elementary school teacher

science teacher

music teacher

spanish teacher

art teacher

VLN Partners, LLP

I have been working with VLN as a grader for two school years now. Overall this has been very good for me. I am contracted/independent and only grade assignments in my certified areas of teaching. I am able to work whenever from wherever. Management has been helpful and communication has been good. Every workplace has room for improvement and over this school year the company seems to be proactive in this area by making changes to its systems, asking employees for more feedback, etc. And let's be honest - no one would say they don't deserve a pay increase. This job allows me to remain in education but also have the flexibility to be at home with my children. The workload during 2020 was a bit overwhelming (considering the amount of cyber students that year) but management was totally understanding. At times it seems the assignments to grade are never ending but I always have been able to manage. The work fluctuation would be the main con for a position like this - less work = less pay so this is really is for those seeking supplemental income (the only reason why five stars wouldn't be appropriate for compensation and job security). I view myself as very fortunate to have found this position.

I love vln. I have worked as an independent contractor for them for two years. I am an adjunct grader for students enrolled in a cyber school program. I have many certifications so I can grade student work in several content areas. I grade a lot of elementary work though. You can do all of the work from home, which I love. From the time a student submits an assignment, you have 72 hours to get it graded. You do not want to go in the red (past due). You can be let go for that. When you grade a file, you put a comment on it, using Adobe Acrobat, then you put the score and comment in the online gradebook. I actually really like the work. It's pretty flexible in terms of when you grade and also how much. I grade more than most people because I have the time and enjoy the work. You can be upfront and honest about how much you can do though. You get paid $1 for each assignment you grade. Depending on what I'm grading, I can grade between 18-30 files in an hour. If you've never had an independent contractor position, taxes do not get taken out. So you have to plan for paying taxes at tax time, just an fyi. I will keep this job for as long as it exists. 

- You will be at the office 9 hours a day (8 working, 1 hour unpaid lunch)
- Most times you have to use your lunch to keep up with the mountain of work given
- Cubicle style seating
- Male dominated staff
- Must rotate evening tutoring hours via company cell phone (not the easiest to do Math or English assignments that way)
- Additional hours outside of work include up to 5 hours of grading a week.
- Your boss does not have an education degree and neither do the account managers
- Your boss and account managers will make educational decisions for your students without consulting you or they will override decisions you have made to please parents.
- Extreme favoritism towards those who do not voice concerns over implementation of policies that will not benefit students.
- Teachers who do not hold Principal Certification will be in charge of you.  
- Every teacher does not have an equal voice at this company.
- The owner does not seem to be present anymore.

VLN is a pretty laid back work enviroment. Everyone is friendly, the job itself wasn't too hard at all. They pay well and they offer great benefits like PTO and a week off between Christmas and New Years; along with all the normal benefits. There is not a real remote policy; all remote work was based off Covid decisions. For the most part there are few cons about this company. 
The only cons: Being open minded about ideas for better processes or changes is not a thing here. Communication could definitely be better. Work is determined by school orders so less orders = less work. Less work = downsizing.

I know other reviews comment on the CEO a lot; the CEO is a nice person who is very business minded: be nice to her and do your job and there are not problems.

VLN Partners was an OK job until they stopped paying teachers for the actual time spent grading & providing feedback on essays, & instead paid $.04 per assignment. 

I was told to stop communicating with students because they didn't want to pay me for the extra time. Many students at VLN were barely passing in public school prior to enrolling at VLN, so motivating them to gain interest in their school subjects & put forth effort was crucial to their educational experience. 

In essence, I was being told to only grade papers  & explain mistakes, but I wasn't allowed to actually teach or motivate students by talking about or encouraging them to listen to music.

I have worked as a part-time grader for VLN for three years and I love this job.  I have had excellent support from my lead teachers.  Ryan O. has been an excellent resource for me.  He is very accessible and will help me find solutions quickly that are in the best interest of the students, who come first at VLN.  The technology is frequently being upgraded to the stay current and provide the best service for the online school.  I have always felt valued, and my opinions have always been heard and questions addressed quickly.  They ask for feedback and are always looking for ways to improve and provide the best education for their online students.  I really enjoy working for VLN.

Pros: 
- It opened doors to see the world of EdTech. 
- Extremely organized leadership. 
- Travel opportunities. 
- Great hands-on experiences with the K-12 world. 
- It provided opportunities to have an impact in different areas such as:
  - Account Management
  - Client Relationships
  - Marketing 
- Great benefits package. 

Cons: 
No company is perfect.  The company continued to evolve (updating technology, formalizing procedures, etc) that come along with an evolving company.  Work/Life balance was challenging but it was a rewarding experience that was a launching pad for me. 

Over the years, VLN has grown exponentially in both size and workplace culture. The benefits are good, the work is satisfying and there are many opportunities to learn new things and try new ideas. The company is definitely growing quickly and is moving in an exciting direction. Management recognizes hard work and achievements of those that are willing to be flexible and grow along with the company. Overall, a really fun place to work!

What is the best part of working at the company?
Work from home at own pace! Easy system to input grades and comments. Do your job and no one will bother you!  Good work environment!

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
No stress from working at this company been with them for 6 years. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Work from home culture is do your job and do it well! 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Anywhere from a 15 minutes to an hour of work depending on how many assignments you have to grade.

I worked for VLN for 3 years and 8 months.  Your boss has no degree in education and the owner has placed her in complete control of his company which is beginning to have financial difficulties.  You will be asked to pad students grades and do exactly as told even if it is not beneficial to students. 
If you do not do exactly as told, you will be pulled into a meeting and reprimanded.  Thiss company is just looking to make money and is not interested in overall student achievement.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Elementary school teacher 26 salaries reported	$20.75 per hour
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Spanish teacher 1 salary reported	$21.50 per hour
Art teacher 6 salaries reported	$20.50 per hour

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