Requirements
No previous swim instruction experience or certification is necessary. You will be paid to learn our curriculum and enhance your swimming ability. In addition to small classes, we offer our customers professional instruction. These are the two main aspects of our services that set us apart from other swim instruction providers. Therefore, we are seeking educated professionals.
While we hire almost exclusively elementary education professionals, we do occasionally hire exceptional university juniors and seniors pursuing degrees in elementary education, secondary education professionals, and professionals with degrees in other humanities-related fields, such as social work and psychology. However, candidates in the latter three categories must have significant experience with children age four to ten.
We believe that learning to swim is as important as any subject children learn in school. We require each instructor to gain an in-depth knowledge of our curriculum and techniques. Jeff Kelly and his team of “Instructor Mentors” will train you. These mentors will work with you to enhance your swimming and teaching skills throughout the summer. If you meet the aforementioned requirements, please ask yourself these questions:
Do I enjoy working with children age four to ten?
Do I enjoy being in the water? Would I enjoy being in the water at least 15-20 hours per week?
Do I enjoy learning new teaching techniques?
Do I enjoy being challenged?
Do I graciously accept and implement critique?
If you cannot answer “yes” to all of those questions, then this position would not be ideal for you. We are seeking people who truly love to work with children, enjoy the aquatic environment, have a passion for learning new teaching techniques, thrive on challenges and are not sensitive to critique. It is also important that you understand and accept the administrative component of this position. Specifically, you will be required to complete detailed “Student Ability Reports” (grade cards). While this administrative component is certainly less exciting than working with the students, it is an extremely important responsibility. As previously stated, we offer our customers professional instruction. That includes providing them with a professional assessment of each student’s ability and progress.
Regarding the acceptance and implementation of critique, Jeff elaborates, “Though I began creating the Personalized Swim Instruction© program in 1987, and I am extremely confident in my abilities as an educator; I accept that I can learn something from everyone. Through the years, I have learned new and creative ideas from my instructors. I think that one of my strengths as a business owner, employer and educator is my ability to listen to others and to accept and implement critique and new ideas. Therefore, I expect the same from my employees. Each summer, my goal is to surround myself with passionate, motivated and like-minded people. I accept that I can learn from you and I expect the same attitude from you. If this sounds like the kind of employment relationship that you would enjoy, please continue reading.”
Please thoroughly review the information below before submitting your online application. After reviewing your application, we will contact you to schedule an interview. During the interview, candidates sometimes inquire about how and why Jeff started this program, where and when they would teach and how the training program is conducted, etc. Hiring and training new instructors is only one of our many responsibilities. Therefore, we need to use our time efficiently. When we speak with you, it is important that we spend most of our time learning about you – not speaking about the corporation. Toward that end; in addition to this page, please read Who’s Jeff? to learn about the history of our company. To familiarize yourself with the curriculum, please see Curriculum. Below, you will find most of what you need to know regarding the training program and teaching schedule for this summer. Of course, we can dedicate some interview time for clarification of information that you are reading on this website.
2020-Swim-Instructor-Training-ProgramDownload
2020 Swim Instructor Training Program
This training program is specifically designed to prepare you to teach our Abilities 1 through 3 (Basic Safety and Freestyle). The instructors who teach Abilities 4 through 6 (Backstroke, Breaststroke and Butterfly) receive additional training not itemized here. This additional training is very personalized. The amount of time required depends largely on one’s ability to perform those strokes.
Training Curriculum | Dates | Hours |
Observation “Shadowing”: You will be in the water with one of our spring instructors as they teach actual classes. You will not actually work with the students. You will “shadow” the instructor. Everywhere he or she goes – you will go. You will always be by his\her side as he\she works with the students. This time of kinetic observation, followed by the “Swimming & Teaching Techniques” training detailed below, will provide you with the skills and confidence necessary for student teaching. | We will customize a “shadowing” schedule for you during our spring sessions, between April 27 and May 21; depending on when you are hired and ready to begin training. During the Spring Session 3 we will teach children’s classes Monday through Thursday of each week, from 3:00 p.m. to ~7:25 p.m. Each class of four students is 35 minutes in duration. You are required to observe\shadow five nights of four classes per night for a total of twenty 35-minute classes. | ~12.00 |
Swimming & Teaching Techniques: You will learn and refine the correct “Freestyle” swimming technique by assuming the role of a student. While learning the techniques and daily routine of our curriculum, you will be significantly improving your own swimming ability. | Tuesday, May 26 through Friday, May 29. Specific times will be determined based on the collective availability of all new instructors. | 16.00 |
Student Teaching & Assessment: You will teach an actual session (“Session 4”) of classes under the guidance of your mentors. You will teach four classes: At least two classes of Ability 1s\2s and two classes of Ability 2s\3s. During this phase of the training, the mentors will guide, assist and then grade your swimming and teaching techniques. After “Shadowing” and an intense week of “Swimming & Teaching Techniques” training, this two-week period of hands-on time with the children will provide you with the final skills and confidence needed for autonomous teaching. | Monday, June 1 through Thursday, June 4. Monday, June 8 through Thursday, June 11. | ~20.00 |
Friday of each week during Session 4 will be dedicated to: 1. Training in and testing of the administrative components of your role as a professional Swim Instructor. One such administrative component is the completion of detailed “Student Ability Reports” for each student whom you teach. 2. Continued fine-tuning of your swimming and teaching techniques. 3. On Friday, June 14, you will receive your class schedule(s) with detailed information about your students; for your first autonomous session that begins the following Monday. | Friday, June 5 and Friday, June 12. Specific times will be determined based on the collective availability of all new instructors. | 8.00 |
Total: You will be paid for every hour spent in training at your hourly rate. *The total hours of training may be more or less than 56.00. You will be paid for half of your training hours on the first applicable pay date following completion of your first autonomous session of teaching (“Session 5”) and half on the first applicable pay date after completion of “Session 6”. ~56.00 Hours*
2020 Swim Instructor Training Program
2020 Swim Instructor Training Program | ||
This training program is specifically designed to prepare you to teach our Abilities 1 through 3 (Basic Safety and Freestyle). The instructors who teach Abilities 4 through 6 (Backstroke, Breaststroke and Butterfly) receive additional training not itemized here. This additional training is very personalized. The amount of time required depends largely on one's ability to perform those strokes. | ||
Training Curriculum | Dates | Hours |
Observation “Shadowing”: You will be in the water with one of our spring instructors as they teach actual classes. You will not actually work with the students. You will “shadow” the instructor. Everywhere he or she goes – you will go. You will be always be by his\her side as he\she works with the students. This time of kinetic observation, followed by the "Swimming & Teaching Techniques" training detailed below, will provide you with the skills and confidence necessary for student teaching. | We will customize a "shadowing" schedule for you during our spring sessions, between April 27 and May 21; depending on when you are hired and ready to begin training. During the Spring Session 3 we will teach children's classes Monday through Thursday of each week, from 3:00 p.m. to ~7:25 p.m. Each class of four students is 35 minutes in duration. You are required to observe\shadow five nights of four classes per night for a total of twenty 35-minute classes. | ~12.00 |
Swimming & Teaching Techniques: You will learn and refine the correct "Freestyle" swimming technique by assuming the role of a student. While learning the techniques and daily routine of our curriculum, you will be significantly improving your own swimming ability. | Tuesday, May 26 through Friday, May 29. Specific times will be determined based on the collective availability of all new instructors. | 16.00 |
Student Teaching & Assessment: You will teach an actual session ("Session 4") of classes under the guidance of your mentors. You will teach four classes: At least two classes of Ability 1s\2s and two classes of Ability 2s\3s. During this phase of the training, the mentors will guide, assist and then grade your swimming and teaching techniques. After "Shadowing" and an intense week of "Swimming & Teaching Techniques" training, this two-week period of hands-on time with the children will provide you with the final skills and confidence needed for autonomous teaching. | Monday, June 1 through Thursday, June 4. Monday, June 8 through Thursday, June 11. | ~20.00 |
Friday of each week during Session 4 will be dedicated to: 1. Training in and testing of the administrative components of your role as a professional Swim Instructor. One such administrative component is the completion of detailed "Student Ability Reports" for each student whom you teach. 2. Continued fine-tuning of your swimming and teaching techniques. 3. On Friday, June 14, you will receive your class schedule(s) with detailed information about your students; for your first autonomous session that begins the following Monday. | Friday, June 5 and Friday, June 12. Specific times will be determined based on the collective availability of all new instructors. | 8.00 |
Total: You will be paid for every hour spent in training at your hourly rate. *The total hours of training may be more or less than 56.00. You will be paid for half of your training hours on the first applicable pay date following completion of your first autonomous session of teaching ("Session 5") and half on the first applicable pay date after completion of "Session 6". | ~56.00* |
CPR Certification:
Prior to your first day of autonomous teaching, please ensure that you have a current CPR certification from a nationally recognized certification organization.
2020-Swim-Instructor-Summer-Employment-ScheduleDownload
2020 Summer Employment Schedule
We offer an ideal schedule for teachers who want to work part-time, but also want to have an enjoyable summer with time for vacation. Teaching requires only a Monday through Friday commitment. The classes are Monday through Thursday of each week. Fridays are reserved for "make-up lessons" for potential pool maintenance issues or weather cancellations if teaching at an outdoor pool. We have teaching schedules available in the morning only, early afternoon to late afternoon, late afternoon to evening, and evening only. We will work with you to create a teaching schedule that meets our mutual needs. | |||
Session | Dates | Time Options | Location |
Paid Training: Observation of Experienced Instructors ("Shadowing"). | Between 03/02 and 05/21 | Determined individually for each instructor. We will customize a "shadowing" schedule for you during our spring classes. | "Our Indoor Facility": Town Village of Leawood Senior Living Community [Click here for a map and directions.] |
Paid Training: Swimming & Teaching Techniques. | 05/26 to 05/29 | See the table above titled, "2020 Swim Instructor Training Program". | Our Indoor Facility |
Paid Training: Student Teaching ("Session 4" for the Customers), Administrative Responsibilities of the Position, Continued Swimming & Teaching Techniques, Final Assessment. | 06/01 to 06/12 | See the table above titled, "2020 Swim Instructor Training Program". | Our Indoor Facility |
Session 5 (Sessions 1 - 3 are Spring Sessions. Session 4 is the Student Teaching, etc. portion of your paid training. Session 5 will be your first autonomous session). | 06/15 to 06/26 | We have teaching schedules available in the morning, early afternoon to late afternoon, late afternoon to evening, and evening only. | Our Indoor Facility and/or one of the Outdoor Homes Association Pools |
VACATION | 06/27 to 07/05 | Enjoy a guaranteed 9 days of vacation! | |
Session 6 | 07/06 to 07/17 | We have teaching schedules available in the morning, early afternoon to late afternoon, late afternoon to evening, and evening only. | Our Indoor Facility and/or one of the Outdoor Homes Association Pools |
VACATION | ... until you return to your school district meetings, etc. Or you may request to teach one or both of the final two sessions. | Enjoy more vacation before returning to the classroom! | |
Session 7 is optional. If you are available... | 07/20 to 07/31 | We have teaching schedules available in the early afternoon to late afternoon, late afternoon to evening, and evening only. | Our Indoor Facility |
Session 8 is optional. If you are available... | 08/03 to 08/14 | Late afternoon to evening and/or evening only. | Our Indoor Facility |
Compensation
Compensation ranges from $11.00 to $12.00 per hour; and will be determined based on a combination of experience, interview, availability and degree\level of commitment. You will also earn Customer Satisfaction Bonuses:
We are very serious about these bonuses! Our evaluation forms are not a generic “Are you happy with the instructor?” type. They have been carefully designed to educate the parents regarding our curriculum and teaching methodologies. The evaluation criteria are very specific and guide the parents through the scoring process to obtain the most objective evaluation possible. Receiving excellent evaluations from the customers will significantly increase your hourly wage as detailed below:
The customer will score your performance based on a 0 to 100 point system. For each evaluation in which you receive a score of 95 to 100, you will receive $2.00. Receiving a $2.00 bonus per student each session can increase your actual hourly wage by as much as $1.60 per hour. Example: If you teach from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, or from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM (two examples of possible schedules); you will work 20 hours per week, which is 40 hours for a two-week session. If you make $11.00 per hour, you will earn $440.00 per session (40 hours per session x $11.00/hour = $440.00). The average summer shift from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. (using this as a template example) consists of 12:00 PM to 02:20 PM (four 35-minute classes), a 20-minute paid break and then 2:40 PM to 5:00 PM (four 35-minute classes). Thus, you will teach as many as 32 students per session (8 classes x 4 students/class = 32 students). If each parent gives you a score of 95-100, you will be paid an extra $64.00 for that two-week session (32 students x $2.00/student). $440.00 per session from your hourly earnings + $64.00 per session from your performance bonuses equal $504.00 of total earnings for the session. Thus, by dividing $504.00 by the actual hours you worked of 40 (20 per week), you will have actually earned $12.60 per hour ($504.00 / 40 hours = $12.60/hour).
By applying online, you are confirming that you have answered “yes” to all of the questions in the first part of this employment section. In addition, you are confirming that you have thoroughly reviewed this entire section regarding the training program and the summer schedule. Upon receiving your online application, we know that you are serious enough about this opportunity to have invested your time in reading the entire section. Thank you for your interest and time. We look forward to receiving your online application and speaking with you soon.