Private Middle School Teacher

We’re looking for a thoughtful, experienced private educator to work one-on-one with a bright, active middle school student in a personalized learning environment. This role is about much more than getting through assignments. The goal is to help the student rebuild confidence, strengthen core academic skills, and reconnect with the curiosity and joy that make learning feel meaningful.

The right educator will bring warmth, structure, humor, and strong instructional judgment. You’ll have the opportunity to design a school experience that feels both academically grounded and personally relevant, blending core middle school instruction with hands-on projects, real books, community-based learning, and interest-driven enrichment.

This is a strong fit for an educator who enjoys the depth of 1:1 teaching, values relationships, and knows how to help a student feel capable without lowering expectations.

Student Profile

You’ll be working with a 12-year-old middle school student who is social, funny, quick-witted, athletic, and deeply engaged in the world around her. She is especially passionate about flag football, animals, marine science, biology, shells, sharks, and outdoor adventure. She is not a student who needs a hyper-accelerated academic program, but she is bright, capable, and motivated when learning feels relevant and well-taught.

Academically, she has historically been strong in reading, vocabulary, verbal expression, and writing, though written composition and organization may need more direct support. Math is generally solid, but she benefits from clear explanation, patient instruction, and enough time to truly understand concepts rather than simply prepare for the next test.

She can be hard on herself when something does not come easily, and one of the major goals of this placement is to reduce comparison, build perseverance, and help her experience herself as a capable learner again.

What You'll Do

• Provide personalized middle school instruction across core academic subjects, including language arts, math, science, and social studies.
• Help the student build true understanding of what she is learning, rather than relying on memorization or short-term test preparation.
• Support writing development, including idea generation, organization, sentence structure, and clear written expression.
• Use a blended curriculum approach that includes thoughtful technology use, paper-based work, real books, hands-on learning, and project-based enrichment.
• Incorporate the student’s interests, especially animals, marine science, biology, outdoor learning, and practical real-world topics, into academic planning when appropriate.
• Create consistent routines and clear expectations while maintaining a warm, encouraging, and upbeat learning environment.
• Collaborate with Thrive’s educational management support to help implement curriculum, monitor progress, and maintain a strong academic portfolio.
• Communicate regularly and professionally with the family about progress, observations, challenges, and next steps.

What Makes Someone Successful in This Role

• You are a skilled educator who can be both warm and structured, building trust while keeping learning purposeful and productive.
• You explain concepts clearly and patiently, and you do not make students feel like a burden when they need extra support.
• You bring positive energy, humor, and flexibility without losing sight of academic goals.
• You know how to support a student who may get frustrated, compare herself to others, or want to quit when something feels difficult.
• You enjoy designing learning around a student’s interests and can make academics feel more connected to real life.
• You are professional, discreet, dependable, and comfortable working in a private-family setting.

Requirements

Credentials

• Bachelor's degree required in Education or a related education field required

• Florida teaching license required
• 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 backgrounds

• Experience teaching middle school learners strongly preferred
• Comfort designing, adapting, and implementing curriculum in a 1:1 setting
• Willingness to collaborate with Thrive’s educational management team
• Comfort with community-based learning, such as library visits, enrichment outings, or activities connected to the student’s academic plan
• Valid driver’s license and safe driving record preferred, as transportation to local learning activities or athletic training may be part of the role

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

• $45,000 - $65,000/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: Neptune Beach, Florida, primarily in the family home, with a dedicated learning space available
• Schedule: Monday–Thursday, 10:00 AM–3:00 PM, with some flexibility (approximately 20 instructional hours per week, plus appropriate planning and preparation)
• Start Date: August 24, 2026

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