Private Tutor - Seattle, USA

Students

The older boy attends a school in Seattle, where he will be entering his Junior year.  He is an engaging, self-assured and competent young man who has chosen an ambitious range of courses for the next academic year. He has opted to study one of the most difficult courses the school offers and will also be studying a Spanish and a range of difficult science and math. His workload will be extremely heavy, and he will have to be very organized to juggle all of the subjects.

Luckily, he is a very driven and focused individual. He has set himself this goal, knowing it’s a huge undertaking and intends to see it through.  With his commitment to extracurricular sports in addition to his academics, he will need continuous encouragement and support, or he could easily become overwhelmed. 

The girl has just finished her Freshman year. Like her elder brother, she is confident and happy to chat openly. She is also academically able and enjoys learning. She is a talented, devoted equestrian who relocates to Florida for the winter months to train with some of the best riders in the US. During these months, she has been enrolled in a tutorial school which has helped her keep on par with her year group. However, this school relies on the goodwill of each students’ regular school to provide course material- but her current school are no longer willing to provide resources for her while she is away. It is not yet known what the Tutor can do about that, but one option is to enrol her in an online school where credits earned can be added back into her transcript at her school.

The youngest brother is going into grade 7 this September.  He struggles with ADHD, and the formulaic method of classroom teaching has done little to hold his attention or inspire a love of learning. He cites his favorite teacher as someone who is funny, engages his pupils well and who is relaxed enough in class to let pupils talk quietly as long as they are not disturbing each other. He seems to like background noise in his classes, which is congruent with his diagnosis of moderate ADHD. The school options are not working to his strengths and he needs to develop better ways to manage himself in the classroom if he is to succeed.

He is a social young man and is vehemently opposed to the idea of homeschooling. He enjoys a range of sports, including all water sports, tennis, and hunting. He often seems to be disinterested and sleepy, and uses avoidance tactics for things he doesn’t like such as physically turning his back on a conversation, or simply not being present at appointments or classes. The right Tutor for his needs will have to be very fun and engaging, as well as very patient.

Role of the Tutor

This is a long-term tutoring role starting in September 2019 or as soon as possible thereafter. The role will focus on the younger boy, but the Tutor will also provide support, oversight and guidance to help the older boy manage his workload. Their sister will require less assistance, but the Tutor should provide support if required. The family are planning to engage a local college counselling company and perhaps a specialist science and math tutor, so the Tutor need not be overly concerned with all of the oldest boy’s school choices or applications. That said, the Tutor must have an excellent academic record themselves, and it would be helpful if they had an understanding of the standards maintained by top US high schools and colleges. 

The Tutor should be able to understand the material the older boy is covering and be able to follow the curriculum, providing pointers and tips as to how he can improve. The Tutor should be eloquent and able to inspire with his or her enthusiasm for any given subject. He or she should have a wide knowledge base and a range of extra-curricular skills and interests that they can share with the family. The Tutor should be a natural communicator with a kind and caring disposition, and a firm-but-fair approach to their work. 

When supporting the younger boy, it is likely that the Tutor will work within his current school for some of the time, either as a Teaching Assistant, or providing 1:1 tuition for certain subjects. The boy is determined not to be away from his peer group, so the Tutor must make sure that this time is viewed in a positive light. They should design exciting lessons that help to inspire a sense of curiosity in him which will hopefully bleed into his time in the classroom. The Tutor should also expect to support him with his homework and with any suitable extension work or excursions after school.

The Tutor must build strong working relationships with both the staff at the younger boy’s current school, and the family’s household staff.  They must have excellent team-building and diplomacy skills. They should be dedicated and disciplined in their own preparations and should plan creative lessons and projects which take full advantage of the immediate locale, integrating classroom lessons with outdoor, hands on study periods and practical science or technology sessions in the appropriate location. The Tutor should make full use of their surroundings visiting relevant museums, exhibitions and plays as well as exploiting the natural resources for biology, geology, geography and history lessons etc. 

The successful candidate will be upbeat and have plenty of energy. This role requires a resourceful, knowledgeable tutor who is relaxed and easy-going with a sunny disposition whilst also being firm, encouraging and sensible. The Tutor should introduce effective study methods for all three as well as revision strategies and stress management exercises that could help in them in their future lives – both academic and professional.

The family are very pleasant, and the children get on well with one another. Both parents are well educated and supportive of their children. They are fairly strict, but their methods seem to have produced good results and the family clearly function well as a unit. That said, this is not the kind of role where the Tutor should hope to become ‘one of the family’. Instead, they should remain professional at all times and respectful of the family’s privacy. The Tutor should have a ‘small footprint’ and be seemingly invisible when not invited to be otherwise.

All three children are sporty, and it would be helpful if the Tutor were able to join in with sporting activities. 

Hours and Holidays

The Tutor will work up to 40 hours per week over 5 days, most likely Monday – Fridays. They are entitled to an average of two consecutive days off per week but should be mindful that as with all such roles, an element of flexibility is required.

Accommodation, Travel and Miscellaneous

The Tutor will be provided with a furnished apartment, suitable for a single person, near to the family home. This role is not suited to a couple or a family wishing to relocate.  

There may be occasional periods of travel, during which the Tutor will be reimbursed for any travel costs.  A car will be provided for reasonable local use by the Tutor. 

The Tutor should be fit and healthy, a non-smoker. 

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

tijobs.net/466