WonderWild is growing, and that means we need more grownups! This became very evident after my recent injury, which caused us to pause classes for a few weeks. There are big plans in the works for the next year, including expanding to offer more days. It’s time to grow our staff.
Who We Are
WonderWild is a 2 day hybrid microschool for homeschoolers ages 5-9 in Knoxville, TN.
We operate Mondays and Wednesdays from 10am-3pm, although those days may soon expand. We’re located near Farragut and Hardin Valley.
Our program is based on play and self-directed learning. We aren’t quiet, and we don’t sit still. The kids choose their activities each day from a rich mix of options. Almost every day you’ll find kids jumping in the ball pit, acting out elaborate imaginative stories, getting messy at the river table in the mud kitchen, gluing and painting murals and sculptures, building elaborate contraptions, and dreaming up new science experiments.
Staff Positions
Grownups at WonderWild aren’t teachers or instructors. It’s more like being a wise friend, guide, mentor, and role model. The adults here are playful and curious, just like the kids. Our job is to help facilitate the kids meeting their own goals by sparking ideas, providing tools and materials, and mediating group conflicts.
The main role we need to fill right now I’ve been calling “Lead Grownup”. This is a person with experience who can take a lead role overseeing classroom days. This position currently pays $22/hr.
Over the next few months we may also be looking for additional assistants or substitutes. These roles are available to people with less experience to work alongside Lead Grownups. These positions are $15-$20/hr.
Lead Grownup Role
This position is available for someone with experience working with children, including experience with neurodivergent and special needs kids. They’ll be a responsible, multi-tasking person who can be in charge of all the moving parts of a full class day.
WonderWild is an innovative learning center, and what we look for can be a little different. It’s not important that staff have professional experience in a school or childcare setting. Their experience might come from working with their own children or kids in a homeschool co-op. It might come from volunteer positions or work in a non-traditional learning space.
What we ARE looking for:
- A commitment to respectful, non-coercive relationships with children
- Experience with neurodivergent children in a collaborative setting
- A passion for self-directed education with a personal belief that learning is happening all the time and that learning is a delightful unfolding journey
- Excited about cooperative learning environments and supporting children’s unhindered play
- A playful nature with a sense of curiosity and wonder about the world
- A willingness to learn the WonderWild culture and the different way we do things, which may require unlearning some traditional education methods
- Able to pass a background check
- Able to complete first aid/CPR certification
Responsibilities Include:
- Doing behind-the-scenes work to prep curriculum, plan lessons, and set up activities and experiments.
- Paying attention to each learner’s style, interests, strengths, and challenges in order to 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.
If this sounds like you, email KnoxvilleWonderWild@gmail.com to talk more. Or send this post along to someone else you think would be a great match! Thank you!