2025-2026 The Writer's Toolkit Instructor

The Chicago High School for the Arts seeks a part-time Creative Writing instructor for the 2025-26 school year.

Job Identification:

Title: The Writer's Toolkit 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 abilities. 

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. 

The Writer’s Toolkit:

Translating ideas to the page and staying with the work for the time necessary to polish a piece takes stamina, discipline, and resilience. Participating in a pre-professional creative writing program requires a specialized set of tools. Writer’s Toolkit is designed to emphasize and support the ChiArts core values of balance and perseverance, and also to help students develop the specialized tools you will need throughout the program. Because of the student-writer workload, this class will provide students with significant time to write. Students will have both the space and the support to draft and polish pieces assigned in their creative writing classes and to develop new work based on their interests and preferred genre.

The Writer’s Toolkit: Three three-hour classes take place on 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

Working Conditions:

Job Hazards: This position requires a fingerprint and background check conducted by Chicago Public Schools. 

Job Tasks: Must be able to lift up to 35 lbs.

Travel Requirements: This position does not require travel as part of the job responsibilities; however, travel may be required to attend professional development/conferences. 

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:

1. Cover Letter
2. Resume  
3. 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. 

ChiArts has a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and cultural competency. Our aim is to maintain an inclusive, respectful, and equitable workplace in order to most effectively achieve our mission and secure the best possible outcomes for our students.

Please visit www.chiarts.org for more information.