Pluspunten
Decent healthcare--the range of good quality doctors is somewhat limited, 10 sick days, good training, supportive community, training is paid and lunch is provided, learn a lot and get the opportunity to support underserved schools and build bonds with awesome kids and staff. You are required to help with school activities before and after the school day, that may entail: bus duty, assisting teachers by making copies and organizing etc. Great kids! Can be a little tough at times, but the trainings provide lots of guidance on managing behavior. Good for meeting a variety of people and other professionals. Awesome if you have financial backup and you're considering working in education, you get to see the ins and outs of school life and how different positions function within that system without being immediately thrusted into something more daunting like a full time teacher. A lot of tutors went on to work as teachers or other positions within their service sites because of the people they met.
Minpunten
Very underpaid, long hours for draining work, little work/life balance, very long training sessions (usually 9AM-5PM for 2 weeks). I joined as a naive new college grad and while I did manage to make ends meet each month, I did take on a second job eventually since I was cutting it close just to meet basic necessities. I don't live beyond my means, and while the pay is technically $1400, it's more like 1000-1100 after taxes. So consider that especially if you have rent, ongoing bills and debt, transportation costs and such. The hours are long, you are expected to arrive at your school site no later than 7:30 and leave around 3:30-4:00. Even on teacher work days and county wide holidays you might be expected to still come in and help out depending on your school's specific needs. Occasionally there will be mandatory service events after school, one year we helped out in a warehouse for a clothing drive for a couple hours. It's fulfilling work, but it's disheartening when you're barely getting by each month and as a result, experience money stress on top of being drained from a full-time job. I should have planned better, I'd really only recommend this if you have a security net/can receive outside financial support especially since COVID-19 showed how the unexpected can wreak havoc on your financial status. This job requires a lot of energy, and though I am an energetic person, I experienced burnout pretty early on. If you're a very extroverted person, this might be the perfect fit for you. Also, because it is a nonprofit, volunteer position, it made us unqualified for unemployment after COVID-19 hit and our contract years ended. It's not Literacy Lab's fault, at least I don't think so. The upper staff is very enthusiastic and supportive and truly cares about tutors. I think perhaps the low pay despite the massive budget is likely a result of bureaucratic practices that take place on a higher up government level.
