Drone Piloting Teaching Opportunities

Concorde Education; Visalia (CA); On-site; USD 69,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Concorde Education is seeking independent instructional contractors to provide drone piloting and aviation enrichment services for students. This opportunity is not an employee position; contractors may apply, accept, decline, or ignore opportunities, with assignments varying by school, grade level, schedule, curriculum, drones, and site requirements.

Contractors may use their own methods and resources, will receive guidance as available, and may explore FAA Part 107 topics when appropriate.

Qualifications

• 60 college credits required by assignment/site.
• Experience operating drones and knowledge of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate preferred; some assignments may require current certification.
• Experience teaching, tutoring, coaching, mentoring, or leading activities with school-age students.
• Strong communication, organization, and classroom facilitation skills.
• Availability to provide services for the accepted assignment schedule and communicate schedule issues.
• Ability to demonstrate safe drone operation while fostering critical thinking, responsible decision‑making, and student engagement.

Responsibilities

• Plan and facilitate engaging, age-appropriate drone piloting and aviation sessions.
• Introduce students to drone flight fundamentals, aviation concepts, safety procedures, and responsible drone operation through hands-on learning activities.
• Adapt instruction based on student experience levels, site requirements, available equipment, and program objectives.
• Guide students through flight exercises, mission planning, problem-solving activities, and introductory FAA Part 107 concepts, where applicable.
• Maintain a safe, respectful, inclusive, and age-appropriate learning environment.
• Communicate assignment-related needs or significant concerns with Concorde and school staff, as appropriate.
• Complete a brief session completion form after each scheduled session.
• Follow applicable site safety, visitor, technology, emergency, student-protection, and drone operation procedures.

Skills

Drone operation

Teaching/mentoring

Communication

Classroom facilitation

Safety awareness

Education

60 college credits

FAA Part 107 certification (preferred)

Job description

POTENTIAL INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR INSTRUCTIONAL ASSIGNMENTS

Program: Drone Piloting Instructor Opportunities

Location: On-site at partner schools; varies by assignment

Teaching Mode: In Person

Grade Levels: Middle and High School; varies by assignment

Schedule: Typically 1-4 instructional service hours per week after school

Program Length: Commonly approximately 10 weeks per assignment

Start Dates: Opportunities become available throughout the school year

Compensation: Typical compensation of $50+ per completed instructional service hour, depending on assignment scope, experience, location, schedule, and agreed compensation

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

Concorde Education is seeking independent instructional contractors to provide drone piloting and aviation enrichment services for students.

This is a potential independent contractor assignment, not an employee position. Contractors may choose whether to apply for, accept, decline, or ignore available opportunities.

Assignments vary by school, grade level, schedule, curriculum, available drones, classroom resources, flight space, and program objectives.

Concorde may provide curriculum guidance, lesson-plan suggestions, instructional resources, project ideas, or program objectives.

Contractors may use their professional judgment to adapt instruction within the assignment scope and applicable site requirements.

Some assignments may introduce students to concepts related to the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.

Programs are educational in nature and are not intended to guarantee certification or examination outcomes.

ASSIGNMENT SCOPED

• Plan and facilitate engaging, age-appropriate drone piloting and aviation sessions;
• Introduce students to drone flight fundamentals, aviation concepts, safety procedures, and responsible drone operation through hands-on learning activities;
• Adapt instruction based on student experience levels, site requirements, available equipment, and program objectives;
• Guide students through flight exercises, mission planning, problem-solving activities, and introductory FAA Part 107 concepts, where applicable;
• Maintain a safe, respectful, inclusive, and age-appropriate learning environment;
• Communicate assignment-related needs or significant concerns with Concorde and school staff, as appropriate;
• Complete a brief session completion form after each scheduled session;
• Follow applicable site safety, visitor, technology, emergency, student-protection, and drone operation procedures.

EXAMPLE PROGRAM TOPICS

• Drone components, controls, and pre-flight inspections;
• Safe and responsible drone operation;
• Basic flight maneuvers, navigation, and control techniques;
• Flight planning, airspace awareness, and weather considerations;
• FAA regulations and introductory Part 107 concepts, where appropriate;
• Drone applications in photography, mapping, inspections, agriculture, emergency response, engineering, and other industries;
• Mission-based challenges, teamwork, and problem-solving activities; and
• Careers in aviation, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), and related STEM fields.

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least 60 college credits, where required by the applicable assignment or site;
• Experience operating drones and knowledge of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS);
• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate preferred for many assignments; some assignments may specifically require current certification;
• Experience teaching, tutoring, coaching, mentoring, or leading activities with school-age students;
• Strong communication, organization, and classroom facilitation skills;
• Availability to provide services for the accepted assignment schedule and communicate schedule issues as soon as reasonably practicable;
• Ability to demonstrate safe drone operation while fostering critical thinking, responsible decision‑making, and student engagement.

Preferred backgrounds may include FAA-certified remote pilots, drone instructors, aviation educators, commercial drone operators, engineers, STEM educators, photographers, surveyors, public safety professionals, military veterans with UAS experience, and others with relevant instructional or technical experience.

Assignments may utilize school-provided drones, batteries, controllers, flight simulators, Chromebooks, tablets, curriculum resources, lesson plans, FAA educational materials, and other instructional resources, where available.

Contractors may use their own instructional methods and materials when appropriate, safe, age-appropriate, lawful, and consistent with the assignment scope and site requirements.

Purchases requiring reimbursement must be approved in writing by Concorde before they are incurred.

COMPENSATION

Compensation varies by assignment and agreed contractor terms. Many opportunities pay $50+ per completed instructional service hour with students.

Contractors may propose their desired compensation rate when applying. When proposing a rate, contractors should consider the overall assignment scope, including anticipated preparation, planning, commute, materials, schedule, and other business considerations.

Concorde may accept the proposed rate, decline the application, or provide a counteroffer based on the budget for the specific assignment.

Unless otherwise approved in writing, compensation is based on completed instructional service hours with students.

Payment for completed services is generally made by direct deposit on the fifteenth day of the month following the month in which services were completed, unless otherwise stated in the accepted assignment terms or required by applicable law.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Concorde Education considers contractor applicants without regard to any status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law and is committed to respectful, inclusive, and student-centered programming.