Physics Instructor

AoPS Academy is a program of Art of Problem Solving (AoPS), a global leader in K–12 advanced education. AoPS is on a mission to discover, inspire, and train the great problem solvers of the next generation. Since 2003, AoPS has trained hundreds of thousands of the country’s top students through its online school, in-person academies, textbooks, and online learning systems. AoPS Academy offers unique problem solving curriculum at its in-person locations across the country as well as through the virtual campus.

The AoPS Academy in Mountain View is hiring part-time Physics Instructors. We are looking for outstanding professionals to teach our Intro to Mechanics course to a small class of high-achieving middle-school students. This position will also have the opportunity to teach math classes (grades 2-12) if available.

Our instructors contribute greatly to the success of our students and are an integral part of our Academy family. This may be a great fit for you if you enjoy facilitating discussions in a collaborative and engaging student-led classroom, building relationships with students, and making a direct impact on how they learn and approach physics. 

Our classes challenge students to tackle difficult problems and extend their understanding of physical and mathematical principles. Students will develop strong skills in critical thinking and scientific reasoning, and will learn to recognize and apply physics in their everyday, real-world experiences. Visit our Course Catalog to see more details regarding all of our class offerings.

We are currently hiring for the following:

• 2024-2025 academic school year 

Job Duties:

You will use company-created materials to prepare for and teach advanced courses that focus on problem-solving and critical thinking. This allows instructors to focus on the delivery of material. As an AoPS Academy Physics Instructor, you will: 

• Prepare for weekly lessons created by our curriculum team.
• Actively engage students in the course material throughout each class.
• Expertly manage a classroom of up to 16 students. 
• Regularly grade students’ tests. 
• Meet with students and families, as needed, during the 15 minutes before or after class. 
• Substitute for classes from time to time.

Skills and Experience:

• A Bachelor’s degree in a STEM-related field is required, ideally related to physics.
• A formal teaching credential is not required, but experience working with students, particularly grades 2-12, is preferred.
• Possess strong content knowledge in math, physics, and/or engineering with the ability to help students navigate advanced concepts requiring critical thinking. 
• The ability to facilitate regular hands-on activities and enforce laboratory safety rules is required.
• Experience facilitating laboratory activities in a classroom environment and/or using household materials is preferred.
• Experience teaching in a hands-on environment is preferred. 
• Expertly motivate and challenge advanced learners.

Location and Schedule: 

As this is an in-person position at our Mountain View campus location, candidates must be located in Mountain View, CA or the greater area and must be able to commute to our campus. 

This position requires a minimum initial commitment of 3 hours per week for each assigned class. Each course meets once per week for 1 hour 45 minutes. Please note that AoPS Academy is an afterschool program with classes in the evenings and on weekends, so candidates must be available to teach during weekday after-school hours (as early as 4pm) and/or on weekends.

Benefits and Compensation:

The instructor rate at our Mountain View location is $37.50/hour. The rate includes flexible work time, 15 minutes early arrival immediately before class, actual class time, and the 15 minutes after class ends. Some benefits of the position include: 

• Paid Sick Leave
• 401K retirement plan with company match
• Employee discount on AoPS Academy classes, AoPS Online, and Beast Academy Online yearly subscriptions. Note that discounts for courses and online subscriptions only apply to active employees and children/dependents of the employee.
• Eligible for a pay increase after successfully teaching a full academic year at an AoPS Academy campus

In order to be considered for this position you must be legally authorized to work in the US. We are unable to offer sponsorship, including STEM-OPT and H-1B.