EXTON, PA — Red Rover said it will host its fourth annual Substitute Management Symposium on January 27, 2026, as school districts nationwide grapple with persistent staffing challenges and renewed focus on substitute teacher retention and performance.
The free, one-day virtual event is expected to draw hundreds of substitute managers and district leaders from K–12 systems across the country. Designed as a peer-led forum in collaboration with the Substitute Management Advisory Council, the symposium will focus on practical strategies spanning recruitment, onboarding, culture, retention, and the classroom impact of substitutes.
Red Rover said attendance is on pace to exceed last year’s turnout of more than 600 participants, reflecting growing interest in professionalizing substitute management as a core workforce function rather than a stopgap solution.
The event will open with an interactive keynote from educator and motivational speaker Jon Colby, who will address communication under pressure, decision-making amid constant change, and building stronger working relationships between teachers and substitutes. Panel discussions and breakout sessions will follow, targeting HR leaders, operations teams, and school administrators.
Programming will include sessions led by education technology veterans, district practitioners, and workforce experts, with discussions centered on communication, culture-building, workforce technology, and professional development. Red Rover said the agenda is grounded in a community-first approach aimed at strengthening continuity of instruction.
Among the topics to be covered are reframing the role of substitutes as integral contributors to student outcomes, leveraging technology such as AI-assisted scheduling to reduce administrative burden, and building stronger substitute pools through recognition and support. Sessions will also examine compensation strategies, including salary scale design and funding mechanisms to attract and retain high-quality substitutes.
In addition to educational content, the symposium will feature networking opportunities, giveaways, and the announcement of the annual Substitute Manager of the Year, selected by the Substitute Management Advisory Council to recognize leadership in advancing substitute workforce excellence.
Registration for the Substitute Management Symposium is open at https://www.redroverk12.com/substitute-management-symposium. The event is available at no cost and is open to HR leaders and substitute managers nationwide, with applicable recertification credit offered.
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