packet, which includes all materials from application to final paperwork and the PDE emergency permit. Participants are responsible for making copies of the packet for each district they wish to apply to. The program ends with a Meet and Greet session on January 13, 2026, where Guest Teachers can meet with school district representatives, submit their packets, and receive district-specific substitute information.

Renewal Process

• Each year after initial training, Guest Teachers receive an email from CLIU HR in June requesting emergency permit renewal information.
• Guest Teachers must return the requested information and a $5 renewal fee (check or money order) by July.
• Failure to respond by the deadline will result in removal from the program and ineligibility for an emergency permit the following school year.
• Guest Teachers who do not renew may reapply to the program and pay the $30 program fee if accepted.

It is the Guest Teacher’s responsibility to update CLIU with any changes to contact information.