I left the classroom to build what I couldn't find: high-quality afterschool programs and valuable work experiences for students.
Two organizations built to solve the same problem: getting the right people into schools to run the programs kids actually need.
K-12 afterschool staffing platform. We partner with schools and districts to deliver programs led by local college students. Founded in 2017 at UC Riverside.
Resource hub for afterschool programs nationwide. Bridges educational gaps by connecting families, educators, and communities to quality enrichment programs.
I speak to school boards, district leadership teams, education conferences, and community organizations about what's working in afterschool programming and AI in K-12.
I also speak directly to students. I've presented at career fairs covering specific career pathways in technology, education, and entrepreneurship, and I serve as a motivational speaker helping students see what is possible when they build instead of just consume.
Real insights from building Student Hires and Afterschool.org. No fluff, no filler. Just what I've learned building programs that serve real students.
I was a CTE Computer Science teacher in San Bernardino who saw what happened when students had nowhere to go at 3 PM. So I built a company around near-peer mentoring.
I have been on both sides of the afterschool vendor conversation. Here is what I have learned about accountability and the RFP process.
I taught Computer Science at Beaumont High School. My students were gamers. So I built Clever Games to turn that energy into portfolios and AI literacy.
Production-grade skills for AI coding agents. Not generic prompts. Executable tools, structured data, and multi-format output.
Authority Content Engine
Anti-slop editorial pipeline with quantified quality scoring, GEO optimization, and K-12 education vertical. 7-pass scanner catches what humans miss.
DevStatic Site Pipeline
End-to-end site creation from design tokens to production SFTP deployment. Complete architecture blueprint with SEO/GEO foundation.
In 2017, I became a Computer Science teacher under Career Technical Education, standing at the front of a classroom at PAL Charter Academy in San Bernardino County, teaching grades 9–12. My students didn't just study CS: they built PCs from scratch, wrote code, and shipped real web and automation applications.
Student Hires was born out of that work. I began employing CS instructors from the University of California, Riverside to support our school's network. A few years later, I moved to Beaumont High School in Riverside County to lead their Computer Science and Robotics Pathways.
In August 2021, I left teaching to build Student Hires full-time. Since then, we've formed district partnerships across Southern California, mobilizing college students into classrooms through a workforce model that is affordable, local, and built for real communities. In 2023, we launched Afterschool.org to anchor the afterschool and extended learning side of our work.
2017: Became a CTE Computer Science teacher. Founded Student Hires while serving students at PAL Charter Academy, San Bernardino County
2020: Led Computer Science & Robotics Pathways at Beaumont High School, Riverside County
2021: Left the classroom in August to build Student Hires full-time, expanding district partnerships across Southern California
2023: Launched Afterschool.org, the educational and afterschool programming hub for school districts
2026: Continuing to scale Student Hires and Afterschool.org across Southern California school districts
Manuel Zavala is a K-12 education entrepreneur and former Career Technical Education Computer Science teacher. He founded Student Hires in 2017 and Afterschool.org in 2023 to deliver high-quality afterschool programs staffed by local college students across Southern California school districts.
Student Hires is a K-12 afterschool staffing platform that partners with school districts to deliver enrichment programs led by local college students. Founded in 2017 at the University of California, Riverside, Student Hires operates across multiple districts in Southern California.
Afterschool.org is an educational resource hub for afterschool programs nationwide. Launched in 2023, it connects families, educators, and communities to quality enrichment programs including STEM, arts, sports, and extended learning opportunities.
Student Hires employs college students as near-peer mentors in K-12 afterschool programs. These students, typically from local universities, deliver instruction in subjects like computer science, robotics, and enrichment activities. The near-peer model has produced 90%+ attendance rates across programs.
Manuel Zavala and his organizations serve school districts across Southern California, including San Bernardino County and Riverside County. Programs have been delivered at schools including PAL Charter Academy and Beaumont High School, with ongoing expansion across the region.
Yes. Manuel Zavala speaks to school boards, district leadership teams, education conferences, and directly to students at career fairs. His topics include the student workforce model, AI literacy for K-12, scaling afterschool programs, and motivational career exploration.
Whether you're a district leader looking for afterschool programs, a conference organizer seeking a speaker, or an educator exploring AI, I'd love to connect.