Substitute Teaching

Marquette-Alger RESA and a majority of its constituent local school districts contract with ESS/WillSub to provide substitute teacher and substitute aide services. Substitute applicants become employees of ESS/WillSub.

Qualifications

  • Substitute teachers: a valid Michigan teaching certificate or a minimum of 60 semester credit hours from an accredited two- or four-year college/university (2.0 GPA or higher), and the ability to pass a criminal-history background check.
  • Substitute aides: a high-school diploma and the same background checks.
Substitute paraeducators & coaches:work with the local district you’ve selected as your preferred site to have your background check processed.

Before starting, please review the Frequently Asked Questions for full details on qualifications, background checks, reporting of future offenses, and permits.

How to Apply

Complete your background check and forms with MARESA before creating your ESS/WillSub account.

1

Get fingerprinted

Pick up (or request) a Background Check Packet from the Marquette-Alger RESA Admin Office (321 E. Ohio St., Marquette), or print and complete all of the forms below:

Prefer to sign electronically? Use DocuSign:

  • Need fingerprints? Use this link
  • Another school district/agency already has your prints (with no break in employment)? Use this link

Complete the LiveScan Fingerprint Request and bring it, with a photo ID, to a live-scan operator. Applicants pay the fingerprinting cost. Out-of-area applicants can use IdentoGO or their local police department.

Marquette City Police Department

(906) 225-8435

236 W Baraga Ave, Marquette, MI 49855

8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (walk-ins welcome)

Cost: $80.00

IdentoGO (two locations — schedule online)

228 W Washington St., Ste 4 · and · 201 Rublein St., Ste C — Marquette, MI 49855

By appointment (see IdentoGO for current hours)

Cost: $80.00

Northern Michigan University

(906) 227-2151

2073 Sugarloaf Ave. (Services Building) — call ahead to confirm an officer is available

Open 24/7 (call first)

Cost: NMU students & alumni $55.00 · others $80.00

Save your LiveScan form— you must return it to MARESA; it authorizes the district to use your fingerprint results. If you’ve been fingerprinted for a Michigan K-12 school on or after Jan 1, 2006 with no 12-month lapse in service, complete the Michigan Waiver Agreement instead and MARESA will request your prior results.

2

Return your documents to MARESA

Return all originals to Marquette-Alger RESA. To get started faster, you may scan and email them to cwall@maresa.org — but originals are still required on file. Mail or deliver to:

Marquette-Alger RESA · 321 E. Ohio St., Marquette, MI 49855

3

Sign up with ESS/WillSub

Once your background-check forms are submitted to MARESA, create your ESS/WillSub account:

  1. Visit the ESS Online website (WillSub) and click the green START button.
  2. Create an account with a password that shows as STRONG.
  3. Check the email you used (look for noreply@willsub.com) and click START APPLICATION.
  4. Re-enter your password, finalize your information, and click CREATE APPLICATION.

Application tips

  • You must have a valid email address — WillSub uses email as a primary mode of communication.
  • Official transcripts are required to be a substitute teacher and obtain a sub permit. You are eligible to sub-teach with 60+ credits from an accredited college/university.
  • Provide at least 3 references with valid email addresses (or upload signed reference letters).
  • Get fingerprinted as soon as possible — you cannot begin working until your background check is approved.
  • You'll need valid IDs for the I-9 form (typically a driver's license + Social Security card or birth certificate; a valid passport covers both).
4

Pay your permit bill (if applicable)

ESS/WillSub applies for permits for non-certified sub teachers (including those with expired Michigan teaching certificates). The State emails permit bills directly to applicants; the $45 fee must be paid before you’re added to the active sub-teacher list. Substitute aides do not need a permit to work.

Special circumstances

  • MPSERS retirees: retired school employees collecting a MPSERS pension are considered a district preference and should contact the district they plan to sub for before starting an ESS/WillSub application or background check.
  • Certified teachers: those with an unexpired Michigan teaching certificate can sub day-to-day by contacting the schools directly. Those without a certificate (or with an expired one) need an annual sub permit.

To request a permit, contact your local district or the MARESA Superintendent’s Office at (906) 226-5100 or cwall@maresa.org — schools can be penalized if you work without this coverage.

Forms & documents

Questions about substituting?

Contact your local school district or the Marquette-Alger RESA Superintendent’s Office at (906) 226-5100 or cwall@maresa.org.