"We Train Substitute Teachers" The Substitute Teaching Division, STEDI.org was founded as the Substitute Teaching Institute at Utah State University in 1995 and provides research-based training materials and services designed to improve student achievement when students are taught by a substitute teacher and to assist those who manage them. In 1997, the Substitute Teaching Institute was awarded the first ever federal funding for field-initiated research in the realm of substitute teaching. Since then, STI/USU has evolved and grown to become the national leader in improving substitute teaching by providing products and services to school districts and substitute teachers nationwide. In 2008 the Substitute Teaching Institute became STEDI.org as it spun off from the university to increase the reach of the Institute to more school districts and substitute teachers nationally. Ever since, STEDI.org has forged ahead implementing research-based practices to improve recruiting, training, and retention efforts in school districts throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. STEDI.org offers college-level courses.