Associate Director of Education

POSITION OVERVIEW 

The Associate Director of Education is responsible for stewarding the Theater’s relationships with teachers and students through the oversight, planning, and implementation of all facets of the Theater’s education and learning programs. The Associate Director works closely and in collaboration with the Director of Lifelong Learning and Education ensuring that programs, communications, and relationships reflect the philosophy and goals of the department and remain aligned with IDEA and education standards.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions. 

• Drives IDEA to Action platform by engaging in committees, events, training and other initiatives as needed. 

• Models CST’s core values of service, ingenuity, and collaboration as well as its customer service ethos.  

• Champions the organization’s commitment to a respectful, inclusive and equitable workplace. 

Administration (50%) 

• Work closely with the Director of Lifelong Learning and Education to ensure that the programs, communications, and relationships—both external and internal—support the Department’s philosophy and objectives. 

• Supervise Education Programs Associate with oversight of their work and development. 

• Manages daily phone and email contact with partner teachers including completing reservation contracts, processing payments, and special requests. 

• Maintain daily contact management records on teacher contacts utilizing organization-wide Tessitura database. 

• Facilitates all education components of the abridged Shakespeare Tour, including scheduling, contracting, and extensive follow-up with schools; work collaboratively and communicate effectively with the Production Department, Company Management, and tour manager throughout the entire tour cycle. 

• Develop expertise in operation/implementation of database programs utilized in the department (Tessitura and Excel), and proactively identify needs in the department’s database use. 

• Serve as vocal and proactive advocate for the education programs and constituencies throughout the organization and in the community; serve as CST’s representative in citywide arts learning partner organizations, including Ingenuity, Inc., Illinois School Board of Education (ISBE), and key administrative partners throughout the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) central offices of literacy, arts education, teacher professional development accreditation, and vendor services. 

Program Coordination (30%) 

• Plan, organize, implement, and evaluate the annual Chicago Shakespeare Slam; recruit, schedule, and steward relationships with teacher coaches; develop support materials, including print and online collateral; recruit and collaborate with teaching artists; interact with students in person during scheduled programming; maintain accurate records; plan all aspects of SLAM events at CST and host schools. 

• Develop innovative arts-integrated literacy activities aligned with Common Core and Illinois Arts Learning Standards, and supportive of the department’s education philosophy and IDEA objectives. 

• Facilitate post-show cast discussions with sensitivity to issues of race and identity that may emerge; recruit and train actors to interface with students and adult audiences.  

• In collaboration with the Director of Lifelong Learning and Education, plan and manage the department’s teacher professional learning programs, including: identify and recruit external instructors with an eye toward IDEA initiatives; collaboration with both external and internal instructors; teacher recruitment and retention; program evaluation; maintaining records and fulfilling requirements as a professional development provider in affiliation with the Illinois State Board of Education, and Chicago Public Schools. 

• Identify articles, podcasts, books that further the department’s commitment to teaching Shakespeare in an anti-racist classroom; identify relevant works of BIPOC authors that can be creatively paired with Shakespeare in the department’s teaching materials. 

Cross Department Support (20%) 

• In partnership with the Director of Lifelong Learning and Education and Marketing Team, ensure all materials created to market Team Shakespeare maintain the Theater’s standards for clarity and accuracy. 

• Serve as department liason in weekly Communications Tactics meetings. 

• Contribute as needed to the development of the abridgment with the artistic, production, creative teams, and Director of Lifelong Learning & Education to ensure its fulfillment of the Theater’s education mission.  

• Collaborate with the Education Team and Company Manager to select and work with cast members participating in audience discussions and Team Shakespeare pre-show speeches.  

COMPETENCIES

• Passion for working with and for young people, educators, and lifelong learners 

• Collaborative spirit 

• Flexibility & adaptability 

• Service, ingenuity, and collaboration 

• Emotional intelligence 

• Mission-driven 

• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

• Work hours are generally 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Monday through Friday 

• Overtime hours will be necessary.  

• Frequent Saturdays and some evening hours when education programs are scheduled. 

• Worksite is primarily at the CST facilities on Navy Pier in Chicago, IL but will at times work in other locations such as the Chicago area schools, City Parks, and other off-site performance venues. 

• May be required to wear PPE during work activities. 

PHYSICAL DEMAND 

• Ability to load and unload 25-lb bins that hold snacks, workshop materials, props, etc. 

• Ability to set up registration tables for workshops. 

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE 

• Demonstrated experience with theater/education programming that upholds IDEA and Anti-Racist principles. 

• A minimum of three years of professional experience in closely related administrative and management positions, and experience in teaching arts or arts administration welcomed.  

• Experience with facilitating challenging discussions. 

• Excellent program and project management skills.  

• Exemplary writing skills including experience crafting written communications for different audiences and purposes.  

• Proven attention to detail and accuracy.  

• Strong presentational skills. 

• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced, multiple-priorities environment.  

• Ability to problem-solve on the job.  

• Stellar customer service skills 

• Knowledge of current Illinois education practices (including Common Core State Standards, Illinois Arts Standards, and CPS Framework for Teaching)  

• Previous experience with Tessitura or another CRM database preferred. 

• Experience and proficiency with multiple software and database programs; advanced proficiency with Windows Office suite essential. 

ADDITIONAL EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE  

• Ability to research and write effectively for variety of audiences is highly desirable.  

• Experience with desktop publishing desirable.  

• Tessitura software and HTML software preferred.  

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 which means 14 days has passed since obtaining 2 doses of a primary series with Pfizer, Moderna, or Novavax or a single dose of Johnson & Johnson. Proof of vaccination must be provided before beginning work with Chicago Shakespeare Theater or a request for a qualifying exemption must be submitted and approved prior to beginning work.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STATEMENT

CST is dedicated to increasing equity, diversity and inclusion in our audiences, our programs and in all our hiring for staff and artists. We are committed to providing a work environment that is free from discrimination. CST prohibits discrimination in employment against any employee or job applicant because of that person’s race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, sex, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, familial status, veteran status, status with regard to public assistance, membership in a local human rights commission or any other legally protected status.