We're looking for a credentialed learning specialist to work closely with a middle school student in San Mateo, CA. This is a one-on-one role centered on executive functioning, literacy skill-building, and relationship -- with a student who has real capacity and is waiting for the right person to unlock it.
ADHD is a significant piece of this student's profile. The right educator understands how ADHD shapes the learning experience and brings both the structure and the creativity to make sessions something the student actually looks forward to. You know that rapport and engagement are crucial. You bring energy, humor, and genuine enthusiasm to the work, and students feel it.
This is an ASAP hire. The role requires in-person sessions at the student's home in San Mateo and a commitment to stay through the summer and into the next school year. Consistency matters enormously for this student.
Student Profile
You'll be working with a middle school student who is building real academic skills in a setting tailored entirely to him. His primary areas of focus are executive functioning -- time management, planning, and task initiation -- alongside reading comprehension, reading fluency, keyword identification, and foundational writing. He has ADHD, and the educators who get the most out of him are the ones who make the work feel alive, not like an obligation.
He responds to an educator who is warm, consistent, and genuinely fun to be around. Someone who can hold clear expectations without feeling rigid, celebrate incremental wins with real enthusiasm, and build the kind of relationship where he wants to show up and try. He's navigating comparison to a high-achieving older sibling, so an educator who is thoughtful about how they frame progress will make a meaningful difference. His family is involved and supportive; the educator who does well here knows how to make the most of session time and sustain momentum independently.
What You'll Do
- Deliver sessions on a schedule that shifts by season: once a week for 60 to 90 minutes during the school year, and more frequently for shorter sessions over the summer when there is more flexibility
- Build executive functioning skills through real, repeatable strategies -- time management, planning, prioritization, and getting started on tasks -- embedded into every session
- Develop reading fluency through read-alouds, keyword identification, and comprehension strategies matched to where the student actually is
- Teach foundational writing skills, starting with basic paragraph construction and building as confidence grows
- Design sessions that feel engaging and dynamic -- this student does best when learning doesn't feel like work
- Track progress and adjust your approach based on what's working, session by session
- Communicate proactively with the Thrive team and family, including a brief note after each session
What Makes Someone Successful in This Role
- You have real experience supporting students with ADHD and understand how to structure sessions, pace content, and build in engagement so that focus follows naturally.
- You are a credentialed learning specialist or special educator with a background in reading intervention and executive functioning at the middle school level. This role is not a fit for generalist tutors.
- You know how to make learning genuinely fun -- you bring creativity, energy, and personality to sessions, and students are drawn to working with you.
- You build strong relationships with students who need to trust before they try, and you hold consistent expectations without losing the warmth that makes the relationship work.
- You make meaningful progress within sessions regardless of whether learning is reinforced at home between meetings.
- You can commit to this student through the summer and the 2026--2027 school year. Continuity is a priority, and the family needs someone who is in it for the long haul.
Logistics and Compensation
- Location: San Mateo, CA -- in-person at the student's home
- School Year Schedule: Once per week, 60 to 90 minutes per session, after-school afternoon/evening
- Summer Schedule: More frequent, shorter sessions (schedule flexible)
- Hours: Varies by season; approximately 1 to 1.5 hours per week during the school year
- Start Date: ASAP -- June 2026
- Commitment: Through summer 2026 and the 2026--2027 school year
- Compensation: $50.00 to $85.00 per hour, depending on experience
- Employment Type: Contract
- Travel: In-person sessions required; candidate must be able to commute to San Mateo
Why This Role
This student has real potential, and the right educator will be able to see it and draw it out. He needs someone who believes in him, makes the work feel worthwhile, and shows up consistently enough that trust has a chance to build.
For a specialist who loves the relational side of this work as much as the instructional side, this is a placement where you can make a genuine, lasting impact -- and actually see it happen over time.
About Thrive
Thrive Education Partners connects exceptional educators with families seeking highly personalized, values-driven education.
Our placements go beyond traditional tutoring or classroom teaching. We help create thoughtful learning environments where students can grow academically, build confidence, and experience the joy of meaningful, individualized education.
Pay: $55.00 - $85.00 per hour
Benefits:
Application Question(s):
- Have you worked in a private home or family-based education setting before?
Education:
Experience:
- teaching: 3 years (Required)
License/Certification:
- teaching license (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- San Mateo, CA 94403 (Required)
Work Location: In person
