Teaching Classes at City Parks & Gardens!
With thousands of diverse classes and programs offered around O‘ahu by the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), we employ a variety of in-house and independent staff to provide our communities with these recreational and educational opportunities year-round! Those independent staff are hired as DF-71 Independent Service Contractors (also known as a Recreation Instructor) to teach various classes and activities for DPR.
Below, you’ll find more information about how you can share your area of expertise while making money and connecting with your community! From arts & crafts to archery, swimming to sewing, there are a wide variety of program teachers we seek to help add quality to the lives of our park and garden visitors.
Table of Contents
What is a DF-71 Independent Services Contractor?
Often called Recreation Class Instructors, DF-71 Independent Service Contractors are hired by DPR to teach classes on a fee-for-service basis. Instructors are self-employed, independent contractors who are required by law to have a gross income tax license, and are responsible for filing your own tax returns. No Federal or State taxes are deducted from payments issued by DPR to DF-71 staff. In addition, DPR does not provide sick or vacation leave for these contractors, and you are not covered by Workmen’s Compensation. Classes are normally held during three program periods: Spring (January-April), Summer (June-August), and Fall (September-December). To get an idea of which classes we provide, feel free to look through the catalog of existing classes. They are listed in the “Activities” section of our Parks and Recreation Online System (PROS). Click the button below to access that online catalog.
How Do I Apply to Teach Classes?
You must have a comprehensive knowledge of, and the ability to instruct students in a particular subject, in order to qualify as a Recreation Instructor. Instructors of primarily physical activities, such as exercise or dance, should have current CPR and Basic First Aid certification. Possession of a license/degree, or two years of teaching experience in the specialty, is desirable. The Recreation Program Director (in-house park staff) at each site is responsible for program development at the park, and determines the types, frequency, and schedules of recreation classes. Therefore, contact the recreation program director at a park or pool for application and interview information. Click the picture below to the left to be taken to a map of City parks and gardens, which includes the contact phone numbers for DPR staff, or visit bit.ly/OahuParkMap
DPR is not obligated to schedule more than one class per year or to automatically renew the instructor’s contract. Once this is done, you must apply and register as a DF-71 Independent Contractor with the City online. Go to the City’s “Honolulu Vendor Self Service” site and follow the instructions. DPR will also need to fingerprint you and conduct a criminal history check, before you can start work. This will be valid as long as the contract is renewed annually. Any break in service will require new fingerprint and criminal history records check. Once all these have been checked, cleared and approved, contact the park director or pool manager to schedule your class or activity.
How Much Will I Get Paid?
The rate of pay for instructors is $3 per hour (minimum one hour class) multiplied by the number of students in the class multiplied by the number of sessions. So, the more classes you teach, and the more students you enrich, the more you get paid! A class may be longer then one hour but must be in half hour increments. The maximum compensation for a class shall not exceed 16 students, with the maximum annual compensation per instructor shall not exceed $24,999.00.
One-hour Class
- $3 x Number of sessions x Number of students (Maximum compensation shall not exceed sixteen (16) students).
- 1 hour x $3 (hourly rate) x 10 sessions x 7 students (paid) = $0 (District Manager’s approval required for class less than 8 students)
- 1 hour x $3 (hourly rate) x 10 sessions x 8 students (paid) = $240 payment
- 1 hour x $3 (hourly rate) x 10 sessions x 16 students (paid) = $480 payment
- 1 hour x $3 (hourly rate) x 10 sessions x 32 students (Maximum compensation 16 students) = $480 payment
- 1.5 hours x $3 (hourly rate) x 10 sessions x 16 students (paid) = $720 payment
- 1.5 hours x $3 (hourly rate) x 10 sessions x 32 students (Maximum compensation 16 students) = $720 payment
- 2 hours x $3 (hourly rate) x 10 sessions x 16 students (paid) = $960 payment
Payment is made after the completion of the class, with payment vouchers mailed to the instructor usually three to five weeks after submittal of invoice. If there are any discrepancies or questions regarding your payment, contact your program director immediately. If there are any changes in personal data such as address, name, or telephone number, you must login to the Vendor Self Service web page and update your account information, then you must notify the park director or pool manager of the changes. Mahalo for your interest in teaching at your City parks and gardens!
