Wicked Workshop seeks enthusiastic, creative, design-minded educators to join our team. This position requires a sincere love of teaching elementary children K-5th grade. Our ideal candidate will flaunt a growth-mindset, majestically parade a can-do attitude and believe in the power of theatrical performance as a motivator for both creativity and classroom culture.
We wholeheartedly encourage instructors from various backgrounds including parents with design backgrounds who are looking for something creative and worthwhile, former educators, aspiring educators, empty nesters, freelance designers, youth group and community leaders; those who want to help further the mission of design thinking and independent learning in elementary education.
Wicked Workshop teachers are responsible for leading hands-on, arts-based after school classes and will work with students to develop, encourage and illuminate their ideas. Our philosophy for self-directed learning positions the teacher as the mentor, not the maker. Our teachers inspire, invigorate, celebrate and document student’s work.
This is a part-time position requiring a commitment of 10-15 hours per week . Our program is entirely mobile and our teachers drive to schools to teach on different campuses in the Austin area.
Being 100% fanatical about timeliness and attendance.
Availability from 2:30-5:30 Monday - Friday (can be fewer days if needed)
The ability to transport and lift a loaded Teaching Kit of approximately 32”x18”x14” and approximately 40
pounds maximum into and out of your vehicle to the classroom. All materials, including a rolling cart will be provided.
Deliver a full class independently from start to finish including meeting and guiding children to the classroom, set up, instruction and clean up.
Establish a positive and inclusive classroom culture
Maintain consistent and timely communication
Semester-long teaching commitments are required
WHAT DOES A REGULAR DAY LOOK LIKE?
Ideally, we are looking for folks who can teach every day of the week. Each week, you would teach the same curriculum at a different school each day and we have a new project each week. We will work to group your set of schools as near your home as possible.
Before your class, you will receive a trunk (32”x18”x14”) of materials with a video projector and a memory stick with the project video.
You will typically arrive at the school between 2:30 - 2:45, check in with the front office, gather your students and walk them to the classroom. You'll show the project video and hand out the materials. During the making process, you'll offer guidance and support based on what you learned in training. You'll stop class about 4:35 for clean up. Most classes end at 4:45 and parents will arrive for pickup. Each school procedure varies slightly.
You'll need to do a final clean up which includes collecting and storing materials and tools, sweeping and wiping down tables.
You should be leaving the school between 5:00-5:15.
We will work out a convenient method for giving and receiving supplies and videos.
HOW MUCH DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ARCHITECTURE?
Detailed knowledge of architecture is not required. We are teaching the design process and how to approach problem solving through design thinking - all of which we will teach you in training.
The actual project prompt and curriculum will be delivered to students via a short project video that you will show at the beginning of class. You will be responsible for distribution of materials and guiding an open-ended design process where each student will create their own version of the project. We do not teach step-by-step procedures, but we do teach modelling techniques from time to time. If we are teaching a modelling technique, it will be simple and included in the project video.
Our teachers are cheerleaders and mentors - there to guide students to the next level of thinking through the design process, overcome minor obstacles in making or help students see their work from a different point of view.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
Preferred (but not required) candidates will have completed or be currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program in an education or design related field such as education, fine art, architecture, interior design or design thinking.
Candidates must have a minimum of 1 year of experience with classroom management and/or teaching/coaching/mentoring elementary level children
Candidates must exhibit an excellent ability to engage children through dynamic and passionate action.
Candidates must be able to quickly jump into independent teaching following training.
High School Diploma required
Valid Driver’s License Required
WHAT WE OFFER:
$20-$30 per hour = $60-$90 per class
You will work with a fellow co-teacher, so there will always be another adult in the room to have your back!
Prepared, concise curriculum and materials
A clear teaching philosophy to guide decisions and classroom culture including strategies for teaching design to K-5th graders
We anticipate the potential for rapid growth in the form of increased classes and hours, increased responsibility, curriculum development and management based on performance. We are intending to grow and anticipate the need for folks familiar with Wicked Workshop who are experienced design-minded people who enjoy curriculum development, project creation, video editing, design research, script writing, procurement of materials and teaching classes online.
Potential to teach Summer Camps and/or Homeschool morning classes
Wicked Workshop is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and equity in the workplace.
Whew! That's a lot of information! Now we're excited to learn more about you. Please take the time to answer all questions in the following Google Form. Once you've submitted your information, you will receive an email from us with more details regarding next steps! Thank you!
