Private Educator

We’re looking for a thoughtful, experienced private educator to support five students in grades 1, 4, 5, 6, and 9 in a personalized, faith-based learning environment in New York City.

This role is ideal for an educator who loves the art of truly individualized teaching: adapting across grade levels, bringing curriculum to life, building strong relationships, and helping students grow in both skill and confidence. You’ll be working with a family that values warmth, structure, biblical worldview instruction, and meaningful learning that extends beyond worksheets and screens.

The right educator will bring strong elementary and middle grades experience, literacy expertise, and the ability to balance academic progress with creativity, movement, hands-on learning, and real-world exploration throughout the city.

Student Profile

You’ll be working with five siblings across a wide age range: 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 9th grade. The students are bright, relational, and varied in their learning styles, interests, and levels of independence. Some will need more direct instruction and structure, while others may be able to work more independently with guidance, accountability, and academic check-ins.

The younger student will benefit from hands-on early literacy and math instruction that feels developmentally appropriate, active, and engaging. The middle-grade students include conscientious learners who tend to do well with clear expectations, as well as one bright, strong-willed learner who benefits from structured literacy support, assistive tools, motivation, and a teacher who can redirect frustration without entering a power struggle.

The family is looking for someone who can see each child clearly, differentiate instruction thoughtfully, and create a learning environment that feels both purposeful and relational.

What You'll Do

• Provide personalized instruction for five students in grades 1, 4, 5, 6, and 9 with the support of Thrive Education Partners through instructional tailoring, curriculum recommendations and coaching.
• Differentiate across multiple grade levels, balancing direct instruction, independent work, online coursework, and enrichment.
• Teach core academic subjects, with particular strength in literacy, writing support, math foundations, and executive functioning.
• Support a student with visual processing challenges, spelling difficulty, and possible dysgraphia by using structured literacy strategies, appropriate accommodations, and assistive tools as necessary.
• Adapt and supplement existing curriculum, including faith-based and biblical worldview materials, so instruction feels engaging, coherent, and developmentally appropriate.
• Create hands-on learning experiences that help concepts come alive through projects, discussion, city-based excursions, museums, science activities, history/geography connections, and other real-world learning opportunities.
• Establish clear routines and expectations that support focus, independence, confidence, and follow-through.
• Communicate regularly with the family and Thrive team about progress, planning, student needs, and recommended adjustments.

What Makes Someone Successful in This Role

• You are warm, steady, and relational, with the kind of presence that helps students feel known while still holding clear expectations.
• You have strong elementary and middle grades teaching experience and can move comfortably between early literacy, upper elementary foundations, middle-grade instruction, and high school accountability.
• You know how to support a strong-willed or frustrated learner without escalating into a power struggle. You can motivate through connection, challenge, humor, structure, and well-timed flexibility.
• You bring literacy training and understand how to support students who need explicit instruction, scaffolding, assistive tools, or alternative pathways into reading and writing.
• You are comfortable teaching faith-based and biblical worldview materials and can do so with sincerity, respect, and alignment.
• You are organized, professional, and confident managing a private-family learning environment with discretion, good judgment, and proactive communication.

Requirements

Credentials

• Bachelor's degree required in Education, Master's degree preferred
• State teaching certification or licensure required (K-12 or subject-specific)
• Candidates with equivalent demonstrated experience will be considered

Experience

• Minimum 5 years classroom teaching, private tutoring, or homeschool instruction experience
• Proven ability to teach across multiple subjects and grade levels (all K-12 subjects considered)
• Experience working with diverse learners, including students with learning differences, gifted learners, or nontraditional educational background
• Comfort navigating New York City with students for co-ops, excursions, enrichment activities, and field-based learning opportunities

Skills

• Curriculum design: ability to select, adapt, or build lesson plans from a variety of frameworks (classical, Charlotte Mason, project-based, or traditional)
• Differentiated instruction: comfortable adjusting pace, depth, and method to match the student
• Assessment and progress tracking: ability to set measurable academic goals and report progress clearly to parents
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency with digital learning tools, educational platforms, and standard productivity software

Professional Standards

• Current background check (required; Thrive facilitates)
• Verifiable references from prior teaching or tutoring roles
• Professionalism, discretion, and adaptability -- you are working inside someone's home

Benefits

Compensation

• $70,000 - $85,000/yr, commensurate with experience, credentials, and placement scope
• Compensation is negotiated directly with the family; Thrive advocates for fair market rates on your behalf

Logistics

• Location: New York, NY; instruction will take place primarily in the family’s home, with opportunities for learning experiences throughout the city.
• Schedule: 3 days/week-Tuesday–Thursday, approximately 9:00 AM–3:00 PM, plus planning time. The expected total commitment is approximately 22–24 hours per week.
• Start Date: Late August or early September.

Work Environment

• One-on-one or small-group instruction -- no classroom management overhead
• Deep, ongoing relationships with students and families rather than high-volume throughput
• Schedule flexibility that mirrors the academic calendar you design together
• Opportunity to teach the way you believe learning actually works

Support

• Personalized matching -- Thrive vets families thoroughly before introductions, so your time is spent with qualified, serious clients
• Dedicated placement coordinator throughout the process
• Access to Thrive's educator network, resources, and ongoing placement opportunities
• Long-term career development: many of our educators build lasting careers across successive placements