Solutions to the Early Childhood Substitute Teacher Dilemma

August 6, 2025

In New Hanover County, North Carolina, a new centralized substitute teacher pool for early childhood education has been implemented through a partnership with Wonderschool, funded by a $600,000 grant from Live Oak Bank. The initiative addresses the childcare field's struggles with teacher shortages and burnout by providing qualified substitutes to licensed childcare centers like The Learning Tree in Wilmington. Currently, 10 substitute teachers have been onboarded with 37 more in orientation, serving 30 licensed programs in the county.

Who is affected

Licensed childcare centers and early childhood education programs in New Hanover County
Early childhood teachers who need time off or sick days
Substitute teachers like Marquita Williams who benefit from flexible work opportunities
Parents and families who rely on consistent childcare
Children attending the childcare centers
The Learning Tree's staff, including director JC Elrod and assistant director Amber Dyson

What action is being taken

Wonderschool is operating a centralized substitute teacher pool in New Hanover County
The company is onboarding qualified substitute teachers through interviews and orientation processes
Live Oak Bank is funding the initiative with a $600,000 two-year grant
Wonderschool is providing a digital platform where licensed programs can list jobs and qualified teachers can apply
Substitutes are receiving bonuses for reaching specific work milestones
Wonderschool is lobbying at the state legislature for broader implementation
Childcare centers like The Learning Tree are utilizing the substitute pool to fill staffing gaps

Why it matters

The childcare field faces low teacher pay, high stress, and staffing shortages, especially since the pandemic
Without sufficient teachers, childcare centers cannot provide care to families
The substitute pool saves centers administrative time and costs associated with onboarding new substitutes
It provides teachers with needed breaks to prevent burnout
The platform ensures substitutes meet state requirements and have appropriate documentation
The model creates potential pathways for substitutes to become full-time teachers
Reliable staffing helps prevent classroom closures and last-minute cancellations for parents

What's next

Wonderschool aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of the local solution to encourage statewide adoption
Both the House and Senate budget proposals include pilots to increase in-home childcare capacity and set up substitute pools in other localities
The company plans to continue monitoring the balance between substitute supply and program demand to maintain effectiveness
Wonderschool is working to complete the onboarding of 37 additional substitute teachers to create a "deep bench" for the 30 participating programs

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint