Going into the education field is not an easy task as an undergraduate student. By my third year of undergrad, I was practically able to regurgitate my professor’s speeches about making connections as the best way into the field. I’m stressed out about finding a job that will pay well and being willing to accommodate my school schedule. It’s the middle of the pandemic, and I came across an ad for a substitute teaching position, but the hours are not concrete, and I briefly remember how students can be cruel to substitutes. I decide to scroll past the ad, and another pops up, this time for a teaching position at Genie Academy. It reads, “We offer excellent training and a work environment with stable hours.” I applied.
Fast forward several months after receiving the job at Genie Academy, I want to share with you that I chose to take this route into education versus the substitution route and the experience and knowledge I have gained from working here. So here it is, the six reasons why I chose Genie Academy.
Here at Genie Academy, I was met with a competitive pay offer that increased just after a short period. Benefits include health insurance, bonuses, and paid time off. I quickly learned there were several outlets to receive additional monetary benefits; like each time a parent provides 5-star feedback, I am compensated with a $50 gift card of my choice. With a system like this in place at Genie Academy, the direct compensation and acknowledgment for my hard work are immediate. I never have to worry about it going unnoticed as it probably would in an ordinary substitution job.
My schedule is filled with social activities, school-related activities, or studying as a student. All are equally important for personal development, so finding a job that allows me to balance these activities is essential. At your start of Genie Academy, managers ask YOU what hours you’d like to work. Each class you teach is 1 or 2 hours long. If your schedule only allows for a 3-hour workday, it’s nearly impossible to find a job that will accept that, but here at Genie Academy, the hours are up to you. Additionally, students from all over the world participate in Genie Academy programs (reading, writing, common core, abacus math, and coding), so virtual teaching is always an option. You can teach right from your home office!
Working with students to teach them a new lesson within a 1 or 2 hours time frame requires you to have excellent time management. In the hour, you will lead the class, have students apply the lesson, then provide feedback and assistance as needed. In this position, I have learned the daily procedures of a classroom and how to modify my lessons to accommodate each student’s behavior and ways of learning.
Great teachers can change the lives of their students in many ways. As a teacher at Genie Academy, your job is to understand and connect with each student to develop an individualized education plan to ensure said student's success in the program and back into their classrooms. With small classroom settings, each student is allowed to demonstrate their abilities with the guidance of an inspiring teacher. There is no greater reward than watching a student who once struggled in a particular area now thrive after receiving your help. Just take a look at our wall of success stories posted in each center!
For eligible full-time employees, assistance with financial planning is also available. College expenses add up over the years, and many students are left with a substantial financial burden by the time they graduate. It can be an overwhelming transition to balance loans and a savings account while maintaining a stable lifestyle. At Genie Academy, we know all about college loan struggles, which is why we have implemented a financial assistance program- allow us to help lighten the burden off of you.
Genie Academy offers excellent programs such as simple IRA (Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees) programs to help you get started with a retirement savings plan; paid time off and paid sick leave for full and part-time employees; employer-funded group health plans from which employees are eligible for a tax-free reimbursement on qualified medical expenses (known as health reimbursement accounts or HRA); and everyone's favorite- performance-based bonuses. It is so easy to get recognized for your hard work, as there are many opportunities to showcase the work you put in daily!