Attracting and retaining substitute teachers has been a persistent challenge in school districts across Missouri. Recently, many districts have started recruiting substitute teachers from their existing rosters to fill potential full-time teaching positions to address classroom employment shortages. While this approach may provide short-term relief, it ultimately reduces the number of available substitutes, leading to frustration for both teachers and principals over time. The Richmond R-XVI district heavily relies on a small number of substitute teachers to step in during teacher or staff shortages. To counter this issue, community members are being actively encouraged to enroll in the Missouri Substitute Teacher Certification program. In Missouri, all school employees, including substitute teachers, must meet specific criteria before working in classrooms. These state standards and background checks help ensure that parents and community members can be confident that individuals…