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Job Description For: Venture School Instructor
Mission Statement: Helping families cultivate and embrace a culture of lifelong learning and success.
Role Summary: Venture School is Venture Upward’s weekly, in-person enrichment day, and for many students, it is the highlight of their week. Venture School Instructors are not babysitters, activity leaders, or club coordinators. They are Learning Architects who design hands-on, academically enriching classes that students cannot wait to return to. Every class is built to do two things at once: make every child feel seen and inspired while giving families confidence that their child’s time is safe, meaningful, and genuinely worth it. If you love making learning exciting, believe relationships come before curriculum, and notice the quiet child in the back of the room, you will thrive here.
Venture School operates one day each week for approximately 4.5 hours and is led by a Site Manager who supports a team of instructors and assistants. A typical school day includes four enrichment classes and a lunch period, with classes lasting 45 to 60 minutes. Locations typically serve 30–100 students, with average class sizes of about 15 students. Each classroom is led by one instructor and supported by either a classroom assistant or a floating assistant, as needed. While Venture School classes are academically enriching and intentionally designed to spark curiosity, they complement home education rather than replace it and generally do not include homework or formal assessments.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
- Design and teach hands-on classes that advance a meaningful academic discipline. At Venture School, we do not simply build with Legos. We explore architecture. We do not just cook. We discover the chemistry behind every recipe.
- Plan each class around the Venture Lesson structure, so students connect with why a topic matters, discover meaningful content, create something of their own, reflect on what they learned, and leave inspired to learn more.
Arrive prepared, organized, and on time each week. - Build at least one memorable moment of wonder into every class, the kind of “whoa” moment students talk about at home.
- Know every student by name, along with their interests, strengths, and challenges, so each child feels seen and valued.
- Create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive classroom, and implement the Student Code of Conduct with professionalism, fairness, and compassion. Communicate any student concerns or incidents promptly to the Site Manager.
- Develop and submit course descriptions, syllabi, lesson plans, and supply lists by established deadlines for Site Manager approval each semester.
- Differentiate instruction to support all learners, including students with diverse and special learning needs.
Maintain accurate attendance, manage classroom setup and cleanup, and keep supplies within the approved budget. Submit receipts, supply requests, and required documentation in a timely manner. - Participate actively in weekly site meetings by contributing ideas, sharing feedback, and collaborating with fellow instructors.
- Support new instructors and substitutes; maintain current substitute plans throughout the semester. Secure an approved substitute teacher when an absence is necessary and communicate promptly with the Site Manager.
Maintain professional, timely, and respectful communication with families, the Site Manager, fellow instructors, and assistants. Respond to parent communications within two business days whenever possible. - Collaborate with staff to support student success and contribute to a positive school culture.
Skills & Competencies:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong classroom management and student engagement abilities.
- Ability to design creative, rigorous, hands-on lessons that make learning exciting.
- Warmth and the ability to build genuine relationships with students.
- Leadership, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
- Strong organizational and time management skills.
- A genuine passion for helping children become lifelong learners.
- Professional, dependable, and approachable demeanor with students, families, volunteers, and staff.
- Willingness to participate in required training and professional development, and to implement coaching feedback.
- Flexibility to support additional operational needs during Venture School events.
- Ability to work independently while managing multiple responsibilities.
Position Details & Compensation:
Department: Operations
Reports To: Venture School Site Manager
Employment Type: Part-time
Hours: Approximately 1-6 hours per week
Compensation: $25.00 per hour
Qualifications (Licenses/Degrees):
- High School Diploma or equivalent required.
- At least two years of experience teaching, tutoring, homeschooling, leading youth programs, childcare, or related educational experience.
- Experience with homeschool students, enrichment programs, or students with diverse learning needs is a plus.
Technical / Equipment Requirements:
- None
Other Preferred Requirements:
- None
Why This Role Matters:
Parents trust us with what they value most in the world. When a child leaves your classroom more curious, more confident, and more inspired than when they arrived, you have done something that truly matters. Success in this role is measured not only by what students learn, but by how they feel while learning. Every child should leave your classroom feeling known, challenged, and excited to return. At Venture School, every child is seen and inspired because every class matters. This is where learning becomes the best part of a child’s week, and you are the person who makes that happen.
Equal Opportunity Statement – Venture Upward is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in our workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.