Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsey Wander.
Hi Lindsey, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I actually enrolled in college to pursue a career in Biomedical Engineering. I loved learning about genetics, but the labwork was so uninspiring. So, I switched my emphasis to Ecology, and my “lab” moved to the streams and fields of Yosemite. I still finished my studies in Chemistry and Math and graduated in 4 years with 2 bachelor’s and a minor. Unsure of which career path I should follow, I spent the next couple years in various internships across the country and all over the globe. It was an Environmental Education internship in Pennsylvania that brought my passion for teaching to light. I went back to college to attain my teaching credential and taught middle school biology and math in low-income neighborhoods for several years. I truly loved my “kids” and inspiring in them a love of learning; but when I moved to Chicago in 2011, the political red tape and the extreme emphasis on test scores left me little room to actually teach. So, I decided to tutor full-time. My methodologies were so effective that I outgrew myself within a couple years and began to hire tutors. I found myself in the interesting position of “teaching the teachers,” and the success stories grew exponentially. Now I mostly manage the business and provide support for my tutors and parents, but I make sure to also work with students a few days a week – since that is where my true passion lies. found a career that she loves and that makes the world a better place. Her goal is to inspire her students to do the same.
With the widening achievement gap due to COVID-19 school closures, I combined my passion for serving underprivileged students with my expertise as a tutoring business owner to form the nonprofit 501(c)3 charity Educate. Radiate. Elevate. This organization is focused on providing high-quality 1-on-1 instruction in academics, enrichment, test prep, and learning and life skills to underserved students. The goal is to strengthen the educational achievement of our youth in order to provide economic, social, and mental stability for us and future generations.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of late, my biggest challenge has been managing my business on my own. I alone have been handling the hiring, new clients, payroll, marketing, etc. I have two part-time assistants and am starting to hire employees for the nonprofit. Though the onboarding and training of these staff initially added more work for me, the long-term payoffs have been immense. Now I have more time to focus on what I am an expert at, without getting bogged down with the daily issues in areas I am not as proficient in.
We’ve been impressed with WorldWise Tutoring, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
There are many other tutoring companies out there. WorldWise Tutoring is unique in that we do not solely focus on test scores and grades. Yes, our students improve their marks – but they also become better students, employees, leaders, and members of society. We interweave into our content instruction lessons on metacognition, executive functions, and interpersonal skills. Our goal is to help our students become confident and independent lifelong learners who grow into competent and conscious leaders. It is one thing to have the knowledge; it is quite another to also have the correct skills and mindset to apply that knowledge in a way that actually improves the world.
The WorldWise Tutoring instructors observe evidence of success every day. When their students feel confident enough to express a unique solution to a problem or when they take initiative to make a meaningful connection to the content, that is often more valuable than a higher score on a standardized test because of the life lessons that the students are gaining. Even so, I create a spreadsheet titled “Student Success Tracker” where the improvements of hundreds of students’ grades and scores, along with major milestones like college acceptances and scholarship offerings, are being documented. Since every child is unique, here are just a few examples. Ava’s confidence, grades, and enjoyment of learning dramatically improved with tutoring for the high school entrance exam, on which she scored an 895 out of 900, allowing her to be admitted to and excel in her top choice CPS Selective Enrollment High School. After one tutoring session with junior Marissa, her tutor recognized she was Dyslexic and helped her family get her the diagnosis and implement the personalized services she needed to help her succeed. Sebastian improved his SAT Math score from 17 to 94 percentile after just four tutoring sessions, and now formerly dreaded math is his “favorite subject.” As a result of our College Planning services, Chloe was offered a full scholarship to Stanford for earning excellent grades and ACT scores while also being active in her school and community. Stephen’s struggles with executive functioning and anxiety led him to miss the college application deadlines, but our tutor helped him advocate for an extension and complete his applications – and he was accepted to Wesleyan with a scholarship. Rachel recently contacted us six years after her tutoring ended to tell about her successes in college and the Virtual Assistance company she founded. All WorldWise Tutoring students were accepted to their first-choice high school and/or at least one of their top three colleges. The scholarships our students have been offered totals in the millions of dollars. Their students have formed countless organizations both on campus and in the community. The list goes on…
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I love the Hidden Brain podcast for episodes like “Episode 4: Students and Teachers” and “Episode 26: Grit.” I enjoy TED talks, such as “Rethinking School” and “Why schools should teach for the real world.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.worldwisetutoring.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WorldWiseTutoring/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WorldWiseTutoring/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/worldwisetutor
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzmHvAEv6InRTM-h5e8L5bw
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/worldwise-tutoring-chicago
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chicagotutor/
