This site is all about K-12 online teachers. Other blogs and websites are available and building strong communities for the online adjunct teachers, or teachers of higher education (online colleges and universities). But I’ve found there is a big gap in available information for those of us who love teaching K-12 online.
If you are a K-12 online teacher; if you are contemplating becoming a K-12 online teacher, or if you are just curious about online teaching, then welcome! My goal is to build a strong community for K-12 teachers to come together, share stories and swap hints, tips and best practices in online teaching for K-12 teachers. I don’t look at this as MY blog, but as OUR blog.
Are you ready? Then let’s go…
We’ll face this brave new digital world together!
K-12 Online Teachers 
How does one become an online K-12 teacher?
Hi Lindsay,
In order to become an online K-12 teacher, you first need to be licensed as a teacher in the state in which you wish to work. Then, you need to apply to online schools in that state; sometimes, it takes quite a bit of time to get your foot in the door. Once you have acquired that first online teaching position, then things will start opening up. I hope that helps, but please let me know if you have more questions.
Viki
Ok thanks! I am certified P-3 in Ohio and K-6 in Pennsylvania. I will have to look and see what online schools the states offer! Thanks again!!
You’re very welcome! I wish you much success!
Take care,
Viki
Mrs. Viki Gardner Instructor, Distance Education Center for Talented Youth (CTYOnline) Johns Hopkins University 817-403-3578 (Cell) viki.gardner (Skype) booklover50@verizon.net
Laugh a little; learn a lot; live long! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When I get a little money I buy books, and if any is left, I buy food and clothes.
What is a competitive salary for an online K-12 teacher? Are most positions full time or part time? Is t
Hi Aimee!
Good questions! There is nothing written in stone insofar as salaries are concerned for K-12 online teachers. Many large schools offer $100-$125/student per semester, and those are regular semesters, or approximately 18 weeks. Those are generally the online schools that work in conjunction with traditional school districts. Private online schools seem to pay a little better, or at least, the semesters are shorter, so you make more money because it’s a shorter length of teaching time; they usually run 8-10 weeks. Most positions are part time; there are a few full-time positions with the large corporations. I like part time because I can have multiple streams of income, and I’m not locked into only working for one school. I currently teach at six different companies/institutions: an online private K-12 school, a university based elementary/secondary school for gifted and talented students; an adult master’s program for educators; a local public school partner; a private institution specializing in home-school products and classes, and an educational testing company. I am an independent contractor for some of these places, and I’m an employee with some. I’m not guaranteed a class with all of them every session (I haven’t had a class all year at the public school); sometimes, the enrollment is not high enough for a class to “make.” That’s why it’s necessary to have multiple streams. I won’t lie to you; it’s not necessarily difficult work, but it is VERY time-consuming! I spend 12 or more hours a day working during a full session (spring and fall), and that includes weekends and holidays. I get a little bit of a breather during the holidays and summer, but the rest of the year, my plate overflows.
So do I like it? I LOVE it! No worries about discipline; and in my case, it’s mostly one-on-one teaching. Some schools require live office hours (via conferencing platforms, like Elluminate) and even live lectures/question and answer sessions, but I work for schools that don’t have those kinds of requirements. I find that the live sessions take a lot of extra planning time, you are committed to being there at certain times of the day, every week, and the few live sessions I’ve held have not been successful. However, some online teachers love that venue; it’s really up to you and your preferences, but be sure you understand the requirements of the institution for which you apply.
I hope that answers your questions, and I wish you luck in your journey.
Take care,
Viki
Mrs. Viki Gardner
Online Instructor, Distance Educator
Laugh a little; learn a lot; live long!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When I get a little money I buy books, and if any is left, I buy food and clothes.
I am looking for a job to support my 1 year old daughter. Is this a job to do that or not?
Hi. Which online school do you work at that does not require live office hours? Please share.
Hi, Octavia,
None of the places I teach require online office hours, and none of the places I previously taught did, either. If and when they do, I find a different place to teach and resign from those schools. It’s simply a personal preference. I value my privacy and intend to keep communications via email. Sorry I can’t be more specific. I will say that I do not work for any of the big corporations, like K12 or Connections.
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Viki
Hi Vicki, this is exactly what I want to do! I currently work at a junior high school but I need to get out of the classrom. Discipline is a major issue and I don’t want that stress anymore.
I recently applied and interviewed for an on-line public charter school. Looks like it can be rewarding–biting my nails waiting on an offer–curious about the pay.
Terry, there is no easy way to answer your question. If you are a certified teacher, then it could be; however, it takes a very long time to build up enough work to support yourself and a child, and unless you are able to find a full-time online teaching job (very rare), you will have to find your own benefits. Most institutions hire you as an independent contractor, and most require past experience teaching online.
I hope that helps, and I wish you well.
Viki
I just applied online at k12.com for a part time teaching position. I am an experienced elementary school teacher with a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. The application asked me what salary I was expecting and I wasn’t sure how to answer?! With it being part time, do they normally offer you an hourly salary? Since I didn’t know how many hours, just that it was part time… I left that space blank.
Hi, Kay,
Thanks for visiting and for leaving your note! While I am familiar with K12.com, I am not sure what salary they might offer you, but it is probably going to be either pay per student or pay per hour. Part time could mean anything from 10-30 hours/week. If they pay per student, starting pay is usually around $125/student/semester. If it’s by the hour, you can expect anything from $12-$15/hour for starting salary. Like any other job, you have to build up a reputation for yourself in online teaching before you are offered higher pay. Even if you are a well-respected veteran teacher of face-to-face classes, teaching online is very different, and you will have to prove yourself. I am finally at a point where I can be a little choosy about my employers, but I’ve spent eight long years getting here. I am also at a point where I make decent money from teaching online, and I’m not working 24/7. Now that WiFi is widely available, hubby and I can travel anytime, most anywhere, and I just take my “office” with me. I really do love my life!!
I hope that helps, and I wish you well.
Viki
I have been looking at teaching online for awhile. I was wondering how you found some of your many jobs. I’m like you and love to teach. Even started to flip my classroom. I can’t seem to narrow down my search to University based elementary/secondary school and private schools. Every time I try to search sooo much of the information is not what I originally searched for. I am looking at you as a mentor to advice me to have the same kind of online work place you have.
Hi, Toni,
There is no easy way to find online teaching jobs, other than to keep searching. Some of my jobs I found on my own; others were sent to me from friends. I found one job by responding to an owner’s question on a blog. The others I found just by searching through Google. You just need to keep searching and when you find an online school where you feel you might want to teach, look for “Employment” or “Careers” and you should find the application. Many jobs can be found on iNACOL’s forums, if you have a membership there. You might also look at homeschooling sites because there are several online schools that advertise on them. Also, consider working for a place that is education-related, like scoring responses for College Board, Pearson, or ETS. My first jobs were with tutoring sites, like Smarthinking. I did not acquire my jobs overnight; I have been teaching online for 10 years, and I am just now at my “happy place.” I had to go through lots of war zones to get here. There are many opportunities; you just have to continue searching. I never stop; I am always on the lookout for new opportunities!
I hope that helps!
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well!
Take care,
Viki
How long does it take to get a response from K12, if your considered for a position? I have been teaching math for 8 years (6 yrs 5th grade math, beginning my 2nd teaching 8th math). I have a 4th – 8th Generalist certification to teach in Texas and also an athletic coach, will that account for anything? What suggestions do you have for a resume that will attract the attention of those hiring for online teaching oppurtunities? Also, what are the main states you suggest I focus on getting certification?
Thank you for your time in answering my questions.
Regards
Hi, Nita,
Thanks for stopping by! I really couldn’t say how long it will take to receive a response from K12; I interviewed with them before they were the big corporation they are now, and as I recall, it was a couple weeks’ time from the time I applied until I received the offer of an interview. At the time I applied, they were requiring some travel, and while I enjoy traveling, I did not want to do it for my job, so I did not go beyond the interview process.
As for your certification, you can teach just about anything online these days; it just depends on what the school needs. I have friends who teach math online and I have at least one friend who teaches health and P.E. online. The key to landing a job online is experience, and these days, schools want to see that you have some online experience.
My resume is a simple one on a Word document, it doesn’t follow any hard and fast rules, and I have been fairly successful with it. Just make sure it is easy to read and free from errors (spelling, punctuation). People who hire don’t spend a lot of time reading; they look for the qualifications they want and move on.
I wouldn’t worry about getting certified in other states until you have a job that requires you to be certified in a different state. Right now, I am only certified in Texas, but I mostly teach in private schools, and as long as I’m certified in my subject, it suffices. If you get hired at K12, and if they have a need for you to be certified in a state other than Texas, I believe they will let you know of those requirements and give you the opportunity to obtain the certifications. Many states have reciprocal agreements for teaching licenses, and will certify you without the need for you to go through any testing. However, it is a lengthy process and lots of paperwork, and there is usually a fee (sometimes more than one). I thought about getting certified in other states, but I found it really doesn’t do me any good unless I have a job in that state.
I hope that helps, and I wish you well.
Viki
Reading through here most of the pay seems to be dependent upon the number of students in a class. What is the typical number of students per class and how many students does it usually take to “make” a class?
Hi, Samantha,
Thanks for stopping by! The number of students depends on the institution for which you are teaching. In schools where there is open or rolling enrollment, meaning students can enroll and start on the same day, any day of the year, you can have a great many students. I have had as many as 75 students in one such class. Those classes have an enrollment period of 8-12 weeks, and when the end date comes, the student is automatically dropped from the class, finished or not. In schools where the sessions are set with a beginning and end date, classes are usually more limited and can range anywhere from 1 to 20 students. Some schools will even “make” a class with just one student, especially if you get paid per student. Pay can be by the hour, per student, or per class. I teach at all three kinds of institutions.
I hope that helps, and I wish you well.
Viki
How do you ever get hired for an online position if you have no online experience ?
Hi, Leea,
In the beginning, you take anything you can get, just to get some experience working online. That usually means tutoring online…do a Google search for online tutoring. Sylvan might be hiring, and you might want to check out Smarthinking.com. Another way to gain experience is by taking an online class or two; this will count for some experience, anyway. Also check with educational testing companies; they are often looking for scorers: Pearson and ETS especially.
I hope that helps, and I wish you well.
Viki
Do you know of any online schools in Texas?
Thanks,
Brandy
Hi, Brandy,
Yes, there are three schools that I know of, and you can search for others. Just search for “online schools in Texas.” The three I know of: IQ Academy Texas , Texas Virtual Academy, and Texas Virtual School.
I hope that helps, and I wish you well.
Viki
Hello Viki,
I appreciate this site as I have been an urban education teacher for 14 years and I have also worked online for universities since 2009. I am interested in the K-12 Online instructional approach. If you are nationally certified, does that also apply for the online community? Is it feasible to instruct at the K-12 online level and still have a full time school-based position? This is a new field that I am very interested in and any further support you can provide will be greatly appreciated.
Formal Education
Doctoral Degree, Curriculum and Instruction PhD, July, 2012; GPA 4.0
Masters in Reading, January, 2003; GPA 3.63
Psychology / Education, BA; May, 2000
Certifications: Reading Specialist / Supervision/ Elementary Education (K-8) / Early Elementary Education (P-3)/
English as a Second Language (Certification Complete: September 2013)
Thank you,
Bella
Hi, Bella,
I’m glad you found me, and your qualifications are quite impressive. To answer your first question, being nationally certified does not have any real bearing online. I am not nationally certified and have had no problem finding online work; however, I do have a Master’s in Distance Learning. A few years ago, I asked the National Board if there were any plans for certification for online teachers, and I was answered with a resounding “Nothing now and nothing planned.” Well, okay. I have no need for a national certification, then. The key to landing online teaching jobs is experience, and it sounds like you have some.
Your second question really depends on you and the organizations for which you work. Many full-time employers will not want you to work for anyone else, on or offline. However, there are some who won’t mind, as long as you are able to successfully do your work for them. I do not work full-time at any one job, but I work part-time at several, and my employers are well aware of that. I make a good income working part-time online at several schools, but it has cost me some promotional “titles” at some of the schools; I have been passed over for lead teacher and supervisor at a couple of them, and I attribute that to the fact that the employers feel I am not as readily available as they would like for their lead teachers and supervisors to be. Really, that’s okay by me because I still get all the classes and students I want to teach, and I don’t have the headaches or stress that comes with a supervisory position. I do confess that at first, my feelings were hurt because I had seniority, and I had won several teaching awards, both qualifications that should have been considered, in my humble opinion. Ironically, the two schools that did “promote” me to a leadership role, I ended up quitting due to increased workloads with no additional pay. So, bottom line, I am very happy in what I am doing now, and I don’t need a title to make me feel good about what I do.
I like my part-time jobs because I have great variety: I teach several ELA classes of gifted elementary students at two of my schools, writing classes for high school students at another, and professional development for adults (teachers, supervisors, and program administrators) at another. In addition, I perform course reviews for Quality Matters, I score SAT essays for Pearson, and I am a constructed-response rater for ETS. Yes, I have a full plate, but I am never bored!
I am always on the lookout for new and unique opportunities for online educators, and I have no qualms about dropping a job for a more lucrative one. Yes, teaching is a calling, I love my classes and my kids, but I still have bills to pay. 🙂
I hope this has helped answer your questions, Bella.
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Viki
Hello,
Who pays the teachers who work for k12?
Hi, Rebecca,
I’m not exactly sure what you are asking because there is a company named K12, and their payroll department would pay the teachers. If your question is in general regard to the K12 industry, then whomever you work for pays the teachers. For example, one of my jobs is scoring SAT essays for Pearson, and the paychecks all come from Pearson.
I hope that helps!
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Viki
Hi Vicki!
I just came upon this blog and like what I see. Currently I am a physical and online tutor for Wyzant.com in all subjects up to 8th grade and up to 12th for English. I love the Online portion since I get to teach students in different parts of the country. What types of software and devices to you use when teaching? I use Word, Powerpoint, and Excel as well as a Bamboo Penpad in addition to the usual Webcam, Audio and chatroom. I am applying to different online private and charter schools right now in the Delaware and Pennsylvania area and wanted to know if there were any specific types of software that most of them are using now other than the ones I mentioned.
Hi, Hillary,
Thank you for stopping by! Basically, all I use of my own software is Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Online schools usually use a special platform for their classes, called an LMS (Learning Management System), such as Moodle, Blackboard, eCollege, and so on. The software needed to teach is provided within the LMS, or the school will tell you what other programs you might need to work with them.
If you want to know about cool online tools for teachers, you might do a search for “Online tools for teachers” and you will find many excellent websites with links to the best and coolest.
I hope that helps!
I wish you well.
Take care,
Viki
Hi Viki!
I am a Health and Wellness/Fitness teacher within Pennsylvania (cert). I’m certified in personal training and also had a great online experience in a Masters Program in Ed. Leadership. The online Masters experience was great so I do have some background there (Im assuming HR will like to see this as I apply). The big push is Fitness-based PE and getting away from the traditional PE setting (sports based). I have been able to create an online Fitness course for students who cant fit a normal PE class into their busy schedule here. What online schools are there in Pennsylvania that you know of that I should be looking and I see a position open on K12 for “US.” I am assuming that is a Universal setting where my PA cert would suffice? Also, what online systems (software) are used for running the online learning experience. I have experience in both Desired to Learn and Schoology. Any feedback would be great! -S.P.
Hi, Stephen,
I know that K12 does have Health and Wellness/Fitness classes because I have a friend who teaches them. I don’t think she is certified in PA, so that area would be open. As I understand it, if you are hired by K12, you would be placed in classes where your certification is valid. State certification is necessary for teaching public schools in the same state, but any state certification is usually sufficient for private online schools. To locate other online schools in PA, you will want to do a search for “Online schools in PA.” Most school websites have a link to employment, jobs, careers, and so on.
As for learning management systems (LMS) used for online schools, I mostly teach on Moodle and Blackboard. Other popular LMS are eCollege, Edmodo, and Sakai. I am also familiar with Desire2Learn, but not Schoology.
I hope that helps! Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Take care,
Viki
Hi Viki!
I am a teacher with 15 years experience in the classroom and 1 year in the library (lost that job due to budget cuts). I am certified in Texas in multiple areas and grade levels. I am trying to decide if online teaching might be the next step for me in my career. I don’t anticipate being back in the library because the lack of openings and my lack of experience. I have an application on file with K12 Virtual Academy and Connections Learning. Tips for getting my foot in the door to even be considered for an interview? I am not really sure what to include in a resume at this point because I have done and seen so much. It would be 10 pages!
Thanks!
Kara
Hi, Kara,
It sounds like you have some good experience to bring to the online classroom, but it’s going to be tough to find jobs until you have some experience online. Have you ever taken an online course? Even that kind of experience would be helpful. I did my Master’s completely online, which got me started, and then I received my first experiences with online tutoring, and although it does not pay much, it does give you some valuable experience in the online format. Once you have some online experience, I suggest you look for online schools…start with Texas since that’s where you’re certified. I worked here for a while: Texas Virtual School: http://www.texasvirtualschool.org/ but be prepared to take a couple expensive classes for training. They want you to be certified in their program before giving you a contract to teach for them. The best way to get your foot in the door is to look for anything that will give you experience teaching/learning online.
As for your resume, I have on mine, anything related to teaching. It is a whopping 9 pages, the last one being a list of references, and it has gotten me jobs at both Johns Hopkins and Northwestern Universities, so don’t be afraid to be comprehensive with yours. Since you have your application on file with both K12 and Connections, you should follow up with a letter of inquiry into the status of the application.
With all that said, the best way to find online teaching jobs is to search for online tutoring, online schools or online courses. Look for the link to careers or job opportunities or employment; there is almost always a link to a jobs page, if there are any jobs available. Also, do a little research on the school and the way they run their classes; it impresses the interviewer if you are familiar with their courses and the way they’re run.
Oh, and become familiar with the different learning management systems, the platforms used for the classes. I mostly work with Blackboard and Moodle, but I have also used eCollege, Sakai, and others.
I hope that helps! Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Take care,
Viki
Would it be feasible or ethical to work with an online school if you are currently employed by a public school? Thinking about the time required for both I was curious about your thoughts.
Hi, Mel,
It is feasible to work with an online school if you are currently employed by a public school; you just wouldn’t want to take on too many students at once because your time will be limited. Many online teachers also work at public schools, but you might want to check out your contract to be sure your district would be okay with you working part-time somewhere else. As long as there is no conflict of interest, I don’t see it as a problem. You also need to make sure you haven’t signed a non-compete clause; this would be the main thing preventing you from working at an online school.
I hope that helps!
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Take care,
Viki
I am curious about how to get into this. I am a full time teacher. I teach first grade. I have taught second grade, fourth grade and I was an aid in a self-contained class for emotionally disturbed children. I am certified to teach preK-8 grade.
How many students does one typically have? Do you skype? How much time is spent planning, teaching, assessing ? How much can one make part-time and full-time?
Hi, Jennifer,
You ask some good questions, but there are no easy answers. Nowadays, most employers want you to have some online experience, either as a student and preferably as a teacher. It’s a catch-22 situation because how do you get experience if no one will hire you? I suggest starting out with some tutoring sites, like tutor.com or Smarthinking.com, and there are several others. Just search for “online tutoring jobs.” After you have a little experience working online, you can reach out to private schools or you can apply to the big names, like Connections and K12. If your district or state has any online programs, you might touch base with them and see what qualifications they desire in an online teacher. You will have an advantage there because you are already certified in the state. It has taken me eight years to find my “happy place” in online teaching. For experience and to work my way up through the ranks, I have worked for many different online institutions, and dropped as many as I kept.
The good news is I work for four online schools; I teach all ages and grade levels from second grade through post-graduate students. There is never a set number of students because it all depends on where you work and what kind of work is required. At one school I may teach as few as five students and as many as 20 in a class. At another school, I have over 100 students in two classes.
Some places pay by the hour and others by the student (by the hour is best, but they are few and far between). You will find that when working online, you do a lot more work for the money; although it is not difficult, it does take a lot of time. I teach part time for four schools, so I earn a full-time income from multiple streams. The online full time jobs are rare, but they pay around $35000-$40000 if you can find one. Usually, those are with the big names, like K12.
You ask if I Skype, and I use Skype for messaging only. I do not do “live” classes; that’s just my personal preference. Many schools are requiring more live sessions, but I avoid them because if I wanted to teach live, I’d go back to public schools, where I would earn twice the money.
Time is the big concern. When you work online, days off are rare; however, you can travel anytime to just about anywhere, and take your work with you. You just have to make sure high-speed Internet is available.
You also need to be careful when you apply for a job, to find out what is expected: will you need to create the class, and if so, will you be paid for doing so? Many schools will ask you to create the class but not pay you to do so. You will have the right to teach the class after you develop it, but if they pay only per student, it will take some time before you make any “profit” from it. I have been burned a few times because I did not realize I was expected to create the class as well as teach it.
I hope that helps! Best of luck to you on this new journey!
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Take care,
Viki
I just applied for a position with k12. I currently teach 1st grade in public school. How are the benefits comparable (health insurance, etc…)? Thanks 🙂
Hi, Tonya,
K12 does offer benefits for full-time positions, but I have never worked for them, so I don’t know how their benefits compare to public school. Make it a question for your interview…
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well!
Take care,
Viki
I work full-time for Connections Academy, and they have full benefits, 401K, and pay about 10% less that a comparable job in my local school district. Because I love working from home and having the flexibility to be with my kids when needed, I think the pay is very fair. I suggest to others to look for full time jobs, because they are there. There are school districts that have online schools where the pay is exactly the same as their brick and mortar teachers. For a lot less work and stress!
Hi, Mary,
It sounds like you took advantage of a great opportunity, and I’m happy to hear that you have had such a good experience! However, it’s been my experience that the full-time jobs are few and far between, and they don’t always last. For instance, I have a friend who held a full-time position for several years with an online corporation similar to Connections, and they have just recently cut my friend’s hours back to part-time.
Personally, I enjoy working as an independent contractor for several companies, and it gives me an annual income of better than full-time online teaching jobs. Of course, I do not have any of the benefits or perks, but by not keeping all my eggs in one basket, if something happens with one of them, I still have the others for support until I can replace it. I think it’s just a personal preference. Yes, I would LOVE having benefits and perks would be awesome, but if you lose the job, you lose them, as well.
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well!
Take care,
Viki
Hi Viki,
I am a 9-12 state certified science teacher with 5 years of teaching experience in a traditional classroom setting. I left my last teaching job after my second child was born and have been out of the classroom two years now. In the meantime, I have tutored online with tutor.com and have worked over the last year with ETS as a scorer for one of their testing programs. I applied for a teacher position with k12.com a few months ago and was invited to take a technology test and to create a lesson via BB Collaborate, which I submitted. Fast forward a couple of weeks and I have been asked to do a phone interview! I am pretty thrilled to even be at this point, as I have been knocking on so many doors since I left the traditional setting to try and secure this type of position. What are your thoughts on what this type of employer looks for or perhaps questions to prepare for the interview? I have thought about my proficiency with media and technology as well as developing lessons for multiple learning styles but I would love to hear from someone with so much experience in the online teaching environment. I want to make sure I am prepared! I have no idea whether the position is FT, PT or what the pay structure might be with them as the posting is quite vague.
Thanks so much!
Hi, Adriana,
Welcome to the world of online teaching in K12! If you have been asked to interview, then I think you are well on your way to obtaining the job. As for your interview, first and foremost, be familiar with K12. Study the website and learn all you can about their teaching policies, their expectations, their curriculum, and anything else you can learn about the company. Find out what the classroom is like; if they have a classroom demo, take it if you can. I actually interviewed with K12 several years ago, but declined the job because at that time, they wanted me to do some traveling, and I don’t travel for my jobs. I don’t know if that is a requirement anymore; they have undergone many changes since those days. I don’t recall much about the interview, but generally, telephone interviews are anywhere from 30-60 minutes in length, and the questions are normal teacher-type questions, with a few others specific to online teaching. Questions usually focus on specific situations and they want you draw from personal experience, especially if you have done any online teaching. They will want to know what learning management systems you are familiar with, if any, like Blackboard, Moodle, eCollege, and so on.
There are usually a few standard questions on classroom management, grading, and teaching philosophy. For instance, the following questions are almost always asked:
How would you motivate parents to get involved in their child’s education?
What is the most difficult aspect of teaching?
How would you motivate a reluctant or resistant student?
What is one of your strengths as a teacher?
What ways do you assess students?
What would you do to modify for special needs students, including gifted ones?
I’m guessing the job will be part-time and the pay will be so much per student.
I hope that helps, and I wish you the best of luck on your interview! You might want to come back here and let us all know how it goes!
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well!
Take care,
Viki
Hi Viki,
I’m currently still in school working towards my teaching degree and have just come across the idea of teaching online. I feel it would be perfect for me to stay home with my little one as well as working on my career. I read above that you mentioned that online teaching employers look for those with experience in the online education field. For someone like me who wouldn’t have experience upon graduating what do personally advise? Just trying to get together an idea of how to go about becoming an online teacher.
Thank you in advance!! (:
Hi, Alexis,
I’m going to be honest; it will be very difficult for you to get an online job if you do not have any experience teaching. The best way to get experience online is to start by tutoring online, so I would advise you to do a search for online tutoring jobs, and see what you can find. I know Sylvan usually has openings, and they would be a good place to start. Brainfuse.com might also be an option.
I wish I could be more help, but until you have some teaching experience on your resume, I’m afraid it will be an uphill struggle for you. There is a lot of competition out there, and even experienced teachers find it difficult to find positions. I’m sorry I don’t have better news for you. Try tutoring and once you have some experience, you can start putting out feelers to online schools. I hope that helps!
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well!
Take care,
Viki
Viki,
I have been interviewed for a full time poistion at a virtual charter school. The pay is much lower than I am used to making and there are no contracts. It is an at will employment that is year round. Is this normal?
Thanks,
Mel
Hi, Mel,
Congratulations on the interview! As to the normalcy of the offer, sadly, yes it is normal, at least the low pay and the at will employment. Most schools online are year round, although many of them offer different sessions throughout the year. You are probably referring to what is commonly known as “rolling” enrollment, whereby students enroll any time. That means you could receive new students every day, or every week, or every month. The class is self-paced, meaning the students complete the work at their own pace. I am only speculating here, based on my personal experience.
As for the no contract, that is more unusual. I don’t believe I’ve ever worked for a school that did not have some kind of contract. Some ask for you to sign a yearly contract; others ask for you to sign a contract for every class, every time you teach it. The good part of not having a contract is that they cannot stop you from working at other online schools or tutoring services, and with the low pay, you will probably want that opportunity. I hope that helps!
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well!
Take care,
Viki
I have a phd in a very specific healthcare field. I have online teaching experience on the college level. I’m interested in being able to increase my marketability by becoming able to teach a more broad range. I don’t know where to start….advice?
Hi, Melissa,
Since you have online experience on the college level, several doors should be open for you already. Online K12 schools do hire health teachers, but the pay won’t be as good as at the college level. One suggestion might be to apply at online schools that provide professional learning, such as PLS 3rd Learning. Their website is here: http://plsclasses.com/careers/ Other than that, you might want to start searching for other kinds of online healthcare jobs; you might be surprised to find jobs outside the field of education that could use your expertise. I hope that helps!
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well!
Take care,
Viki
Wow! I am so glad that I came across your blog tonight. I’m a late bloomer who sort of fell into education. In 2009 I finished my undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice (online). I then entered into a M.S. Human Services Admin program (online). Once I had taken about a handful of courses I realized I could make more of an impact in children’s lives if I became a teacher. Lucky for me my current school had a M.A.T. program. Last fall I began my Master of Arts in Teaching Early Childhood Education (Birth- 3rd grade) (online). I begin my student teaching this spring and have maintained a 4.0 throughout this program and have been a fulltime online college student since the fall of 2009. I realize that many online early education programs require classroom experience prior to transitioning online. I am prepared for the progressive stages required to eventually transition to an all online environment. I hope to eventually work with early learners and undergraduate students. I love my current degree, it has enabled me to acquire my master’s and teaching certificate all at once. However, I am not for sure if my graduate degree will qualify me for college or university positions because it is a M.A.T. From my understanding this is a fairly new degree. Are you familiar with its limitations? I know it does not qualify me for school administrative positions, which I’m not interested in. Thanks again for sharing your story. I know my eventual goals of travel and home employment in this field, working with both the young and adults may be possible!
Hi, Kathy,
Thank you for stopping by, and congratulations on taking the plunge to pursue an online teaching career! I don’t know a lot about the M.A.T. degree, but I believe it can help a teacher change teaching tracks from teaching elementary and high school to teaching at a community college, which is usually as far as any Master’s will take you. Most college/university programs require a doctorate degree for teaching anything other than the most basic classes.
I have a M.A.Ed and my major is in adult education and distance learning. It has opened several doors for me, including teaching professional development classes and some graduate classes with independent organizations; however, I doubt that I could teach graduate classes at a college or university.
You seem to be headed in the right direction, and I wish you much success. Please keep us posted.
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well!
Take care,
Viki
I am currently a classroom teacher in WV and was wanting more info on becoming an online teacher.
Hi, Laura,
After you have read through this website, please let me know if you have specific questions, and I will be happy to answer them!
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well!
Take care,
Viki
Hello Viki,
To begin, I want to thank you for creating a blog such as this. Several questions that I was not able to find answers to ANYWHERE have all been answered on this blog and by a person with experience in the field. Recently, I had a virtual interview with Connections Academy in South Carolina and now they want to host a face to face interview with me tomorrow. They informed me that my resume was chosen as the top choice by their talent acquisition team and by the hiring team so I am pretty confident they will offer the position to me. It is for a self-contained special education class. I have a plethora of questions but, I do not want to overwhelm you so I will try to make them as concise as possible.
1.) I currently work at a charter school that has extended learning days in a very impoverished area where students have traditionally struggled academically and behaviorally. I have had great results both within and beyond the classroom with these students, I grew up in this area and I am glad to be giving back by means of contributing to the success of the students. My question is however, I do not want to leave my current school, at least not yet, so do you think it is possible to teach online and teach in a brick and mortar classroom? It seems that many do but, I am not sure if Connections Academy will try to get me to sign a non-compete and force me to choose. That leads me to my next question…
2.) If I am “forced to choose” then what would the more reliable option? It seems that virtual schools are more susceptible to boom and busts enrollment and a full time teacher can easily awaken and find themselves part time. Is that generally the case? Would a brick and mortar school be more reliable (even though noting is reliable now in days)?
3.) Is the pay for a virtual school comparable to the pay for a brick and mortar school? From what I have heard, it is quite lower but, I want to be sure. I have earned many accolades, awards, and recognitions as a result of my teaching but, I do not feel that will result in me receiving a much higher salary than what is typical.
Thank you in advance for your response.
Hi, Gregg,
Here are the answers to your questions:
1. Do you think it is possible to teach online and teach in a brick and mortar classroom?
It is quite possible! Many online teachers also teach full or part time in brick and mortar classrooms.
2. If I am “forced to choose” then what would the more reliable option? It seems that virtual schools are more susceptible to boom and busts enrollment and a full time teacher can easily awaken and find themselves part time. Is that generally the case? Would a brick and mortar school be more reliable (even though noting is reliable now in days)?
The more reliable option is going to be the brick and mortar one. I know of several teachers that were teaching full time for a corporate school and they are now teaching only part-time. It’s also best not to rely solely on teaching at one grade level; for instance I teach elementary through graduate students. I also work for Pearson, scoring SAT essays.
3. Is the pay for a virtual school comparable to the pay for a brick and mortar school? The pay is considerably lower, which means you probably will need multiple streams of income. It’s rare to find full time and even if you do, the pay will not be what you expect. Of course, if you work from home, you don’t have to spend money on gas or clothes or lunches, and so on. It just depends on what you want out of life. I love working from home…my kids are grown and gone, so I can work in my pajamas and slippers if I want (and often do, especially on cold winter days)!
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well!
Take care,
Viki
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Hello,
Thanks for having this forum. How helpful! I have a couple questions. I was recently contacted by a recruiter from k12 who asked me a few preliminary questions and then said after he passed along my info I may or may not be asked to do a lesson plan audition. Do you think that’s a good sign? Also- the position that I’m being considered for is a full time special education teacher in Florida. Could you estimate the time commitment? I’ve read about upwards of 250 students per full time teacher. That sounds a little bit more than 40 hours a week. Thanks so much!
Tricia
Hi, Tricia,
I’m not sure whether or not the recruiter’s comment is a good sign, especially when he says, “May or may not be asked.” To me, that’s not really any kind of a response; it’s too wishy-washy. I don’t know much about online special education teaching, other than making courses accessible to all, but I would think 250 students definitely sounds like more than 40 hours a week. At one school I teach around 100 students (English and language arts) and I turn in 30-35 hours a week. I also teach at two other institutions, but only 10-20 students each place. For me, 150 students would give me more than 40 hours a week, but again, I have to grade essays and other language arts related submissions, which takes more time than some other subjects. I guess it just depends on the kind of work you will be doing.
I hope you are able to find the perfect job for you!
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well!
Take care,
Viki
I am a full time teacher for our school district and our state has a virtual academy through K12. Is there a way to do both simultaneously?
Hi, there,
It is possible to do both, but you will be very busy! It will depend on the type of non-compete clause in your contract, so you will want to find out how your district feels about teaching full-time and part-time. To do both, you will probably need to work nights online, since you’re full time face-to-face, and it would be difficult to teach online while teaching face-to-face.
I hope that helps!
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well!
Take care,
Viki
Hi Vicki,
I am entering my 20th year teaching Special Education, and as much as I love teaching, I am ready for a change. Having been a commuter all these years, I have become very interested in pursuing a telecommuting position in the field of education. I think that in this technological day and age, our field is progressing and I’m very ready and interested in becoming a part of it. I was fortunate to find a classroom position immediately upon graduating years ago, but I still have quite a few years ahead of me 😉 and I have the skills and experience to try a new avenue at this stage in my career. Do you think that this would be a wise move for someone in my position? Is it a feasible option? I love the site and thanks for your honest input.
Suzanne 🙂
Hi, Suzanne,
It’s nice to meet a veteran teacher of Special Education; I so admire you for working with the special needs children! I do try to be honest with my readers, and quite frankly, it is not easy to get a foot in the door of online teaching without some previous experience, either taking online classes or teaching them. Don’t get me wrong; it’s possible, but you will need to be willing to get some experience under your belt. You did not mention how familiar you are with online teaching, or whether or not you have ever taken any online classes. You should also be prepared to work for more than one school at first; the full-time, online jobs are few and far between. You also need to be prepared to be an independent contractor for most online institutions. There are not many places that will offer you benefits; I have a nice mix of places where I teach, but no benefits other than working from home. Also, most online schools go year-round; you won’t have much of a holiday…ever. But you can take your work with you on vacations and holidays and that makes it possible to vacation whenever you want! You might want to start applying at different places; try the big names first, like K12.com and Connections Academy. They may be more willing to train a newbie to the field. If you have any more specific questions, let me know! After you land your first job, you will be working really hard and really long hours for a while, but it’s really worth it! I love teaching online, and I would hate to have to go back to face-to-face teaching. I wish you much luck!!
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well!
Take care,
Viki
Good afternoon Viki,
I am currently looking for an online teaching job. I am certified in both New Mexico and Texas. Can I teach online in any state or only the ones I am certified in? Thanks, Kim
Hi, Kim,
Unfortunately, your certifications are only good for the states in which you obtained them. With that said, if you can find private schools, they will usually be happy as long as you have a certificate from any state. Also, if you can find special programs, such as gifted, religious, or subject specific, like writing, a state license will work. If you want to teach for a school district or the corporate schools (K12, Connections, and so on) then you will be required to have a certificate from the state for which you will be teaching. I hope that helps clarify things, and I didn’t just confuse you even more. 😉
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Viki
I’m a certified teacher in Florida for the classroom. However, I retired from that business quite a while ago. I’m interested in coming becoming an online school teacher, can you help? Thank you, Nancy Freeman
Hi, Nancy,
You did not say whether or not you have any experience in an online classroom, and that’s the first thing that needs to happen. You either need to take an online class or teach one to get a little bit of experience, and to know if the online venue is something you would enjoy. It’s not for everyone! Once you have some experience, then you will want to search for jobs for online teachers in Florida, since that is where you are certified. I do know that Florida Virtual School is almost always in need of teachers, so you might want to start there: http://jobs.flvs.net/jobs
After that, if you want to teach at more schools, you will have to become certified in whatever state those schools might be. You can also check out homeschool sites and private schools.
I hope that helps!
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Viki
I am a former elementary music teacher (currently stay-at-home mom). I am interested in k12 online teaching positions but music jobs are not as common. My certification in SC is current. I have 7 years experience. I have a bachelors in music education P-12 and a masters in education with a focus in technology. I just completed two online courses to renew my certification and one was a virtual classroom. There are currently three music positions listed but not in my home state. Is it necessary to get certification in these states before applying or can I go ahead an apply beforehand? Any tips or pointers would be much appreciated!
Thanks and God Bless,
Heather
Hi, Heather,
As a rule, you must have a teaching license in the state in which you want to apply for a position. The only time this is not true is in private schools. I don’t know for which company you are applying, but if they teach in the public sector, you will need a license. I teach in Texas and that’s the only state in which I’m certified, but I teach for private institutions.
The best way to find out information is to inquire at the school for which you want to work. I suggest looking in SC for open positions. Try searching for online teacher jobs in SC, and see what pops up.
I hope that helps!
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Viki
Hello I am a Kansas certified mild to moderate special education teacher. I have been teaching for three years. As for teaching online I have never taught online but I received my master education through an online education program. I am curious with K12 what special education looks like with an online setting, and if doing online schooling will benefit me for getting a job at K12?
Thanks so much for your time!
McKenzie
Hi, McKenzie,
I do not work for the company, K12; this blog is for K12 teachers in general. I do know that many online schools are working on better accessibility for students with special needs, so there is hope for you to obtain a position, but you will need to contact K12 directly to find out anything more.
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Viki
Hi I am certified to teach ELA 6-12th grade. This is my fourth year to teach. I live in a rural area, and the closest town is twenty miles away. I now drive a long distance to work, and I am interested in online teaching. I took online classes in college and actually preferred this to a classroom setting because it required self-discipline. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
Hi, there,
The best advice I can give you is to start searching for online teaching jobs in the state in which you have certification. You might want to also look at online tutoring to begin with; I got my start at places like Smarthinking and little-known private online schools. In fact I still work for private schools; I tried the public school system online and they wanted to micro-manage too much for me. However, I did get my feet wet in some of them, just for the experience. It takes a long time to build up a repertoire of schools you enjoy working for. Finally, after ten years of online teaching, I’m pretty happy with the places where I teach. You have to do the time and gain the experience, and you have to be willing to give up nights, weekends, holidays, and vacations, but if you like working in jammies and slippers on your own schedule, then it’s all worth it.
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Viki
Hello Viki,
I have a few questions. I will begin my Master’s degree in Elementary Education in April (currently have a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration). I have attended online school for my entire adult education as well as “coach” my K12.com children (K and 2nd). I want to continue getting experience and earn a little income while going to school online for my Master’s degree)
Is there anything I can do to earn money while still in school? (online tutoring, educational testing, etc,?)
Also, I am the main financial support for our family of 5 and would want to make at least $3000 per month to support my family so I’m trying to do the math here. You said average of $20 students per semester of $100/per student.
So that is only $2000 for the entire semester (6 months of income)? I would need like 9 different jobs to meet my goal? Is this correct and is that even obtainable?
Hi, Brandi,
Congratulations on going for your Master’s degree! I understand your interest in teaching online, but as I have mentioned to others on here, you may have to start out tutoring online or working for educational testing services, and even some of them are “picky” about having experience teaching online. I’ve been teaching online for 11 years now, and I am finally just getting my repertoire of jobs to the point that I am in a very happy place. I currently teach for four different places, ranging from elementary gifted students to high school to graduate students. I also do scoring projects for an educational testing service. So your math is fairly correct; I don’t think you will have to have 9 jobs, but four or five certainly is not unheard of. I work for private institutions who have shorter sessions than regular semesters. One has eight-week sessions, another has ten-week sessions and the graduate workshops are only three weeks long. The educational testing is project-based and each project is two-three weeks.
I love working online, but there are no weekends or summer vacations; you can take your work anywhere, so you will go on “working” vacations. I have visited family that live in other states, and I have spent as much as six weeks away from home, never missing one day of work. I have a little bit of a break at Christmas, and I lighten up on my workload in the summer, but I am still always working. I don’t mind it at all, as I live in the country, and I take frequent breaks to “look at the trees.”
I, too, am the main financial support, and your goal is definitely obtainable; however, it might take some time to get there.
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Viki
Hello, I have been a traditional brick and mortar teacher for the past 10 years. I am curious about one aspect in particular when it comes to online teaching…do you make up all of your own lesson plans and presentations from scratch, or do many of the online schools already have the syllabi and plans created for you so that you work more as a tutor/facilitator than a curriculum writer? Thanks so much! -Stacey
Hi, Stacey,
Good question! Some schools will require you to design your courses, and other schools will have the course already in place, and all you do is facilitate them. It just depends on where you work. If a school does require you to design your course, you should make sure that you are paid; it might be a stipend, or it might be a per-class amount, or it might be figured in with your salary. However, if a school asks you to design a course without reimbursing you for it, I would suggest looking elsewhere. It takes a lot of time to design a quality course, and your time is worth something!!
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Viki
How does one become an online K-12 teacher?
Thank you!
Hi, Lisa,
Wow, that’s a huge question, especially since you did not give me any background information. First, you need to be a teacher and have a license in the state where you want to teach. If you are already a licensed teacher, then you need to get some experience with online learning. You need to take some online classes, and perhaps apply to online tutoring sites. After you have some experience, simply do a search for online teaching jobs, and start applying.
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Viki
Hi Viki,
I am in my 2nd year teaching at Connections Academy…I would like to earn some extra money, and I see you do “scoring projects” and other types of work….could you please point me into a direction of how to find these positions? (I was one of the lucky ones, I landed a full time online teaching position my first year out of college 🙂 Thanks in advance!
~Michelle
Hi, Michelle,
You are one of the lucky ones, for sure! I do not have a full time online teaching position, and I don’t really want one at this point. I have built up a nice repertoire of places to teach, and I don’t want to have to give up any of them. Anyway, you might try looking into Pearson or ETS; those are the two places where I have found some steady projects to work on. You might want to try tutoring online, so do a search for tutoring sites.
I hope that helps!
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Viki
Hi Michelle,
Congrats on scoring an online teaching position so soon after college! Could you please offer some feedback as to the pros and cons of teaching at Connections Academy? I completed my M.A.Ed. (online) last year, then became a 6th grade permanent sub, and this year I am a Para for Kindergarten. I now feel equipped to lead my own class, but we are a military family, and next month we are transferring to a different state. I am struggling to land a job in our new state because principals request that I meet in person for the interview, which I cannot do until late June. I already attended the district teaching fair which of course was an expense. A teacher friend suggested online teaching, and just yesterday I completed an application for K12. Not sure what to expect. As I begin my teaching career, I do not want to jeopardize my chance to ever work in public schools, and I am worried that I would not be able to advance to a professional certificate if I do not have state-approved PD hours/observations.
Thanks for any advice/feedback. Best of luck!
Laura
Hello,
How much are you paid at Connections Academy? I’m thinking about transitioning to online teach and would love to make an informed decision. Thank you!
Hi!
Thanks so much for making yourself available in this way! You clearly are very resourceful and obviously LOVE to stay busy! My question is whether you thing online teaching (for the first time) is doable with a toddler and a newborn on the way- due in July? I currently homeschool and I am in need of some extra funds…is this profitable for me or just more stressful?
If you think it is doable, what kinds of jobs should I be looking for to fit my situation?
Just as a gauge: What kind of time each day would you imagine I would have to put in for an elemetary position that meets say once a week for 30 mins?
Hi, Rochelle,
Thank you for the kind words! Unless you have some experience teaching online, or even taking classes online, it would be more stressful for you than profitable. Online schools do not pay the same as face-to-face classes, and it takes a lot of experience to get to the point where you can make a decent salary teaching online. Many online classes do not “meet” online, although there are some that meet a couple times a week, or the teacher holds online office hours. It really just depends on the kind of school where you get a job. Because most online classes are global, it is difficult to find a good time for all students to meet; scheduling such meetings can become a bit of a nightmare.
I hope that helps!
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Viki
Thanks for putting this site up, I’ve read some of the questions and answers and have a much better understanding of the online teaching world. I’m currently going to school for my bachelors and am planning on teaching at a high school level. I would prefer to teach online but I have a feeling its going to be harder than I thought to get my foot in the door.
Can anyone tell me if it would be easier to start teaching at a regular high school and just do online work part time while I build up experience with it, or is it better to just jump in head first with online teaching at several different schools. Thanks for any help or tips.
Hi, Chris,
I think to get started, it would be better for you to teach at a regular high school and just do the online part time while you build up some experience, but there may be others out there with a different opinion. You might start with some tutoring sites, for which you can choose your own schedule, and work up to more regular teaching from there.
I hope that helps!
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Viki
Hello,
I see several CTE positions under K12. Isn’t that a national certification? Are able to teach in any state with that certification?
Hi, Mo,
That is an excellent question and one for which I do not have an answer. Keep in mind that I do not work for the organization, K12. Even with the CTE, each state will have its own requirements.
Perhaps one of the other readers can provide you with more information.
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Viki
Hello,
I am looking into information to nevome an online teacher. Currently i am in school online for early childhood birth-3rd grade. When i take my board of education teast and get my certificate what would i need to do to get a teaching job online in ohio.
Hi, Katelyn,
Basically, you will need some experience taking and/or teaching online classes. Once you get some experience with online education, then you should start putting in your application to online schools in Ohio. You might read through the rest of the comments on here, as well; there is a lot of good information here.
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Viki
I am interested in being an online teacher. I am certified in michigan to teach k -8. I hold a master’s degree in special education. I would like more information.
Hi, Eric,
I’m not sure what kind of information you are looking for. If you want to teach online, it would be helpful to get some experience, like tutoring online. Look for online teaching jobs and start applying. Also, there is a great deal of good information here in the comments, so you might want to read through them.
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Viki
Good evening,
I am reading through your blog, greatly enjoying it I must add, and I have one question that come to mind. I am curious how much effort it takes to clear 2K-2,500K per month… I see where you refer to it as considerably lower than a “normal” brick and mortar setting, but what is the expectation? Is it realistic to assume a person can clear around $2,000 per month from one setting, or to do something like that should a person seek many opportunities like you have done? I have chosen this life because to me time is wealth in my humble opinion, but I too have to pay the bills… Just want some perspective on how many students, hours, part time, contractual, full time–or just want to expect from a first timer entering a contractual setting… I was so excited to get the phone interview and given the thumbs up to get going, I completely failed to look into things deeper. I am currently unemployed and going to school and thought this might be a good way to get back in to teaching… So the money is no real worry in the interim, but in the long term it will come in to play… I was thinking of giving it six months to just see what happens… That being said I am just curious what to expect…
Thank you,
Shawn
Hi, Shawn,
Some places pay by the student (as in $150/student), some pay by the hour. Some will hire you as an employee, and others will hire you as an independent contractor, making tax time a nightmare. Some schools do offer full-time, but usually with the understanding that you cannot work anywhere else. I work at three different places and am an employee of only one. I am an independent contractor for the other two. One pays by the hour and it is a rolling enrollment situation (students enroll every day), one pays by the hour but with restrictions: I’m only allowed 8 hours per student per session, and the courses run for ten weeks. One pays a set stipend per three-week course, regardless of the number of students, which can be from 5-20 students (it averages out about 10). Keep in mind I’ve been teaching online for ten years, so I have been through many experiences, and these three places are the cream of the crop, for me, at least. I hope that helps!
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Viki
HI Viki! Thanks for putting time into doing this blog:) I am currently certified and working as a public school teacher, but need to work from home in order to provide assistance to 2 people who need adult foster care in my home. I have applied to several places, including k12, but am unsure if (a.) k12 provides online instruction for teachers to work from home only? (b.) how do you get your foot in the door to online schools? Thanks again for your help:)
Hi, Stephanie,
The best way to get your foot in the door is to start by doing tutoring online. There are several places where you can do that. Just do a search for online tutoring and start applying. If you have any experience as an online student or teacher, then you might want to try to apply to online schools. Again do a search for online schools in your state. K-12 and Connections are big corporations and they are always hiring, it seems, so you could also try one of them. Hope that helps!
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Viki
So glad i came upon this page and thanks for taking tim to answer questions. I am wondering if you receive state benefits and retirement for the years in K-12 school just as you would a brick and mortar school- I need 2 more years in a “state school” whether online or brick and mortar to become vested in my insurance- I currently work in a small public online charter school and love it but there is a possibility of it closing so I want to look forward at my option.s Want to apply to K-12 or Connections but I must make sure I receive state benefits and years of experience just as I would in a brick and mortar school- hope this makes sense. Thanks for any help. Any when they ask for salary (I am elementary teacher) what should you put- in general- like what would be too high that they would not even consider you- there has to be a salary “boundary” they are looking for- thoughts?
Hi, there,
Whether or not you receive benefits and retirement depends on the school and/or company. If you work as an independent contractor, you will not receive any benefits or retirement. If you work as an employee, then you might receive benefits and retirement, if you work full-time. Part-timers will not. It’s just one of those questions you will have to ask in your interview. Salary requirement is a touchy subject. I try to be honest and put what I really need to earn, and the employer will then let you know what they are offering. You could say it’s negotiable, but the best thing to do is be honest. If an employer is interested in you, he or she will appreciate your honesty. Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Viki
Hi Viki!
What an informative blog – thank you for putting this together! My question for you concerns face-to-face sessions. I currently teach online for 2 different organizations (one of which you and I have in common!) – K12, which used to be Middlebury Interactive Languages and JHU CTY. Both of them require teaching live lessons. You have stated that you do not work at schools that require live lessons (although the one you and I both teach for does require me to do face to face lessons for 2 hours per week and Skype sessions 15 minutes per student) – which of the online schools do not require this? I would much more prefer not to have to do the live lessons, as it requires you to be in front of the computer at specific times, it is much more work, etc…
I look forward to learning more from you!
Thanks,
KB
Hi, Kelly,
Thanks for your kind words! I do not have any live sessions at JHU CTY, but I teach critical reading and writing courses. The reading courses are all asynchronous, and the writing courses are done via email attachments. Before you apply to a school, the best thing to do is just read the website; find out what kinds of expectations there are for teachers. They almost always say if live classes or office hours are required. It’s not easy to find them anymore, but there are still a few out there. Good luck!
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Viki
Hello,
I am in NC and have been looking for online teaching jobs. I have 14 years of teaching exp. but would like to expand to online teaching. do you know of any places in NC that I could apply?
Hi, Shonna,
I don’t know offhand of any places in NC, but you might try K-12 or Connections; they usually have openings in all states for teachers. You should also do a search for online teaching jobs in NC, and see what you find. This is how I found most of my jobs. Good luck!
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Viki
I have taught for k12.com for 7 years. I started full time, then a state that I was teaching for dropped the company. Then I was moved to another state and taught part time in a different subject. Then that state was having major teacher strikes, so I was moved to another state teaching part time. Then that state’s enrollment declined a lot. I was certified in all 3 states in the subjects that I taught. Then, attendance was so low a lot of us became contractors. It has been very unstable with this company. We were also told all throughout that our student attendance should increase thus making us full time or full part time again. Ha! False hope.
Hello, my name is Treena Castleberry and I would like to become an Online Teacher. I have had the joy and sure pleasure of Teaching k-5 students for about 15 years. I would love to bring my skill abilities to K12 Online School. I am licensed in Texas and I have a Masters in Special Education. Please let me know if you have a position available for me.
Hi, Treena,
I don’t work at K12.com; I’m just an online teacher who started this blog for the K12 online community to share “war” stories and have a conversation about teaching online. If you are interested in working for K12, you will need to visit their website: http://www.k12.com/
Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you well.
Viki