The student is in his Junior year of high school, and is a keen, talented hockey player.  The desire to make time for his sport has affected his schooling negatively.  With less than ideal grades and with a scholarship available from an excellent College, a more tailored approach is needed.

From the start of the 2nd semester of the 2009-2010 academic calendar, he will be enrolled in a fully accredited online high school where he will be able to pursue a course of study at a pace that permits time for his sport.

The boy has a pleasant and affable demeanour, and is polite and sociable.  He is mature for his age, focussed, and driven.  He is composed, assured, and wants this new path to be successful at all levels.

The Tutor will work in an academic mentor-coach capacity, structuring the home-school day and the rate of progress through the online materials so that everything is done on time and to the required standard.  This will necessarily involve some periods where the Tutor is a formal classroom teacher, explaining how to solve certain problems or discussing the meaning of texts, and other periods where the Tutor ensures that the student is getting on with assignments by himself.  In addition, the Tutor is responsible for teaching him good study habits, how to organize his time, and how to complete his homework on time.  Finally, the Tutor will need to teach him how to prepare for tests, including methods of review and self-testing, self-motivation, and independent study.

Although it is essential that the student complete his work himself, the purpose of a full time support Tutor in this role is to ensure that nothing should be turned in incomplete or incorrect.  This will mean that all material should be checked by the Tutor and, if need be, corrected before submission.

In addition to the courses required for graduation from the online school, the student will need to prepare for the SAT or ACT as needed.  It is not expected that the Tutor will provide this coaching, but he or she will certainly be responsible for coordinating lessons with the SAT Tutor within the overall educational framework.  However, the Tutor will be expected to help directly with regard to college application, and specifically the preparation of college essays and an activities résumé.

The Tutor will need to create a timetable that fits around the student's training and match commitments, and adjust this as the seasonal hockey routines vary.

The Tutor will need to be patient and calm, yet able to command respect through his or her own work ethic, subject knowledge, intelligence, and lifestyle.  While it is not expected that the Tutor need be an expert in all the subjects that the student plans to study, he or she will need to be strong in Math, Science, and English, and preferably French.  The Tutor will need to have an exemplary academic track record and have done well at high school across the subject range and with the SAT.

  Since the course materials are devised and graded by the online school, the Tutor will not be responsible for writing or assessing the course.  He or she will have access to materials via their own login detail. The Tutor will also be supplied a duplicate set of texts, and will need to make sure that they are well ahead of the student in all courses.  This requires someone conscientious and thorough, who pays attention to detail and is meticulous with their preparation.  Learning in this way can be somewhat dry, so a Tutor who has a genuine interest in many subjects, particularly the Sciences, and someone able to see the opportunities for incorporating external resources would be ideal.

Working from home and spending most the day with just one student requires an inspirational educator, someone with an immense reserve of creative ideas who can captivate the attention and interests of the student while maintaining a buoyant and productive learning environment.

The Tutor will need to be a non-smoker, and someone who leads a fit and active lifestyle.

It is expected that the Tutor will work with the student or be in his company for approximately 50 hours per week.  The structure of this time will be variable with the hockey calendar.  From January to June (at the outside) the weekly timetable is likely to be roughly as follows. 

The usual school day will start at 9am and finish at 5pm, with appropriate study breaks.  In addition, the student will need time off during the day to train at his local ice rink.  On Tuesday and Thursday evening, he will train with his team in Connecticut. He gets home very late from training, so Wednesday and Friday should be lighter school days, perhaps 11am-5pm.

The Tutor will be entitled to the standard minimum nine weeks paid vacation allowance per annum, or to compensation in lieu of untaken vacation entitlement.

The teaching will take place in a well-appointed office within the Client's offices.  The student and the Tutor will have access to the all the benefits of working in a professional work environment.  There is a gym available for all employees, and a small canteen for refreshments.  There are excellent multimedia facilities.

A one-bedroom furnished apartment close to the schoolroom will be provided for the Tutor.

If the Tutor accompanies the student to any training or away fixtures that require overnight accommodation, the Client will pay the Tutor’s expenses.

The Client will provide a car for the personal use of the Tutor throughout the contract.

If the Tutor prefers to use his own car, and if the Tutor should become responsible for driving the student to and from training at any time, the Client will compensate for mileage expenses at $1 USD per mile. Alternatively, if the Tutor accompanies the student by train, the Client will reimburse the Tutor’s train and taxi fares as required.

It is possible that the student’s training schedule with his team will change to two consecutive days per week. If this happens, then it is anticipated that the Tutor will travel with him, stay overnight at a hotel, Tutor the next day at the hotel, and then return to Long Island the next day.

If all is going well with the student’s enrollment in the online High School, he may relocate to Connecticut, more or less full time, so that he can train more often with his team.  Should this transpire, it is expected that (new)accommodation will be acquired so that he and the Tutor share one apartment or house.  The Tutor would therefore take on some additional pastoral and meal-time responsibilities.  In recognition of the significant increase to the Tutor’s responsibilities, should such a move occur, a 30% increase in fees will apply.

If necessary, Tutors International will negotiate on behalf of a successful applicant to mitigate financial consequences entailed by leaving current employment at short notice.