Private Tutor

Students

The students are two well-behaved, calm, and polite young children from a warm, supportive family where good humor and fun are encouraged. They are happy children but both are currently quite fussy eaters. The boy is a vegetarian who will only eat dry, crunchy textures. He is a very focused child, almost to the point of stubbornness. The girl eats a much more varied diet but can still be a bit picky with her food. 

The twins enjoy playing with computer games, Lego and other non-screen-based activities. The girl has a preference for dance – especially ballet – and the boy for golf, tennis and music. These preferences may reflect  activities that are easy to organize for home-schooled children - exposing the twins to a wider range of  activities may generate passions in other areas. 

The twins are currently being home schooled by a series of by-the-hour tutors from the US. However, the quality of education is not of the standard sought by their parents – the lessons are uninspiring and formulaic. The twins’ parents would like them to attend top universities such as MIT, Harvard or Oxbridge, but already the twins are behind their current US grade level (1). Their reading is limited, their number bonds are weak, and their writing skills are poor. Under the guidance of an inspiring and effective Tutor, the twins' academic trajectory should soar.

Role of the Tutor

This role has two main facets: Tutor and Executive Assistant. As a Tutor, it calls for an able, calm,  well-qualified educator with a sense of humor. The Tutor must be able to deliver the full range of primary subjects to a level comparable with that of top UK and US private schools. The Tutor must be fluent – or at least highly competent – in Spanish and must have a familiarity with the Texan and Californian school curricula.

The twins’ parents are excited about teaching their children away from the rigid parameters of formal curricula. The Tutor must be experienced in curriculum-planning, able to use their knowledge of US and UK primary standards to devise their own learning pathway for the children. They should use a range of resources such as the Global Village School curriculum book and must ensure their lessons are engaging and exciting. 

The Tutor should incorporate as much of their surroundings as possible into their lessons, taking advantage of their location to bring alive a history, science or mathematics lesson, blending subjects where appropriate to reduce repetition, and inspiring and enthusing the twins with the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake. The aim is to provide them with a fertile growth environment into which they want to grow, and support this with encouragement as their boundaries are stretched.

The family place great emphasis on communication skills – learning languages as well as understanding cultural and linguistic nuances, customs and practices. The Tutor should incorporate these skills into their curricula. The parents may have some suggestions for projects, and while the Tutor should not rely on them for inspiration, they should be able to incorporate any reasonable ideas that are proposed. 

The family spend their time between their various houses including those in Texas, California and Mexico. While in Mexico (November to June) the children attend a local school, and here the Tutor will provide after school support and extension. They should ensure that the twins have a thorough understanding of the day’s lessons and that any homework is completed to a high standard. The Tutor can use the remaining time to broaden the range of topics they cover. 

The Tutor must be very organized and a superb record keeper. He or she should be able to provide evidence of  work covered and to what level should any future school applications require assurance that standards have been maintained. They should plan efficiently, allowing oversight from both Tutors International and the parents. The Tutor will be responsible for planning a curriculum, setting a timetable, delivering lessons and assessing mastery. Good IT skills and openness to adapting to the Client’s preferred communication styles will be essential.

While the twins are in school, the Tutor will work as an Executive Assistant. They are expected to help the twins’ mother with a range of tasks – never menial – which could include helping to furnish the family homes, organizing logistics for relocations or general scheduling and errand-running assistance. The family are looking for a team player who is happy to help around the house. They may also be  required to teach Spanish to the children’s mother or some of the household staff, so the Tutor must be comfortable  teaching to all age and ability levels. 

The ideal Tutor will have a good knowledge of and the ability to read music, as well as being able to play a musical instrument.  They should be an interesting, erudite individual; open minded, well travelled and with experience of the UK and US private school pathways. Experience with the Independent Schools Exam Board (ISEB) or the US equivalent ISEE would be beneficial. The Tutor will be a superb educator, and a good role model with excellent manners and personal values. They will be partly responsible for the twins' character development and should instil a sense of resilience in them. Tenacity, curiosity and resilience should be encouraged – the twins should always look for possible solutions to problems or setbacks and should not be put off trying alternative methods of completing tasks. 

Hours and Holidays

In Mexico, the Tutor will work with the twins around their school hours. The average weekly contact time, either as Tutor or EA, will be in the range 35-40 hours a week, with preparation in addition.

The days should follow a structured timetable including regular breaks, opportunities for sport, music and other extracurricular activities. There may be occasions when flexible working hours are needed.

The Tutor is entitled to two consecutive days off per week which will usually be Saturday and Sunday though the Tutor may need to be flexible in this regard. Untaken weekend days will be compensated by a pro-rated payment in lieu. 

The Tutor will be entitled to a minimum of 9 weeks (45 working days) paid vacation per annum at times convenient to the Client.

Accommodation, Travel and Miscellaneous

The Client will provide live out accommodation in most locations, with all bills excluding the Tutor’s personal phone bills covered by the Client. It may be necessary for the Tutor to ‘live in’ at some locations, and in these instances the Tutor should be aware that the family will not allow visitors to the house. The Tutor should be mindful of their privacy at all points of the contract. 

One of the Client’s houses has a large designated schoolroom. The Tutor must keep the area clean and tidy, with all resources well stocked and suitable displays up to inspire learning. 

The Client will cover any travel expenses associated with this role, plus meals and food during periods of travel.  Where appropriate, a car will be provided for the Tutor for reasonable local use. 

The Tutor must be fit and healthy, a non-smoker, without visible piercings or tattoos. They must be a safe and confident driver. 

The Tutor must ensure that he or she has the requisite travel and health insurance, has received the required vaccinations, and has the necessary visas. Tutors International can assist with obtaining an American visa for British applicants if necessary.

For more information and instructions on how to apply, please visit: 

tijobs.net/460