The requirements for substitute teachers in the Brookhaven School District will be more lenient for the coming school year.

“There’s a shortage of qualified applicants,” Superintendent Ray Carlock told the Board of Trustees Tuesday night.

In the past, individuals applying to become substitute teachers were required to meet the same qualifications as someone applying for a position as a teacher’s assistant.

TAs must have sufficient verified WorkKey scores, and either 48 hours of college credit or an associate of arts degree verified by transcript.

That’s created a short list of possible substitutes to work at the district’s seven campuses.

“We just simply don’t have enough on the list that meet the qualifications for teacher’s assistant,” he said. “And a lot of times, we end up hiring people to be teacher’s assistants who are on the substitute list so that makes the substitute list even shorter.”

Carlock suggested the district require substitutes to be at least 21 years old and have a high school diploma or GED.

Trustee Erin Smith questioned Carlock about a state mandate that requires the higher qualifications.

He said the state doesn’t have a mandate for substitute qualifications and some districts don’t have a policy concerning it. A few districts don’t even require substitute teachers to have a diploma, he said.

Carlock said principals will look for substitutes with the higher qualifications for long-term positions when possible.

To apply for a substitute position in the Brookhaven School District, visit www.brookhavenschools.org and search for “Employment” under “Our District.”

For more information, call 601-833-6661.