A strategic partnership streamlined hiring, improved classroom stability, and lifted teacher morale.
Before partnering with Kelly Education, Clifton School District faced a persistent struggle: securing enough substitute teachers to maintain classroom stability. The district serves 10,826 students, 70% of whom are considered minorities and 46.3% of which are economically disadvantaged. In the 2023-2024 school year, Clifton’s substitute teacher fill rate stood at just 45%. This shortage placed a heavy burden on full-time teachers, who frequently had to sacrifice their prep periods to cover for missing colleagues. This affected their ability to prepare lessons, manage their workload, and ultimately, provide an optional learning experience for students.
Just a year later, the district is maintaining a 95% fill rate.
Challenge
The district faced a severe substitute teacher shortage, with a fill rate of just 45% in the 2023–2024 school year. This left more than half of all teacher absences unfilled, disrupting instruction and straining morale by forcing full-time teachers to give up planning time.
Solution
The district partnered with Kelly Education to outsource hiring, onboarding, and daily management of substitutes. With an on-site representative embedded in the administration building, Kelly Education provided rapid support and helped resolve issues in real time, lifting administrative burdens and ensuring consistent coverage.
Result
In just one year, the fill rate surged from 45% to 95%. Teachers regained valuable prep time, classroom stability improved, and staff morale rose dramatically. The district now sees the partnership as a long-term investment in student outcomes and educator support.
Enhancing teacher support and classroom consistency.
Beyond just filling positions, this partnership has significantly improved overall staff morale and school climate. Teachers no longer have to worry about covering extra classes, giving them more time to focus on lesson planning and student engagement. Having an on-site Kelly Education representative has provided an added layer of responsiveness and support, allowing us to quickly resolve issues and proactively address staffing needs.
The Clifton team was surprised by how quickly things improved. They didn’t expect to see such a high fill rate, let alone the overall quality and professionalism of the substitutes. While collaboration with Kelly Education required financial planning, the benefits to the staff and students have been undeniable. Having consistent classroom coverage helps maintain learning momentum and minimizes disruptions for students.
“None of us believed that they could give us a fill rate that was in the high 90s,” said Janina. “Clifton was at a 45% fill rate before Kelly Education, and the fact that they were able to do it so quickly has been fantastic for our staff."
"Having her [Gabriella, the district’s Kelly Education representative] onsite several days a week is a really good model that has helped us be productive,” said Janina Kusielewic, the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction at Clifton School District. “The program is working as well as one could expect. Kelly Education helps us keep moving forward, keeping classrooms manned, and keeping kids on task.”
Plan for success.
“You really do need to plan for a 90+% fill rate when you’re entering the contract,” said Luis Ros, the director of human resources at Clifton School District. “You actually need to be prepared for success.”
For other school districts considering a similar transition, Clifton’s experience serves as a valuable lesson: plan for success.
The dramatic improvement in coverage meant increased costs, not just due to service fees, but because they now had more substitutes consistently in place. However, they see this as an investment in student learning and staff well-being. Kelly Education isn’t just a vendor; they’ve become a true partner. They understand the district’s needs, integrate with the community, and are always responsive.