Private Educator: Life Skills

Private Learning & Life Skills Educator | Fairport, NY (In-Home & Community-Based) | Full-Time | $60,000-$80,000/year

We're seeking a calm, thoughtful, highly relational educator to work one-on-one with a 21-year-old young adult in a deeply personalized, community-based learning environment.

This is not a traditional classroom teaching role. The right educator will help create structure, meaningful routines, learning experiences, and opportunities for growth across daily life. You'll support academics, communication, life skills, emotional regulation, community engagement, and increasing independence — while helping build a sustainable rhythm that allows the student and his family to feel more supported and hopeful.

This student has been significantly underestimated by traditional educational systems. His family is looking for someone who sees possibility where others have seen limitation — someone willing to meet him where he is, stay consistent, and thoughtfully build a program centered around dignity, growth, safety, and meaningful engagement.

This role offers unusual autonomy and the opportunity to make a profound long-term impact on both a student and an entire family system.

STUDENT PROFILE

You'll be working with a 21-year-old young adult with significant disabilities and a history of epilepsy that has contributed to educational disruption over the years.

The student struggles with expressive language and does not thrive in traditional desk-based or highly academic instructional environments. He benefits most from experiential learning, consistency, relationship-based support, and activities that are meaningful, engaging, and grounded in the real world.

The family is looking for someone who can help thoughtfully structure the student's days in a way that balances:

• Academics
• Life skills
• Vocational exploration
• Community participation
• Recreation and leisure
• Emotional regulation
• Independence-building
• Healthy routines

Success in this role is not defined only by academic growth. It's about helping the student feel regulated, engaged, safe, capable, and genuinely connected to the world around him.

The family is deeply invested in their son and eager to partner closely with the right educator. Building trust and maintaining consistent communication will be an important part of the role.

Schedule & Work Environment

• Location: Fairport, NY
• Schedule: Approximately 4–5 days per week, around 6 hours per day. The student will be attending high school during the 2026–2027 school year, so the educator's schedule will be designed to work flexibly around the school calendar. Once the student graduates, the schedule is expected to shift to provide additional daytime support, so the family is looking for someone who is comfortable with that long-term flexibility.
• Start Date: ASAP
• Setting: Primarily in-home with regular community-based instruction and outings
• Transportation: Driving and local travel are required as part of the role
• Environment: One-on-one instruction with significant autonomy, minimal administrative burden, and close partnership with the family

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement a highly individualized learning plan tailored to the student's strengths, interests, goals, communication style, and support needs.
• Create structured daily routines that promote engagement, emotional regulation, independence, safety, and meaningful participation.
• Deliver personalized instruction across functional academics, communication, life skills, vocational exploration, and community-based learning experiences.
• Conduct ongoing assessment, monitor progress, maintain documentation, and adjust learning strategies based on student growth and responsiveness.
• Plan and facilitate experiential learning opportunities, recreation, fitness activities, community outings, and independence-building experiences.
• Collaborate closely with parents through regular communication, progress updates, shared goal setting, and problem-solving.
• Maintain a safe, supportive learning environment while proactively supporting regulation, transitions, and student well-being.

What Success Looks Like

• Demonstrates measurable progress toward individualized learning, communication, independence, and life-skills goals.
• Builds increased confidence, engagement, self-advocacy, and meaningful participation in daily activities and community experiences.
• Establishes trusted, collaborative relationships with the student and family while creating sustainable routines that support long-term growth.

Requirements

Credentials

• Bachelor's degree required; degree in Special Education or a subject-matter field strongly preferred
• State teaching certification strongly preferred
• BCBA certification or experience within the Applied Behavior Analysis field preferred
• Certification or training with AAC and/or autism preferred
• Candidates with equivalent demonstrated experience will be considered

Experience

• 5+ years of special education teaching experience
• 3+ years of direct experience with students with autism
• Minimum 3 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 autism
• Experience with epilepsy and seizure care strongly preferred

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

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation based on experience, credentials, and scope of placement
• One-on-one educational environment with the ability to personalize instruction
• Meaningful long-term impact on a student's life and family experience
• Schedule flexibility within the agreed-upon program structure
• Personalized family matching and placement support
• Dedicated Thrive placement coordinator throughout the hiring process
• Access to educator networking, resources, and future placement opportunities
• Potential for long-term career growth across successive educational placements

About Us

Thrive Education Partners connects exceptional educators with families seeking highly personalized learning experiences. We believe meaningful growth happens through strong relationships, individualized support, and real-world learning. This role offers the opportunity to help a young adult build greater independence, confidence, life skills, and community engagement through a customized educational program.

What to Expect Next?

Qualified candidates will participate in a multi-step interview process.

Thrive Education Partners is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and make hiring decisions based on experience, skills, and business needs, without regard to
any status protected by applicable law.