What is a Collaborator?
Popularized by our good friends at Tinkering School, the term collaborator gets to the heart of how we approach education. A collaborator is a teammate, not an omniscient leader. They join the kids as equals in all aspects of their project through conception, construction, revision, and presentation. They vulnerably suggest new ideas and humbly admit when they don't know the answer. Their investment in the project is authentic; they're stoked when an idea works, frustrated when a technical challenge seems impossible, yet convicted to keep moving forward. Collaborators uphold our community values (patience, creativity, curiosity, grit, empathy) by modeling them themselves.
As leaders, collaborators keep an extra eye on their teammates' engagement, safety, and learning. They constantly ask how they can make this experience more approachable and empowering for the kids who are struggling and more challenging for the kids who are excelling.
We find collaborators can come from all kinds of backgrounds with a highly variable set of skills. That said, there seem to be two broad types of collaborators who apply to work with us; Kid Specialist and Project Specialist. Women, people of color, and people of all gender identities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Kid Specialist
You get kids and connect with them easily. Around you, they feel heard, seen, and loved. You laugh when a nine-year-old makes a joke - not because you're supposed to, but because it's freaking hilarious. You understand that being an influential mentor and a good friend can often look similar, but you know and understand the difference. You're optimistic and empathic; when morale is waning, you know how to validate feelings and help get kids reinvigorated.
Best with little kids? Prefer to work with Teenagers? Middle School you're sweet spot? Let us know in your application. We want to hire a range of age specializations.
Project Specialist
Artist? Engineer? Carpenter? Whatever the medium, we're looking for people with a passion for making. You make stuff professionally or for fun - probably both. The urge to create and learn new skills is a driving force in your life. While you know how to do it "the right way," you are open to experimentation and improv.
You enjoy working on teams and have found sharing your knowledge with others fulfilling. You've worked with kids or novice adults on complicated projects and found you have that rare combination of confidence, competence, and patience that lets learners feel safe and inspired.
Children Icon by Gilad Fried and Female Contractor by Wilson Joseph from the Noun Project