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Prison Educator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Washington University of St. Louis

Administrative Support for the Prison Education Project (PEP) * Coordinate with Instructors teaching in the PEP for orientation procedures including Partner In Corrections (PIC) certification process ...

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How much do prison educator jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for prison educator in the United States is $23.02, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.23 and $25.96 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Prison Educator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Prison Educator, you need a solid background in education, subject matter expertise, and often a teaching license or relevant certification. Familiarity with learning management systems, assessment tools, and correctional facility protocols is typically required. Exceptional communication, cultural sensitivity, and resilience are crucial soft skills for engaging and supporting incarcerated learners. These skills ensure effective instruction, foster positive learning environments, and help reduce recidivism through education.

What is the difference between Prison Educator vs Prison Counselor?

AspectPrison EducatorPrison Counselor
Required CredentialsTeaching certification or relevant educationCounseling certification or psychology degree
Work EnvironmentClassrooms within correctional facilitiesPrivate or group counseling sessions in correctional settings
Employer & Industry UsageEducational institutions, correctional facilities

Prison Educators focus on teaching academic or vocational skills within correctional facilities, requiring teaching credentials. Prison Counselors provide mental health support, requiring counseling certifications. Both roles work within correctional environments but serve different inmate needs, making them distinct yet complementary roles in the justice system.

What are some common challenges faced by Prison Educators, and how can they be addressed?

Prison Educators often encounter challenges such as limited access to resources, varying literacy levels among students, and the need to adapt teaching methods for a secure environment. Building rapport and trust with incarcerated learners is essential, as is maintaining flexibility to accommodate institutional schedules or restrictions. Successful educators collaborate closely with correctional staff and other educators to create a supportive learning environment while adhering to security protocols. Ongoing professional development and peer support can help in overcoming these challenges and enhancing teaching effectiveness.

What is a prison educator?

A prison educator is a professional who provides educational instruction and training to individuals incarcerated in correctional facilities. Their goal is to help inmates improve literacy, earn diplomas or degrees, develop vocational skills, and prepare for successful reentry into society. Prison educators may teach a variety of subjects, including basic education, GED preparation, vocational skills, or life skills. They play a crucial role in rehabilitation by offering inmates opportunities for personal and professional growth.
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Prison Educator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Prison Educator job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 19% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $47,886 per year, or $23 per hour.
Program Manager, Prison Education

Program Manager, Prison Education

Yavapai College

Prescott, AZ • On-site

$58K - $76K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 27 days ago

Job description

Salary: $58,968.00 - $76,668.80 Annually
Location : Other, AZ
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 2026-00145
Department: Computer Commons
Opening Date: 06/11/2026
Description of Position
***Please note: This position is located within the Yuma Correctional Facility***
The Prison Education Program Manager serves as the primary on-site representative of Yavapai College within the Yuma correctional facility and is responsible for coordinating daily operations of the College's Prison Education Program (PEP). This position provides direct support to incarcerated students through recruitment, admissions, onboarding, financial aid guidance, academic support coordination, and reentry preparation. Working collaboratively with correctional facility staff, faculty, advisors, and college departments, the Site Manager ensures students successfully navigate the educational process while maintaining compliance with college procedures, prison regulations, and federal/state requirements related to prison education programs. This position works within the Yuma correctional facility and serves as the primary liaison between Yavapai College and correctional partners and reports to the Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management.
Key Responsibilities:
  • Coordinate and support the daily operations of the Prison Education Program within the correctional facility.
  • Serve as the primary on-site liaison between Yavapai College and prison administration, education staff, and security personnel.
  • Ensure program operations align with correctional facility procedures, security requirements, and college policies.
  • Coordinate recruitment into the program, student access, technology needs, instructional materials, and testing processes.
  • Assist with implementation and continuous improvement of prison education processes and student support systems.
  • Recruit prospective incarcerated students and provide information regarding educational opportunities and program requirements.
  • Assist students with admissions applications, residency documentation, placement processes, and enrollment steps.
  • Guide students through financial aid processes including FAFSA completion, verification requirements, and Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated students.
  • Support students with onboarding, orientation, registration, and understanding academic pathways and graduation requirements.
  • Coordinate with Enrollment Management, Advising, Financial Aid, Registrar, and Academic Divisions to resolve student barriers.
  • Provide direct student support through individual meetings and ongoing communication within approved correctional protocols.
  • Monitor student progress and coordinate interventions for students experiencing academic or personal barriers.
  • Connect students with college and community resources that support persistence, transition, and reentry success.
  • Maintain accurate student and program records in compliance with FERPA, Department of Education regulations, prison policies, and institutional procedures.
  • Assist with reporting requirements related to Prison Education Program approval, accreditation, financial aid compliance, and program outcomes.
  • Prepare reports, documentation, and data tracking related to enrollment, retention, completion, and student success metrics.
  • Communicate effectively with multiple stakeholders while maintaining professionalism and confidentiality in a correctional environment.
  • Serve as an advocate for incarcerated learners while balancing institutional and correctional requirements.
  • Assist students, faculty, and prison staff with approved educational technology platforms and secure learning management systems.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Expectations & Requirements
Education:
  • Associate's degree
Experience:
  • Two years of experience in higher education, student services, workforce development, corrections, social services, or related field
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
  • Knowledge of higher education student services and enrollment processes
  • Ability to work independently within a correctional facility environment
  • Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills
  • Strong organizational and case management skills
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and solve complex student issues
  • Effective oral and written communication skills
  • Ability to collaborate across departments and external agencies
  • Skill in data tracking, reporting, and compliance documentation
  • Ability to work effectively with diverse student populations

Preferred Skills & Abilities
Experience:
  • Experience working in correctional education or prison education programs
  • Experience with financial aid administration or advising
  • Experience with student information systems and CRM platforms
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
  • Knowledge of Pell Grant regulations for incarcerated students
  • Experience working collaboratively with government or correctional agencies
  • Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Essential Functions
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements and competencies listed represent the required knowledge, skill, and ability. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee must frequently use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. In addition, the employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment
  • Position works within a correctional facility environment
  • Requires successful completion of prison background checks and security clearances
  • Requires adherence to correctional facility safety and security procedures
  • May require travel between correctional facilities and Yavapai College campuses

Yavapai College offers its full-time employees a comprehensive benefit package:
HEALTH/LIFE BENEFITS
  • Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance: College's partial payment of premiums toward medical with pharmacy and/or dental plan options picked by employees for themselves (and eligible dependents)
  • Flexible Spending Accounts: Pre-tax pay deductions to use for eligible medical or dependent daycare costs
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Counseling and referral services for employees and their immediate families for depression, stress, family/marital conflict, and alcohol/drug issues
  • Vision: Provides an amount per plan year for eligible expenses such as vision exams, lenses, frames, prescription sunglasses, and contact lenses
  • Life Insurance: The College provides Basic Life Insurance coverage at twice of the employee's annual salary. Dependents have automatic coverage of $2,000/spouse and $1,000/per child if enrolled in medical plan.
  • Voluntary Individual And Family Term Life Insurance: Additional term life insurance coverage available for employee, spouse and children.
  • Other Insurance Coverage: Short Term and Long Term Disability (replacement income insurance), and Workers' Compensation (compensation, medical expenses and death benefits for on-the-job injuries or occupational diseases)

RETIREMENT BENEFITS
  • Retirement Benefits: Arizona State Retirement System or Optional Retirement Plan, and Social Security (which provides a basic retirement annuity based on age and years of contribution)
  • Tax Deferred Annuities: Employees' contributions to designated tax-deferred annuities
  • Unemployment Compensation: Employees who are laid off or terminated may receive benefits in covered wages meet requirements

LEAVE BENEFITS
  • Vacation : 15 days of Vacation leave annually. NOTE: For employees who work an amount of contractual days, there will be no earned vacation.
  • Sick Leave: 12 days sick leave annually. NOTE: Employees working less than full time or an amount of contractual days will receive a proration of sick leave.
  • Personal Leave: Use of up to three personal leave days per year which are charged against accumulated sick leave to take care of items of personal business
  • Other Leave: Bereavement leave, Civic Duty Leave (Jury duty, active military duty, military training), and Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
  • Holidays: 24 days during the year as paid holidays for full-time employees which include Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, 3 days at Thanksgiving, 10 days at Winter/year-end break, Martin Luther King Day, Spring Break, Memorial Day, and Juneteenth.
OTHER BENEFITS
  • Breaking Bread: 32 meal swipes for use at the Prescott Campus Eatery. All Other Campuses and Sites receive a $140 credit each semester (fall and spring) to be used at the Open Market on campus/center
  • Spanish Interpreter Incentive Program: Employees interested in additional compensation for their Spanish speaking skills agree to assist YC by attending two recruiting events and being available for Spanish Interpretation needs as they arise. Compensation is added to the employee's regular pay at the rate of $175 per month. Employees that are interested in participating let your HR Business Partner know, so they can schedule you for the ACTFL language proficiency test at the YC testing center.
  • Direct Deposit: Paychecks deposited directly into the employee's bank account(s)
  • Tuition Waiver: Eligible Full-time Faculty and Staff, their legally married spouse, and eligible dependents may enroll in a partial or full program of coursework without payment of tuition, exceptions may be lab fees and market-based additional fees
  • Sabbatical: Faculty, professional, and administrative staff may apply for compensated leave of up to a year after six years of continuous service
  • Professional Development Opportunities
  • Additional Benefits and Services: Local community discounts to faculty and staff, computer loan program, mail and notary service.

01
Do you have the minimum required education listed in the job description?
  • Yes
  • No

02
Do you have the minimum required job-related experience listed in the job description?
  • Yes
  • No

03
Do you meet all other minimum requirements listed in the job description?
  • Yes
  • No

Required Question

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