Hello,I am still a number of years away from retirement as a teacher but I have had an idea running in my head for a while and wanted to see if anyone has any opinions or experience. it is very common for teachers to become substitutes when they retire. this allows them to make some money and avoid using some of their retirement for awhile. Often they begin retiring in the school district they taught in. I would like to travel around the US once I retire and I figure if i am going to be a substitute, why substitute in the same area i have lived for 30 years? So my thought has been for my wife and I (she is an english teacher) to live in a 5th wheel and go to different parts of the country and live there for 3 or 4 months and substitute to make extra money and yet be able to explore areas. i would like to visit areas that have a number of smaller towns or cities within 60 miles or something of each other so i have options to substitute often if i wanted. My wife would do the same or being and English teacher she could teach online. Anyway, I am wondering if this seems like something that could be a possibility for retirement? What would the cost, i realize depending on area, of a monthly RV spot in a park cost? What else am I not thinking of?Anyway, any thoughts would be helpfulthank youGarry

Cost of an RV park? Hmmmm...... They can range from $300/month in Arizona desert during the hottest of the summer months, to $200/night for a spot in the Newport Beach California back bay during the summer. You'll need your own wifi if you want decent reception for tutoring online. But, if that's gets you through to retirement age, jump on the bus and go for it. I would check on health benefits for a substitute teacher first.

Obviously, you need to check on the certification requirements but yes, it does seem viable. Your local district is likely easier as you have connections but if you meet the certification, requirements and will be in the area for a while, I don't see why they wouldn't hire you. Only question is would 3-4months be long enough for them to sign you up.As far as cost of living, don't get stupid on the cost of the rig and it's an inexpensive lifestyle. I would suggest a used truck and trailer until you are sure you like the lifestyle. Depreciation is a killer in the first 5yrs for both. Best if you are handy but nothing too complicated. Worst case find a mobile RV tech you like and pay them a couple hundred to go thru the systems and show you how to do basic trouble shooting.Obviously, it depends on the area but I also assume the pay in expensive areas will also be higher. To get a decent park, we figure on $500-800/month. You can find cheaper but it usually shows both in the condition of the park and in the clientele they draw. You can also find more expensive but I haven't been able to see the benefit if it's way above what the typical is for the area.Be careful of the vacation mindset where people will do 3000 miles in 2 weeks. That get tiring real quick. When you are full time, there is no need to do long travel days. Our preference is about 100-150miles leaving around 10am and getting in by 2pm and we try to keep travel days to 2-3 per week when on the move with longer stays after a week or two of being on the move.

I believe licensing or certification become issues in many states. I have heard of some folks doing this however in conjunction with some of the Native tribes. Tribes are independent and dont have to follow state requirements.

Not in California without a California license and a background check.

Many if not all districts in Texas require substitutes to have some college with many requiring degrees and Texas certification. They require background checks and fingerprinting.Based on what I have been told by my fellow educators in many states this is the same in most. I would imagine areas with serious shortages may have easier requirements.

Traveling substitute teacher in retirement? | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

valhalla360
Navigator
Jun 01, 2020
Obviously, you need to check on the certification requirements but yes, it does seem viable. Your local district is likely easier as you have connections but if you meet the certification, requirements and will be in the area for a while, I don't see why they wouldn't hire you. Only question is would 3-4months be long enough for them to sign you up.

As far as cost of living, don't get stupid on the cost of the rig and it's an inexpensive lifestyle. I would suggest a used truck and trailer until you are sure you like the lifestyle. Depreciation is a killer in the first 5yrs for both. Best if you are handy but nothing too complicated. Worst case find a mobile RV tech you like and pay them a couple hundred to go thru the systems and show you how to do basic trouble shooting.

Obviously, it depends on the area but I also assume the pay in expensive areas will also be higher. To get a decent park, we figure on $500-800/month. You can find cheaper but it usually shows both in the condition of the park and in the clientele they draw. You can also find more expensive but I haven't been able to see the benefit if it's way above what the typical is for the area.

Be careful of the vacation mindset where people will do 3000 miles in 2 weeks. That get tiring real quick. When you are full time, there is no need to do long travel days. Our preference is about 100-150miles leaving around 10am and getting in by 2pm and we try to keep travel days to 2-3 per week when on the move with longer stays after a week or two of being on the move.
jdc1
Explorer II
Jun 01, 2020
Cost of an RV park? Hmmmm...... They can range from $300/month in Arizona desert during the hottest of the summer months, to $200/night for a spot in the Newport Beach California back bay during the summer. You'll need your own wifi if you want decent reception for tutoring online. But, if that's gets you through to retirement age, jump on the bus and go for it. I would check on health benefits for a substitute teacher first.

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Traveling substitute teacher in retirement?

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