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The Sunshine Method

In my time working at Sunshine, I really enjoyed the flexibility of the position. I chose my hours and cases and can drop or take on more cases whenever needed. As a student, this was the ideal for scheduling reasons. I also like that they do not micromanage as far as cases and case notes. They do not check-in with you until the end of the month which is better for those who can work independently but not good for those who need a lot fo assistance and training. 

Some things that I do not enjoy about the job is that communication with staff is nearly impossible. There is one member of the team who is helpful and responsive but the other members often take several business days to respond to any emails and often leave text messages completely unanswered. This can be very stressful for time-sensitive issues. It is also difficult to understand the different job titles. I worked with them for nearly a year and it was never made clear who to report to so I just asked the questions to the one person who was consistently responsive within a reasonable timeframe. 
Also, it is a pain to pick up cases that are not given or offered to you. If you go through the portal to apply for cases it takes forever for approval or denial and they are often denied without reason. Once you meet with parents, they tend to be frustrated because they have been on the waitlist for long periods of time which is strange since tutors are getting denied cases that are not being serviced.  
Entering notes for this job can be overwhelming, especially the monthlies. I also do not like that orientation consists of an extensive speech about the mission of the organization instead of actual training. They share the Google Drive of resources to train yourself but it is not worth the amount of unpaid time you have to put in. The wages seem great but you are not reimbursed for travel time, gas, mileage, or monthly note-taking which is all very time-consuming. 
A rule of thumb is that whatever is offered hourly for the position should be divided by two because you will likely spend an extra hour traveling and lesson planning for the student. So $22/hour quickly becomes $11/hour because of the amount of work that has to be put in for each case, if you care enough to do so.

Next to no chance of advancement. Management was complacent. Lack of support. There were 5 management changes in less than three yrs. Favoritism was evident along with low pay.  The rate of pay is insulting and corporate needs an overhaul because you simply cannot attract or retain talent for that pay rate.

The center continues to accept special needs students without proper measures and experienced staff in place to address behavior and academic deficiencies. Management ignores staff concerns regarding best practices to better assist students in extra need.

Staff is promised consistent hours, yet many are scheduled for a paltry 10-13 hours per week! This shows management's lack of respect for experienced instructors that are dedicated and available to work. Overall poor communication by management will allow for many cancellations without sufficient notice, resulting in lost wages and excessive transportation costs. Policy calls for parents being financially responsible to corporate, while instructors receive 30 minutes pay for the cancellation; $7.50! Absurd.

Corporate policies are very punitive. Staff receive attendance bonuses that increase pay rate to $15.00/hr. but if staff puts in for approved time off, they are docked for the entire pay period because of not meeting criteria for attendance bonus!  Regardless if you took one approved day off, you will be docked. This policy should require review by state department of labor.

The company uses outdated materials, offers no proper training or mentorship for staff, is heavily focused on revenue streams and not student progress, and treats experienced educators poorly. Avoid this punitive and disrespectful company at all costs.

After having completed a month as a tutor with the Sunshine Method I am proud to say I am a believer. Our children are suffering from a pandemic of poor literacy. They suffer from poor reading skills, mathematic concept, and basic life skills that transcend the ability of our current educational system to address. There are many reasons for this. Some are socioeconomic, some are systemic, some are baked into the children due to inherited adverse child experiences. As a tutor with the Sunshine Method I have an outlet that both philosophically and in practice believes in the potential of every child to succeed despite their past. The method recognizes the need to treat each child respectfully and use their own specific individual strengths to unlock their academic potential! My first child is evidence that the method works. The child lights up during our sessions and has shown growth in math and reading. Most importantly he has learned that learning can be fun and that he can succeed. The Sunshine Method has made the administrative end of tutoring simple and allowed me to spend time tutoring and not bookeeeping!

What is the best part of working at the company?
I enjoyed working with students  one-on-one and talking with parents re: student progress.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Waiting for the insurance companies to approve the client's qualifications for the program. In  one student's case, I waited from May until September for approval.  Also parents often do not take their child's education seriously and plan other family events  instead of keeping to the agreed upon schedule.  

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment varies if a tutor is doing the in-person option because the tutor sees the students either at their home or a public place such as a library.  In one instance, the parent did not have a table for us at which to work so we worked on a couch with no coffee table in front of us.  This is not very confusing to teaching and learning.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Seeing students after school at their homes.  I saw up to three students twice a week.

I cannot speak highly enough of this place. The support from day one that I received from the COO to HR was something I had never experienced. These are students that need help more than others, the vulnerable populations, the ones often misunderstood, etc., and the emphasis is not only on education but on mentoring as well. The Sunshine Method understands how difficult this job is and stays in constant contact to support its Tutor Mentors in every way possible. The pay is lower than some other companies because they are being paid through insurance, but if your desire is to make a real impact, this is the place. No company is perfect, and they do ask the employees for ways to improve; they are sincerely trying. Do not go into this job if you only want to teach a lesson and disappear because these children need someone who will invest in them, and that is understandably not for everyone. I had to take a leave of absence for personal reasons, but I am excited to be returning next semester. 

I was looking for a new company to tutor with when VIPKID went out of business. The Sunshine Method seemed simple and straight forward, however, I have struggled with this company. The company expects you to facilitate all the interactions with the families, and some families refuse to communicate. They are also not transparent that some students who attend tutoring are court ordered to do so, and don't want to be there. The logistics with paperwork are frustrating and I felt zero support from the main office. The pay is also abysmal when you have students that have tutoring they do not want to attend so you only make $10 instead of the normal rate when they refuse to attend tutoring. I found another job and I think anyone looking for independent contractor tutoring would be better working by yourself than expecting support from The Sunshine Method. 

I was matched with local students based on the interview and questionnaires and I meet with them at a time that works for both of us. Sunshine provides me with tutoring materials and gives me plenty of opportunities to take on multiple students on my own schedule. They know about their students so they tell you exactly what grade/ level of education and subjects that they need help in. I started tutoring with them when I was in college and found it really rewarding to see my students succeed. Working with the team, I saw how they were passionate about finding these kids tutors and how hard they worked with me to take on more students who needed tutoring. The hardest part is meeting a kid who is really behind but then the most enjoyable is seeing them succeed after working with them over a period of time. They do a lot of volunteer work and have plenty of happy hours/charity events so it's definitely a very social environment and you get to meet so many other cool tutors!

What is the best part of working at the company?
 I enjoy working here. I like helping the students and using the Lessonspace platform.  I like being able to meet new students and also have them for a long time. Also, I can choose the material I wish to use for each different student. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Sometimes the students have to stop tutoring due to sessions being done. Then, it could be a long time and then we have to catch up. I also do not know what to expect from each student. It can be fun and nerve-wracking at the same time! Im thankful for the staff who you can always contact and make your request or ask them a question. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
It is usually at home or in a peaceful environment at their home. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
It is not that much so I cannot complain. It is just enough time and good for me.

Sunshine Method truly exemplifies educational equity, providing a supportive and inclusive environment for both students and tutors. The team is dedicatied to guidance, training, and mentorship; ensuring that I felt equipped and confident in my role.

Working with Sunshine Method has been a joy, thanks to the flexible scheduling, positive atmosphere, and open communication from the team. The students I've had the pleasure of working with have been inspiring, and I've witnessed firsthand the impact of your organization's commitment to fostering student growth and promoting learning development.

I  recommend Sunshine Method to any student seeking academic support and mentoring, as well as to any tutor who shares a passion for educational equity and student success. 

My internship experience had a significant positive contribution to my professional growth, personal growth, and self-confidence/self-esteem. As far as my professional growth, interning here allowed me to network and create lasting connections. I will also have my foot in the door when searching for a job as I have retained so much knowledge and on-site experience. I have grown so much as an individual as well by improving my communication skills, learning how to be in a professional environment, and certifying that HR is the direction I’d like to take my future. I have grown immensely while interning at The Sunshine Method. 

I have had a chance to work in all aspects of HR and did an array of tasks including screening resumes, hosting phone screen interviews, shadowing, and engaging with tutors every day. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Tutor 37 salaries reported	$23.27 per hour
Elementary school teacher 169 salaries reported	$19.65 per hour
High school teacher 1 salary reported	$23.50 per hour
Test preparation tutor 5 salaries reported	$19.30 per hour
Student mentor 24 salaries reported	$17.50 per hour

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