I was very excited to get my first online teaching job at a virtual high school. They offered me $13 per hour and said that I could work as many hours as I wanted. My position was facilitating upper-level high school math courses. I would need to check my e-mail a couple of times each day, grade assignments, and hold a couple of 1-hour chats each week. The courses and assignments had already been created. This job seemed to be the “no-brainer” that you referred to. In retrospect, I think I should have used my brains a little more before accepting this position.

The check that I received for my first month bounced. A month later, after many e-mails, excuses, and apologies from the school, I finally received a new check to cover the bounced check plus the next month’s pay. The total amount, however, was almost $200 short. I’m currently trying to reach the school’s director to got this resolved. To add some leverage, I filed a complaint with the local Better Business Bureau. This was not the first complaint that they had received about this school.

On the plus side, a new school split from the original school. The director at the new school was impressed by my work ethic and offered me all of the math courses. I will be leaving the first school, whether or not I am ever paid. Like you, teaching for free has led to an invaluable experience. I guess you were right after all in saying “take anything and everything you’re offered.”