What's at stake?
The Fresno tutor jobs come with a biweekly stipend, the opportunity to apply for loan forbearance, a potential "education award" at the end of the school year, and childcare reimbursements for eligible full-time employees.
Fresno job seekers looking for experience in education can get paid as a reading or math tutor at local schools this year.
The California Reading Corps and California Math Corps – under the umbrella of the federal agency AmeriCorps – are hiring both full-time and part-time tutors at several local schools where students struggle with literacy and math, according to program leaders.
You don’t need a bachelor’s degree or prior training, said the program’s statewide recruiter Mike Spalsbury.
All you need is a “service mindset.”
“We have kids who genuinely need the dedicated tutors,” he said in an interview with Fresnoland. “So if people can find it within themselves to sit with a student for a school year, it’s going to go a long way.”
Tutors will get paid between $525 and $955 every two weeks, depending on the number of hours they work. For tutors who work through the academic year, they can also receive up to approximately $3,400 in an “education award” that can go toward student loan payment, tuition, or even a family member’s tuition.
Folks interested in the Fresno tutor jobs can apply now online to the dozens of open positions locally, Spalsbury said – but the clock’s ticking with applications closing Oct. 4.
Here’s what you need to know about the opportunity.
What will the Fresno tutor jobs be like?
Tutors will work Monday through Friday between four and seven hours a day, depending on whether they’re hired as part- or full-time.
The reading tutors will work one-on-one with students in kindergarten through third grade, Spalsbury said. Math tutors will work with small groups of students in grades four through eight. There are also a handful of positions open that involve working with pre-K students.
“They will become a daily part of these students’ lives,” Spalsbury said.
Tutors will receive training both before the start of their positions and throughout the school year, according to program leaders.
What are the pay and benefits?
Tutors get paid a stipend every two weeks. The stipends depend on how many hours the tutor works:
- Part-time tutors working 20 hours a week receive a $525 biweekly stipend
- Part-time tutors working 27.5 hours a week receive a $720 biweekly stipend
- Full-time tutors working 35 hours a week receive a $955 biweekly stipend
These are estimates before taxes, Spalsbury added.
The positions come with education-related and childcare benefits as well, depending on whether tutors work part- or full-time.
Tutors who clock at least 900 hours throughout the school year and have “had a successful tutoring year” can receive an award of just over $3,400, according to Spalsbury. That can be used for any educational needs, including tuition or student loan payments. If the tutor is 55 or older, they can also transfer the award money to a dependent.
Both part-time and full-time tutors who have federal student loans can apply for forbearance for the duration of their employment. AmeriCorps will cover interest payments during their employment, Spalsbury said.
Full-time tutors can apply for child care reimbursements as well, depending on their family size and income.
Where will tutors work?
The jobs are at schools that receive Title I federal aid due to their higher percentage of low-income students.
Pedro Navarro Cruz, a program manager who oversees the local tutors, said tutors make “long-lasting” relationships with students in Fresno, where many struggle to meet state reading and math standards.
“The literacy rate is not where it should be,” he said.
“So the fact that we have these members intervening,” he added, “and just really changing the course of destiny for these kids – or helping to do that – is just a beautiful thing.”
There are open positions at several Fresno schools, according to the application website. Examples include:
- Thomas Elementary
- West Fresno Middle School
- Muir Elementary
- Addams Elementary
- American Union Elementary
There are openings at schools in Sanger, Visalia, and other Central Valley cities as well. A complete list can be found by visiting Join.ReadingandMath.org and navigating to the California jobs page.
Spalsbury said that when possible, they try to place tutors at schools in neighborhoods where they have ties.
Who’s eligible for the Fresno tutor jobs?
A bachelor’s degree is not required to apply, Spalsbury said.
Applicants must be at least 18 and have a high school diploma or equivalent, including the GED.
They must also be a U.S. citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident.
More information on how to apply
Interested jobseekers should apply online at Join.ReadingandMath.org. You can also call 866-859-2825 with questions.
Successful applicants will be invited to participate in a virtual interview, Spalsbury said.
Positions begin Oct. 23 and run through the end of the school year next June.