Studio Mentors (Stipend-Based)

Organization: Learning Blueprint ThinkerStudio

Reports To: Executive Director / Lead Artisans

Start Date: Rolling / Fall 2026

Status: Part-Time / Project-Based (Stipend-based)

Position Overview

ThinkerStudio is more than a school; it is a community hub that adapts to the evolving needs of our students and the local Houston community. To support this organic growth, we are seeking Studio Mentors—passionate individuals who possess a unique skill, craft, or area of expertise and wish to share it within our Learning Lab.

Because our model is responsive to student inquiry and community demand, these roles are designed to be flexible. Whether you are an artist, an engineer, a gardener, or a storyteller, the Studio Mentor role is an invitation to bring your Artisan energy into our space to support specific projects, Expert Arcs, or studio-wide initiatives.

Potential Areas of Focus

Based on student interest and community needs, mentors may focus on:

  • Maker-Space Mentorship: Supporting students with specialized tools (woodworking, 3D printing, electronics).

  • Ecological Inquiry: Guiding research in our natural pond, garden, or local urban ecology.

  • Arts & Narrative: Facilitating projects in sound recording, digital publishing, or visual arts.

  • Social & Community Projects: Leading initiatives that connect the studio with the broader Houston community.

  • Academic Support: Providing targeted mentorship in literacy, numeracy, or research skills for specific cohorts.

Key Responsibilities

  • Project Facilitation: Work alongside Lead Artisans to mentor small groups of students during deep-dive inquiry cycles.

  • Skill Sharing: Model the habits of a practitioner—showing students how to move from a wild idea to a functional prototype or a finished piece of work.

  • Studio Culture: Uphold the ThinkerStudio values of agency, respect, and safety within the facility.

  • Documentation: Contribute to the Visible Learning of the studio by capturing student progress and technical breakthroughs.

Qualifications & Experience

  • Expertise: A demonstrated passion or mastery in a specific craft, technical field, or academic discipline.

  • Experience: Experience working with children or teens in a mentorship, coaching, or instructional capacity is preferred but not required for all specialists.

  • Philosophy: A deep alignment with learner-centered education and a belief in the strong, resourceful child.

Founding Mindsets

  • The Artisan Spirit: You view your work as a craft and enjoy the process of thinking with your hands.

  • Entrepreneurial Flexibility: You thrive in an environment that changes based on student needs and emerging opportunities.

  • Restorative Heart: You approach mentorship through the lens of relationship-building and empathy.

Compensation

  • Stipend: These roles are stipend-based. Compensation varies depending on the scope of the project, the length of the Expert Arc, and the community need being met.

  • Schedule: Flexible and project-dependent (e.g., specific afternoons, 8-week cycles, or Friday Mastery sessions).