Poetry Workshop Instructor

The Chicago High School for the Arts seeks a part-time Poetry Workshop Instructor for the 2025-26 school year.

Title: Poetry Workshop Instructor

Department: Creative Writing Conservatory

Classification: Part-time instructor

General Summary:

The Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts ®) develops the next generation of artistically gifted, diverse scholar artists through intensive pre-professional training in the arts, combined with a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum. The school approaches the development of students through a whole-student approach and through a continuous learning environment for all staff to continuously develop their understanding of our scholar-artists. We strive to build upon and improve our practices to make sure we are always serving all of our students to the best of our ability.

Position Summary:

The ideal candidate for this position is a versatile and experienced artistic writer with the passion and skills to create a learning environment that will offer a rigorous pre-professional arts training. Candidates should have previous experience working with and instructing high school-age students. The instructor of this course will center the curriculum on developing critical thinking, production, and presentation skills.

Instructors at ChiArts are committed to upholding antiracism, restorative practices, and community values. Instructors will be required to differentiate instruction when designing lesson and unit plans that assess student achievement, and encourage skill development and critical thinking.

Poetry Workshop: Three-hour class takes place Wednesdays from 2:00 – 5:00 pm. This is a year-long course.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Classroom and professional duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Embrace and promote the ChiArts vision, mission, educational approach, goals, and core values
• Prepare structured lessons that encourage and foster skill development, critical thinking, applications, and ethics.
• Instruct conservatory-level courses, serving students with various learning styles, abilities, and needs.
• Employ outstanding classroom management skills and implement the school code of conduct.
• Regularly assess student achievement, skill mastery and career development skills.
• Submit unit plans on a timely basis
• Manage classroom administration and record keeping, including: grades, attendance records, student progress, and documentation of student work.
• Regularly communicate with students, parents and other ChiArts staff to share artistic progress, encourage positive behavior, and resolve behavioral and artistic issues.
• Attend and participate in faculty and administrative meetings, parent conferences, open house, other school functions, and in-service professional development sessions.
• Collaborate with the staff to develop “best practices” tailored to the unique philosophy and instructional approach of ChiArts and to the needs of its student population.
• Collaborate with other ChiArts artistic and academic faculty and the larger arts community.
• Perform other duties as the needs of the school and the needs of the students may demand (e.g., competitions, readings).
• Work with academic staff to ensure students’ overall success at ChiArts.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum (3) years of professional experience in creative writing or a course-related field
• Minimum (3) years of previous teaching experience at a pre-professional or professional level, preferably in the content area.
• Prior experience teaching high school students is strongly preferred.
• Illinois State Teacher Licensure is preferred, but may not be required
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent curriculum development skills
• Excellent classroom management ability

Salary and Benefits:

Part-time position.

Pay will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Pay Rate: $45 to 55$ per hour

Application Process

Qualified applicants should apply online at www.chiarts.org and upload the following documents:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Contact Information for 3-5 Professional References; do not include letters of recommendation.

Applicants who do not follow the submission directions will not be considered. Please be aware that every item listed on a resume is subject to verification, and that any offer of employment is contingent on a successful background check.