Why Did You Apply for a Job on Crossover?
I’m an actor originally – I love storytelling and empathizing with people.
But I graduated during the COVID pandemic, so all of my plans feel through. I had to move back home to rural Illinois. I found the job post and applied. Soon after that I got a job offer and it was a super quick turnaround.
They were like – “Can you be here in two weeks?”
I told them I could probably be there in three – if I tried really hard! I’m going on my third year here at Alpha. I had no intention of moving to the Austin area, but the opportunity came up, and it sounded fun.
My name is CeCe Hill and I’m a Lead Guide at Alpha's Austin middle school campus.
See all open roles at Alpha (both remote and in-person roles).
Would You Drop Everything and Go Back to Acting?
I really wouldn’t.
I love what I do at Alpha – it scratches the same itch as being able to engage with people, and seeing kids grow before your eyes is everything. I guess I would argue that empathy is my job as the Lead Guide.
I had a kid who – if you gave him feedback two years ago – he would literally cover his ears and yell. And he’s grown so much by figuring out that he needs feedback to get what he wants, and to get further in life – to make friends, grow and improve.
Now he seeks it out.
He’ll go up to guides and say, “Can I get some feedback on this?” Seeing this happen is so much more rewarding for me than applause at the end of a show.
What is Alpha’s Mission?
Alpha is a school where kids learn 2X in 2 hours in the morning through adaptive apps and AI - with little to no help from adults. Then because they do all the rigorous academic work in the morning – they have the whole afternoon to focus on life skills – developing teamwork, grit, public speaking and leadership.
All those things that you want to have in your kid, but traditional schools don’t have time to teach.
Alpha is expanding rapidly – we have a new school in Miami, and a new school in Denver. We’re looking at opening in a couple of other places, including Silicon Valley.
What is The Difference Between a Teacher and a Guide?
Teachers are God’s gift to the earth.
A school without teachers doesn’t mean a school without trusted adults. The primary job of the guide is to provide motivational and emotional support. You must be super empathetic but also hold high enough standards at the same time – which can be really tough.
While guides need to work onsite in order to supervise students, Alpha's model is powered by a team of education experts from around the world who work remotely to help our students literally double their academic performance in half the time.
See all fully-remote Education roles on Crossover.
What is Expected from Guides?
It’s a delicate balance day in and day out.
You have to be present for the kids but also encourage them towards what is possible without lowering the standard. Because they can do it. Empathy and high standards go hand-in-hand. They’re not opposites.
The expectation for a guide is that you should be able to 180º a kid – that means turning around a kid who is struggling or not able to accept feedback. For an associate guide, you should be able to take a kid who’s already crushing it – make sure they continue to crush it, and propel them forward.
A lead guide should be able to deliver all three of Alpha's commitments to an entire level – which are 1) love school, 2) learn 2X in 2 hours, and 3) learn life skills. As Alpha grows, a lot of our lead guides have gone off to open new schools in different markets.
What is The Most Rewarding Thing About Your Job?
Knowing that a kid has life skills – not just academic skills - and can uplift other people is awesome. They see the value in being kind and inclusive, and you were a part of that journey.
I don’t think there’s any other profession where you’re going to create a positive impact on a kid – who’s going to grow up and have an even bigger positive impact on the world. Watching them spread that to their siblings and peers has got to be one of the most rewarding things.
I get to have a positive impact on the world because I got hired on Crossover.
Want to hear about Alpha's results? Meet CeCe's awesome manager: Dr. Stefanie Baduria.
