This is not a traditional tutoring-center job.
Literacy Lighthouse is a new Lakeland literacy academy built on a simple idea: small classes, exceptional teachers, and kids who genuinely love coming to learn to read. We teach structured literacy — the science of reading — in classes capped at 6–8 children, and we are growing fast.
We're hiring our Founding Reading Specialist: the first teacher on the team and the person who sets the bar for everything that follows. If you're an outstanding reading educator who is tired of bureaucracy, wants afternoons that matter, and gets excited about building something from the ground up — this role was designed for you.
Why great reading teachers choose Literacy Lighthouse
- Top-of-market pay. $50–$60/hour for instructional time — well above typical Lakeland tutoring pay — with training and prep time paid too.
- Teach the way you always wanted to. Classes capped at 6–8 kids. Curriculum, materials, and assessments provided. No hall duty, no committees, no paperwork mountains. Just teaching.
- Real flexibility. A minimum of 2 full days per week (2–3 days) on a consistent schedule — and the rest of your week is entirely yours. A perfect fit for family life, grad school, semi-retirement, or a portfolio career.
- A ground-floor seat in a fast-growing startup. A defined path from Founding Reading Specialist → Lead Reading Specialist → Literacy Program Director, with full-time leadership opportunities as enrollment grows. Your fingerprints will be on the program, the culture, and the company.
What you'll do
- Deliver engaging, structured-literacy instruction to small groups of elementary students
- Track each child's progress and celebrate wins with students and families
- Help shape curriculum, routines, and the Literacy Lighthouse experience as we grow
Who you are
- Magnetic with kids — your students want to show up
- Grounded in the science of reading and serious about results
- Motivated by building and winning, not just filling hours
Requirements
- Florida educator certification with Reading Endorsement, OR an equivalent high-level structured-literacy credential (Orton-Gillingham, Wilson, Barton, or similar)
Strongly preferred
- Orton-Gillingham, Wilson, or Barton certification
- Dyslexia intervention experience
- Elementary reading intervention experience
To apply: submit your resume and a few sentences about a student you turned into a reader.
Literacy Lighthouse is an equal opportunity employer.
Literacy Lighthouse | Lakeland, FL | theliteracylighthouse.com
Pay: $50.00 - $60.00 per hour
Expected hours: 16.0 – 24.0 per week
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
- Professional development assistance
Application Question(s):
- Which of the following do you hold? Please list all that apply: Florida educator certificate; Florida Reading Endorsement; Orton-Gillingham certification; Wilson certification; Barton certification; or none of the above.
- Are you available to work at least 2 full weekdays per week in Lakeland, FL?
- How many years have you taught reading to elementary-age students?
- Which reading curricula or programs have you taught with?
- Tell us about one student you turned into a reader — what was the turning point?
Work Location: In person
