The TRUTH about working with ESS - Substitute Teacher ESS Employee Review

4.0
20 Aug 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Pros of working with ESS is you get to make your own schedule. Your paycheck depends on you! Whether you want to work A half day or full day, all mon-fri is completely up to you! That’s why I like it. It’s great for people who are just wanting to look and see if they would like working in a school and getting their foot in the door. You get the opportunity to see whether you like elementary, middle or highschool. It’s a really great job also if you’re in college because you can work when YOU can and when YOU want to.

Cons

It can be frustrating for some subs depending on how well you work with kids/teens. I always like to make a class feel comfortable and introduce myself and kinda be vulnerable with them. Let them feel like they can trust you rather than staring at them saying nothing. Another big con is you don’t get jobs or paid for the summers and holiday breaks like regular school workers. Other than that I love it .

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ESS Response
1y
Thanks for taking the time to give us your feedback. We do have an Employee of the Month program where we ask the schools to nominate employees to win every month to recognize employees outside of our randomized raffle.

Explore other reviews about ESS

5.0
23 Feb 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

They are super understanding with scheduling, and provide a great system for clocking in and out of work!

Cons

Some of the technical aspects to set up and get certified takes a while and can be confusing

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ESS Response
3mo
We appreciate you sharing your input with us! It’s great to hear. We’re fortunate to have you as a part of our team!
4.0
17 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The corporate support and recruitment team are excellent; they are professional and highly responsive. The onboarding and training process was comprehensive and genuinely prepared me for the realities of substitute teaching. The role offers a great deal of flexibility, opportunities to engage with the local population, and a clear pipeline for those seeking long-term subbing positions or a path toward a full-time teaching career. It is an excellent environment for networking within the education sector.

Cons

The day-to-day experience is heavily dependent on the specific district and school culture, which can vary significantly. Some districts provide free lunch, others don’t. Unfortunately, there is often a lack of respect at the school level; substitute staff are sometimes treated as expendable rather than as valued members of the team. There is a lack of job security, as pre-booked assignments are frequently canceled on short notice to accommodate other preferred substitutes. Subs have to work 4 days a month and it’s hard to meet when people are constantly being dropped from jobs. Additionally, the compensation is extremely low, and the benefits package is insufficient, making it difficult to rely on this position as a primary source of income.

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