The employee experience matters
The DNA of Brightfox comes Google and Twitter, two companies our founder was a key contributor to earlier in his career. Those companies – and now Brightfox – deeply believe in the employee experience: paying well, treating people fairly and with respect, asking for their input to how to improve the product, and investing in their growth. Brightfox is able to attract and retain the best talent due to this mindset.
Education Level of our Instructors
50%
Bachelor’s Degree
25%
Master’s or PhD
25%
College undergrads
How we interview potential instructors
Personality
Students learn more when they connect well with their teacher. We’re looking for instructors who are sociable, genuine, and patient.
Knowledge
Our instructors go through a rigorous series of exams to ensure their understanding. Our instructors are certified in the subjects they teach.
Ability to explain
Knowledge is nothing without application. We assess instructors’ ability to simplify concepts through mock tutoring sessions.
How we train our instructors
We invest significant resources to ensure our instructors are prepared on how to tutor, how to use the Brightfox platform, and how to navigate our curriculum.
Mission, Values, and Brightfox Platform
We start with a one hour training on Brightfox’s mission, value, and culture. This training also involves navigating the Brightfox platform for the first time: how to set your availability, view your calendar, and research students.
Test Prep and Subject Tutoring Strategies
In trainings #2 and #3, we focus on the details of how our SAT, ACT and AP exam programs work, and how to use them, including lessons, practice work, and utilizing the Brightfox analytics tools. This also includes strategies for specific scenarios.
Writing notes
Instructors write notes at the end of each session, summarizing what happened. We train our instructors in how to write them for two audiences. First, they must inform the parent as to what happened. Second, they also must serve as a guide for any future tutor, as to what to cover next time. Writing this takes skill!
1:1 only to start, then 2:1
We start all of our instructors with 1:1 only tutoring to get comfortable with the flow of the session, and our tools. After fifteen sessions or so, we complete a final training on time management and balancing two students. At this point, then move on to the normal 2:1 ratio sessions.
How we ensure our instructors are doing a great job
Students write a review
At the end of each session, your child will write a review of the session, almost like an rating for an Uber driver. We use this data monitor the success of our instructors, and pair your child with their preferred instructor.
Monitor data daily
Our team of directors looks at the review data every night to ensure everything went smoothly. Over time, we’re able to understand individual subjects where instructors are stronger or weaker, and adjust accordingly.
Professional development
We meet with each instructor three times per year to provide feedback on what they are doing well, how they can improve, update them on company or product changes, and to hear their ideas for improving Brightfox. During this meeting, we give raises to our strongest instructors.
