tutor

high school teacher

teacher

mathematics teacher

substitute teacher

SmartStart Education

Unfortunately, my time working with your organization has revealed several issues that reflect a lack of professionalism, reliability, and integrity.

Despite assurances made during the hiring process, the company has not upheld its commitments. Compensation has not aligned with the value of the work performed, and there has been little willingness to address or correct these discrepancies. Additionally, the online technology provided is consistently unreliable, making it difficult to deliver effective instruction to students.

The company also fails to provide even the most basic supplies or resources necessary to support tutors in their roles. Management is frequently unavailable, unresponsive, and offers no meaningful guidance or support when challenges arise.

Overall, the organization presents itself as a structured, dependable tutoring service, yet the internal operations suggest otherwise. The lack of support, inadequate tools, and failure to honor commitments create an environment that is neither sustainable nor respectful to the professionals who work hard to serve students.


Due to the nature of the tutoring positions, the exact details and levels of on-site support differ greatly depending on the school you work with. 

As far as the SmartStart staff go, communication is prompt and direct, and questions are promptly answered. There are numerous resources available to use for activities and lessons, and monthly PD meetings focusing on classroom management skills and/or available resources. The program also supports your completion of a High-Dosage Tutoring Microcredential Certification from ASU.

However, there are numerous complications due to the high turnover in some positions/schools. Data from previous tutors is not always transferred to you, and getting data from the school falls to you. Communication and coordination with school administration is inconsistent, and many times tutors were not aware of schedule changes or tests until the day of. The level of clarity in expectations and procedures also varies, and there were numerous times when drills or alarms were carried out where tutors were not informed of the procedures or expectations ahead of time.

I enjoyed my tutoring contract with SmartStart Education. The compensation was fair, and the management team was very supportive. I was fortunate to have a wonderful program supervisor, who provided the necessary support structure for the tutors to perform well. The program supervisor would touch base with tutors biweekly to ensure that things were running smoothly. The company provides you with a structured learning program to follow for both ELA and Math. The faculty and staff at my assigned school were amazing to work with. The most difficult aspect of the job involved some behavior issues with students. However, those problems were addressed quickly by management and the school. It was rewarding seeing the students progress significantly from the start of the program to the end. I would highly recommend taking the tutoring contracts if you are looking for a source of supplemental income while doing something rewarding. 

SmartStart Education is a great company to work for if you are beginning a career in the education field.  The most difficult part of the job for me was getting to students to focus on their work and remain consistent in their studies.  However, I was fortunate to have a wonderful school staff that helped me improve the academic performance of my students. They were very supportive in helping me to get to know my students in a deeper level and provided me with any classroom materials I needed to encourage my students to do their work. My greatest accomplishment as a tutor was watching my students progress as the state math exam came closer and  they utilized the strategies that I taught them to answer analytical questions.  SmartStart provides a flexible work schedule with decent compensation. I would definitely work for this company again if I able to. 

Working at SmartStart Education has been a fantastic experience! The internal staff genuinely cares about the success of our tutors and the impact they have on students. The culture is welcoming, and the team is incredibly supportive, always willing to lend a hand and provide guidance. It’s clear that everyone is passionate about making a difference in education. If you’re looking for a company that values both its employees and the students it serves, this is the place to be!

The pay is above average and managers are very easy to get along with and very understanding. The kids are sweet and working with them is very rewarding. Most teachers are appreciative. Overall, I enjoy working here and feel I am fairly compensated. 

One downside is that there are no benefits for tutors and contracts are shorter than the school year, but most other tutoring companies don't offer benefits either. 

There were some organization issues within the school: where we pulled kids, what time kids were available, what we should work on, etc. You need to have the independence to communicate with teachers and manage those things on your own. You need to be able to think on your feet when the teacher has something different to do every day. They aren't going to teach you how to tutor and they have a resource library, but it's not really going to help you in the moment.

I am so grateful that I found this company a few years ago.  I have been able to advance from being an online tutor to having an internal role in the company.  My job with the company has moved from being a part-time job while still working two other jobs to being my full-time job where I am able to solely provide for the needs of my family.  SmartStart strongly believes in providing a quality education for ALL students as well helping educators advance and grow in their careers.  The company has been so supportive of me both professionally and personally.  The company culture is fun and positive while still pushing you to become better at what you do. If you are looking to use your education background in a new and exciting capacity, look no further than SmartStart.

The interview process and overall experience was positive for me. I interviewed and was given an offer a few days later. They did ask for references. I was given my school and start date. I liked my placement and the admin at my school. I also liked that the company tried to do team building activities like virtual happy hours despite most of us never meeting in person. The only reason why I would just recommend this job to someone young/early in their career, still in college or someone who doesn’t need the benefits, is because the company does not provide ANY benefits. When the school has a preplanned closure (observed holiday, winter/spring break), you do not get paid. If you need to take off a day, you do not get paid. You have no medical, dental, vision, or retirement match (to my knowledge) as a tutor so as much as I could have wanted to return the following year it’s something I couldn’t do. 

I worked for SmartStart as an elementary school tutor on a short-term contract. I provided pull-out services for small groups of students in math and English. I worked at the school for half a day, four times a week. A curriculum was provided, which I really appreciated. 

The only downsides to the job were things related to it being a relatively new program in my area -- for example the attendance tracking system could have been more efficient, and the expected hours also shifted. If it had been possible to increase my hours or extend my contract, I would have very much wanted to! 

I would recommend positions at this company to anyone who enjoys working with kids, is passionate about education, has at least a bachelor's in any STEM or humanities field, and is seeking part-time work. 

What is the best part of working at the company?
Working at the Smart start center would not be a smart choice for anyone because as soon as you start, it’s not good people talk about people and people leave children at a ratio

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
When your co-teacher leaves you at a ratio with eight children

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
it’s not a good one, especially a boss that breathes down your throat and tells you the lesson plan and things like that especially if you have no experience in the field

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Every day I had to come into work breathing and holding my breath to see if My Boss would come in or if she’s out or whatever the case maybe

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Tutor 477 salaries reported	$193 per day
High school teacher 47 salaries reported	$200 per day
Teacher 1 salary reported	$31.19 per hour
Mathematics teacher 6 salaries reported	$35.52 per hour
Substitute teacher 1 salary reported	$27.44 per hour

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