English & Civics Tutor/Teacher

About the Role

Pacific Learning Academy is currently hiring one or more part-time English and Civics Tutors/Teachers to provide personalized, 1-on-1 instruction to middle and high school students in Sammamish and Issaquah. Applicants must be able to teach Government, Civics, U.S. History, and English, including reading comprehension, academic writing, and essay organization. Certification is preferred but not required.

Pacific Learning Academy is a year-round accredited private school and educational service that supports middle and high school students for either 1-to-1 tutoring (academic support) or teaching core middle and high school courses (including languages). All lessons are 1-on-1, allowing instructors to quickly pivot and find the best way to support students. Academic magic happens when a student has your full attention!

Current Subject Areas We Are Hiring For

• Upper-level Math (ability to tutor AP Calculus)
• Science (physics, chemistry, and biology)
• Upper-level Spanish (experience required)
• Humanities (English, history)

Locations

Most lessons are held in person at our Sammamish school office, in student homes in the Sammamish/Issaquah area, or at nearby libraries. A smaller number of families request live online instruction through Zoom. Candidates must be willing and able to provide face-to-face instruction; this is not a fully remote position.

Online/Zoom Conditions

• Some families request online instruction.
• Instructors must have a webcam, mic, and comfort using (or learning) the Zoom platform.
• Instructors may conduct Zoom lessons from the location of their choice, including the Academy school office or their home.
• Zoom lessons will require the instructor to have an area free of visual distractions or extraneous noise.
• Zoom backgrounds should be professional/neat and appropriate for a learning environment. The Academy provides professional backgrounds to online instructors.

Minimum Requirements

• Four-year degree (or equivalent) in any subject. Certification is not required.
• Ability and interest in working with students of all abilities in grades 6–12, including students with ADHD and other learning differences
• A warm and encouraging way of working with teens
• Excellent English language skills (verbal and written)
• Computer and internet capabilities for lesson documentation or remote lessons, if applicable
• Reliable transportation for in-person tutoring (Sammamish/Issaquah homes & libraries)
• Available at least three days per week, preferably Monday through Thursday. Afternoons and evenings are most in demand during the school year, while mid-morning through mid-afternoon availability is most useful during the summer.
• Weekend availability desired, but not required
• Ability to pass a Washington State Patrol background check and fingerprinting requirements
• At least 15 hours of consistent weekly availability. Actual assigned hours depend on student demand and are not guaranteed. Instructors select the days and time ranges they can reliably maintain, and those parameters should remain consistent once students are scheduled.

Essential Abilities & Behaviors

• Strong knowledge of English language arts and social studies for grades 6–12
• Ability to teach Government, Civics, U.S. History, and middle and high school English
• Ability to support reading comprehension, analytical writing, research, essay organization, critical thinking, and discussion
• Able to communicate in a timely manner via official Academy email and texting
• Motivated to become familiar with local district textbooks and curriculum
• Positive, upbeat, and encouraging with students and staff
• Provide an exceptionally kind, empathetic, and high-quality tutoring or teaching experience
• Persuade reluctant learners to find joy in the subject again!

Working Hours

• Instructors set the daily parameters of their availability, such as Mondays from 2:00–8:00 p.m.
• Our greatest need during the school year is Monday through Thursday from approximately 3:30–8:00 p.m. Some daytime opportunities are also available. Weekend availability is helpful but optional.
• The Academy works to fill the hours you make available. Assigned hours depend on your subject expertise, student rapport, and whether your openings match family requests.
• During the summer, students most often request morning and early-afternoon lessons.
• Because we are an accredited school, we also serve some daytime students during the school year, including accredited-course, homeschool, and Running Start students.
• Academy instructors may work up to 25 hours per week, depending on their availability, skill set, and student demand in their subject areas. While hours are not guaranteed, instructors typically continue working with each assigned student for the remainder of the school year.

Job Duration

Training begins immediately upon hire. School-year positions require a commitment through mid-June. Successful instructors are welcome to continue through the summer and/or return the following fall. Because our students work with instructors 1-on-1, school, club, or athletic schedules may occasionally require a schedule change or a change of instructor. However, most students maintain the same schedule throughout their program.

Necessary Travel

You will need reliable, private transportation to drive to your lessons in the Sammamish/Issaquah area. The Academy compensates for drive time between locations. We also serve students in other cities, counties, and states—those lessons are generally held online.

What's in it for YOU to Work at Pacific Learning Academy?

• Established (2005), teacher-owned, accredited school and educational support service
• Strong reputation for high-quality, caring instructors and personalized student support
• Paid drive time between in-person lessons, along with a consistent weekly schedule
• Books/resources provided at no cost to you and regular professional development/training
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits available to eligible instructors
• The ability to design lessons and modify curriculum to match your students' needs
• The Academy provides copies of student textbooks

Physical Requirements

Instructor positions may require entering and working in student homes, public places such as libraries, and the Academy school office. The positions typically require: standing, walking, climbing stairs, using computers/laptops, lifting up to 20 pounds (books, backpacks, laptops), fine-motor movements required for writing, typing, and demonstrating academic concepts, talking, hearing, seeing, and performing repetitive motions. The position may involve prolonged use of visual displays for online lessons, as well as exposure to odors, variable lighting, and other environmental conditions associated with teaching in client homes.