I’m Issa Waters, founder of WonderWild. I’m the main grownup around here, wearing all the hats: administrative, financial, planning activities, day-to-day with the kids, maintaining our space, and more.
The vision for adults at WonderWild
As WonderWild grows, more grownups will join our crew. All WonderWild staff will be experienced working with children, including having experience with special needs kids.
However, we’re not traditional teachers. For one thing, we are a little wild ourselves! You might find us digging in the dirt, painting at the easel, peering through a magnifying glass, or jumping on the trampoline.
We do the behind-the-scenes work prepping the curriculum, planning lessons, and setting up activities and experiments. But once the work of learning begins, we’re more like guides or mentors than instructors.
Grownup Responsibilities Include:
- Paying attention to each learner’s style, interests, strengths, and challenges so we can provide the personalized side-by-side assistance and inspiration they need.
- Helping kids clarify their goals, connect them with materials and resources, and facilitate access to information.
- Fostering an environment of collaboration and cooperation where we all work together to help each other meet our goals.
- Staying deeply committed to non-coercive, respectful relationships.
- Being curious, playful, and willing to learn, adapt, and grow alongside the children.
We’re Still Growing!
We just recently added a new grownup to our mix! Gage is a young adult who brilliantly bridges the space between big kid and “responsible adult.” He’s an older sibling of one of our learners, and he playfully fits right in with big energy games, art projects, and imaginative storytelling.
As we move into fall 2026 I’ll be hiring one more grownup. Check back here for more staff bios coming in a few months.