Aesop FAQs

What is Aesop? – Aesop is the method East Penn School District will be tracking attendance for all employees. It also is the method for requesting a substitute.

When do I need to use Aesop to get a Substitute?

  • Association Day – with Superintendent approval
  • Bereavement – per contract
  • Court – per contract
  • No Pay - with supervisor approval
  • Emergency – per contact
  • Sick Day
  • Jury Duty – a copy of the summons must be sent to Carol Firth – Personnel
  • Personal Day – with supervisor approval – Per Contract – only full days – no half days
  • Military – per contract
  • Conferences - Arrange a substitute after you receive your approved conference request – not before!
  • Other* - see below
  • Vacation

* Examples of “Other”– Academic competitions, sports, peer mediation, safe schools, visitation, Veterans Day, student forum, AP reader, AP testing, Debate, Envirothon, PJAS, History Day, etc. NOTE: after entering Other as a reason for an absence, you must add in the Notes for Administration area the exact reason you will be absent. Please note – “Other” absences require prior verbal approval from administration.

When do I NOT need to use Aesop to get a Substitute?

  • District requested days
  • Examples include: Curriculum meetings, exam proctors, PSSA, DRA, IEP, Inclusion, etc.
  • Field trip requests
  • Middle school monthly meetings

The above requests will be entered by the personnel office after receiving the approval from the appropriate supervisor.

How does Aesop work?

When a teacher knows they are going to be absent, they log onto the Aesop website (or telephone Aesop if no access to internet) and request a substitute. Once your request is approved, Aesop will find a substitute to fill the position.

I would like to request a personal day – are there still limits to the number of teachers who can be out from one building? Yes – the number of teachers permitted to take personal days per building has not changed. Check the Aesop website to see if your request is approved or denied.

Do I have to still fill out a form requesting my absence?

Personal Days, Illness & Vacation Days – No – Aesop will replace the appropriate form

Emergency Days – Yes – you have 10 days to complete the paperwork upon return to work

Aesop Quickstart Guide

Log on to Aesop

  • Open your Internet browser and go to and press enter.
  • Enter your ID and PIN number from the personalized welcome letter, and click on Login.

How toCreate an Absence

  1. Select the Create an Absence tab on the left
  2. Enter the Start and End Dates
  3. Choose the day(s) of the week
  4. Choose the Absence Reason Type
  5. Select if a Substitute is required
  6. Specify the Start and End Times
  7. Click the Next button
  8. Verify all information
  9. Click on Save

Note: Please do not enter any notes to the administrators as there is no guarantee that they will be viewed prior to your absence. If you need to communicate with your administrator, please email or call them.

Also, do not attach any files for the substitute as there is no guarantee that they will be able to open the file.

Confirmation Number

Aesop will give you a confirmation number. This number ensures that your Absence request is recorded. If you are requesting a personal day, please check back regularly to make sure that your day is approved.

Cancelling an Absence

  1. Click on View My Schedule on the left side
  2. Locate the day that you requested a Substitute for
  3. Click on the Trash can under the assignment you wish to cancel.
  4. A warning message appears – Are you sure you want to cancel this absence – Click on OK to cancel.

Other Home Page Features

Currently Scheduled Absences

Aesop will show you absences up to 14 days in advance. Aesop will display the details of your absence, as well as the name of the substitute who has accepted the assignment.

Absences Requiring Approval

Review the approval status of your absence request.

  • Unapproved – request has yet to be reviewed
  • Approved – request has been approved
  • Denied – request has been denied approval

Changing PIN

You can change your PIN at any time by clicking on Change your PIN on the left menu.

Changing Personal Information

You do not have the ability to change your personal information. Any information that needs to be changed should be directed to the Business Office.

Absence History

View all absences for the past 366 days (year) and the next 90 days. If you need a greater range, click on View My Schedule on the left menu.

Creating an absence for an Itinerant Employee

(an employee who travels between multiple schools)

If you are an employee who works at more than one building, you will be able to enter your absences on the Aesop with just a few easy steps. Consider the schedule below

Thursday / East Elementary / 7:30 AM to 9:05 AM
North High School / 9:45 AM to 11:45 Am
Main Street Elementary / 12:15 PM to 3:00 PM
Friday / East Elementary / 7:00 AM to 11:15 AM
Olson Elementary / 11:45 AM to 3:00 PM

Click on Create an Absence on the home page. Then follow the steps below to create an absence for both days listed above.

Enter the absence information according to the schedule.

Both 2/9 and 2/10 are entered in the date range, because the itinerant employee goes to East Elementary School on both days. At this point, enter 2/9’s Start and End times – you can adjust 2/10’s start and end times on the verification screen. Click on Next

On the Verification screen, review all information and make the necessary changes to 2/10’s Start and End times. Click on Save.

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