Milford Public Schools held a job fair on Wednesday to find substitute teachers and para-professionals for positions across the district.

Milford schools Human Resources Director Wendy Kopazna told News 12 it's become harder in the last two years for schools to cover unexpected absences.

"Since COVID for some reason, we cannot seem to build up that sub pool to the level that we need it at,” she said. "Several of my friends are teachers in the Milford district, and they mentioned they were in really dire need for substitutes.”

District officials say the candidates who came to the fair come from all different career backgrounds.

"We have substitutes that were CEOs, we have substitutes that were in marketing and nursing,” said one official.

Milford Public Schools just increased substitute pay from $110 a day to $140.