On-Call Substitute Guide

Acton Academy Columbus; Dublin, Northern (OH, KY); Hybrid; USD 22,041 - 27,552; Part time

Job summary

Acton Columbus runs five studios — Spark, Growth, Discovery, Adventure, and Launchpad. When a Lead Guide is out, we need someone steady to step in and protect that culture for the day.

This isn’t a babysitting role; you’ll be the calm, curious adult who keeps the rhythm going, asks more than tells, and trusts learners to figure things out for themselves. You’ll float between studios as needed, matched to the ones that fit your strengths, with flexibility across age groups a plus.

Qualifications

• Worked with children or adolescents in classroom, daycare, camp, tutoring, or similar setting.
• Warm, patient, dependable; stays calm when things get loud or messy.
• Believes young people are capable of more.
• Familiarity with learner-centered approaches is a plus; training provided.
• Communicates clearly, shows up on time, and follows through.
• Bachelor’s or Associate’s in Education is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Hold the studio’s established routines and daily rhythms together with warmth and consistency.
• Foster a respectful, nurturing culture where every learner feels safe and seen.
• Encourage independence — let learners make choices, solve problems, and resolve conflicts on their own first.
• Ask questions instead of giving answers. Notice what learners are working on. Be genuinely curious.
• Maintain the prepared environment: tidy materials, clean spaces, and orderly transitions.
• Communicate clearly with our team at arrival and departure — share what you observed, what worked, what didn’t.

Skills

Classroom experience

Patience

Dependability

Clear communication

Flexibility across age groups

Education

Bachelor’s or Associate’s in Education

Job description

Step into our learners’ world — help them stay curious, kind, and independent on the days our regular guides aren’t in the studio.

All five
Ages 4.5–15

Schedule

As-needed
8 AM – 3 PM

Pay

$16–$20 per hour

Location

Dublin, OH
In-person

The Role

What you’d do

Acton Columbus runs five studios — Spark (4.5–7), Growth (7–10), Discovery (10–12), Adventure (12–15), and Launchpad. Each studio has its own rhythm, age group, and culture. When one of our Lead Guides is out, we need someone steady to step in and protect that culture for the day.

This isn’t a babysitting role. You’ll be the calm, curious adult who keeps the rhythm going, asks more than tells, and trusts learners to figure things out for themselves — even when it’s tempting to step in.

You'll float between studios as needed. We’ll match you to the studios that fit your strengths and comfort, but flexibility across age groups is a plus.

Day to Day

Your responsibilities

• Hold the studio’s established routines and daily rhythms together with warmth and consistency.
• Foster a respectful, nurturing culture where every learner feels safe and seen.
• Encourage independence — let learners make choices, solve problems, and resolve conflicts on their own first.
• Ask questions instead of giving answers. Notice what learners are working on. Be genuinely curious.
• Maintain the prepared environment: tidy materials, clean spaces, and orderly transitions.
• Communicate clearly with our team at arrival and departure — share what you observed, what worked, what didn’t.

Who You Are

What we’re looking for

• You’ve worked with children or adolescents in a classroom, daycare, camp, tutoring, or similar setting. Comfort across multiple age groups is a plus.
• You’re warm, patient, and dependable. You stay calm when things get loud or messy.
• You believe young people are capable of more than most adults give them credit for.
• Familiarity with Montessori, Reggio, Waldorf, or other learner-centered approaches is a plus — but not required. We’ll teach you our way.
• You communicate clearly, show up on time, and follow through.
• Bachelor’s or Associate’s in Education (or related) is a plus — not required.

About Acton Columbus

A different kind of school

Acton Academy Columbus is an independent microschool in Dublin, Ohio. Our learners — we call them Eagles — take ownership of their own education through hands‑on quests, Socratic discussions, and real‑world challenges. No grades. No tests. No worksheets. Just curious children, intentional adults, and the work of becoming.

If you’ve ever taught and thought there has to be a better way, we think you’d feel at home here.