Prerequisites and Ideals
Please read through this posting carefully to make sure you are a good candidate for this position.
We are looking for tutors who have a genuine love for education and who are able to build strong relationships with their students while maintaining a professional and productive learning environment.
For the fall, we are primarily looking for tutors who can commit to approximately 15 hours per week, Monday through Friday, with availability during weekday afternoon hours. Monday availability will need to include an earlier afternoon start due to the school schedule.
We may also consider tutors who are available on a more limited schedule, such as Monday/Wednesday/Friday, but we are primarily looking for those who are able to commit to the full weekday schedule.
In addition to these regular tutoring hours, we are looking for instructors who have additional availability for private 1-on-1 students. Private sessions can be scheduled at different times depending on the student's needs and the instructor's availability, so additional flexibility is a plus.
Our specialty is executive functioning. This requires a tutor to be able to help a student plan, organize, self-learn, and eventually complete school work on their own without assistance.
About the Company
Thank you for applying to Total Tutors, winner of “Best Tutoring Company in Orange County” two years in a row!
Total Tutors is a comprehensive education program based in Orange County. Total Tutors prides itself on delivering a top level of education to all students and believes that education of this level is a right for all, not a privilege for a few.
Total Tutors uses a psychology-backed approach along with self-made assessments to help teach students how to learn at the highest level, so they may better be able to help themselves. Our greatest ambition is to eventually no longer be needed.
Total Tutors also focuses on a “full person” approach to education, assisting with not just academics, but with enrichment, social-emotional learning, executive functioning, STEM, and extracurriculars as well, to help our students become more well-rounded learners.
Our Instructors
Many people have applied to our company, and after working with so many talented individuals, we can say for certain that we are looking for one thing above all else: dedication.
Education is a job that requires passion and dedication to one's students. For those who are looking to pass the time with some extra work and some extra money, this is not the position for you. Whether you work 5 hours or 15 hours, those hours should be fully dedicated to your students.
Education, like anything else, is a skill. It requires those who practice it to be dedicated to honing and perfecting it.
While we are confident those of you applying are well versed in your fields, knowing a subject does not necessarily mean you can teach that subject. We are looking for instructors who value, and are always working on bettering, their ability to break down, repurpose, and distribute information in different forms.
Please take a self-reflective look before applying and determine whether this seems like a good fit for your skill set.
General Information About This Position
The benefit of this position is that instructors have flexibility in creating their own schedules. While group-format class times cannot be amended, private instruction can generally be scheduled at the instructors' discretion.
Private instruction will take place at students' homes, or occasionally at nearby libraries or other locations. For this reason, it is important to take travel time between students into consideration. We expect our instructors to be willing to travel for instruction, generally within approximately 20 miles.
The group classes are also an important part of our company. Total Tutors hosts a wide variety of classes, from reading to math and writing. All instructors are welcome to inquire about teaching one of our group classes or propose a new class to teach.
These classes have more rigid time constraints because they depend on room availability, but they also pay at a higher rate. We love seeing instructors combine private sessions with group classes when their availability allows.
While we hope to give each instructor as many hours as they wish, hours outside of scheduled programs depend on incoming client calls and demand. Certain parts of the school year will naturally be slower than others, so instructors should understand that this position may not provide consistent 20+ hour weeks outside of our larger programs.
Subject Requirements
1. Math
Pre-algebra, Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, and ideally Pre-Calculus.
2. Science
Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, and ideally Physics.
3. History
All history grades 9–12. This is mostly memorization, homework completion, test preparation, and study strategies. Complete working knowledge of all history classes is not required.
4. Literature and English
Experience in research writing, thesis statements, opinion essays, argument essays, and reading strategies.
5. Foreign Language
Experience teaching Spanish, Mandarin, and/or French is preferred.
6. Elementary and Early Childhood Education
We ask that our early childhood teachers have real classroom experience and be familiar with Common Core standards.
Early childhood education is a major part of our clientele and requires instructors who have a passion for learning, a natural gift for mentoring and engaging students, and a solid understanding of the fine line between creating a connection with students and maintaining the role of a teacher.
7. Special Needs Education
Experience working with students with special needs is strongly preferred for certain tutoring opportunities. Applicants should be patient, adaptable, comfortable adjusting instruction to individual needs, and able to create a positive and structured learning environment.
Required Skills
- Engaging: This is important for getting students involved and immersed in their studies.
- Responsible: Instructors must be able to be fun and engaging while knowing where to draw the professional line.
- Outgoing: It is crucial that instructors are able to make students feel comfortable.
- Organized: Tutors must be able to plan lessons, manage assignments, and help students develop organizational skills.
- Adaptable: Every student learns differently, and tutors need to be able to adjust their approach when necessary.
General Job Responsibilities
- Applicant must be organized and able to teach test prep, study skills, and organization.
- Applicant must be professional and very punctual.
- Applicant must be willing to travel for private instruction.
- Applicant must be able to design lesson plans, source materials, and teach in creative and unique ways.
- Applicant must have superb communication skills.
- Applicant must respond to text messages within two hours during business hours, ideally sooner.
- Applicant must respond to emails within two hours during business hours.
- Applicant must have at least two years of educational experience or three years of tutoring experience.
- Applicant must be willing to adhere to company guidelines.
- Applicant must arrive prepared and on time for scheduled sessions.
- Applicant must communicate promptly if an issue arises that affects their ability to attend a scheduled session.
This is an independent contractor position, so hours may not always be enough for a traditional full-time position outside of our larger programs. This is an ideal position for students, teachers, education majors, or those already working part-time in the education field.
A Few Important Points to Reiterate
One thing that sets us apart from other tutoring companies is our support of our tutors.
We get to know our students very well and perform initial assessments and progress checks to give our tutors a better understanding of the student they will be working with. We also have a large database of worksheets and lesson plans, along with our own reading and math programs, to help tutors deliver the best education possible.
While we do offer assistance to our tutors, we fully expect that each tutor is capable of taking our lessons and worksheets and making them their own. We do not have the ability to plan every lesson for every student, so it is imperative that each tutor can follow up with their own lessons and worksheets.
Communication
One of the skills we value most is effective communication.
Our business is run mostly through text and email. Clients will call or inquire throughout business hours and expect prompt responses. Because of this, we require our tutors to also respond promptly to text messages and emails.
We have a two-hour rule and expect all tutors to respond within two hours during business hours, though preferably sooner. Failure to meet this requirement may result in termination.
Our Students
Above all else, we value the success of our students.
Those who are counting the seconds with students will not be right for this position. Those who are willing to go the extra mile — whether that means staying a few minutes extra to help finish an assignment, answering a quick question, or preparing a thoughtful and engaging lesson — will be rewarded and succeed most within our company.
Pay Scale
$25/hour – Regular program tutoring
$30/hour – Special needs tutoring
$35/hour – 1:1 private tutoring
$40/hour – 1:1 private special needs tutoring
$40/hour – Group class teaching
Up to $50/hour – Larger group classes
Job Types: Part-time, Contract
Pay: $25.00 - $45.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
