Creative Writing Instructor - Writer's Studio II

The Chicago High School for the Arts seeks a part-time Creative Writing instructor for the 2024-25 school year.

Writer’s Studio II Inspiration: Three hour class takes place Fridays from 2:00 – 5:00pm. This is a year-long course.

Writer’s Studio is designed to emphasize and support the ChiArts core values of balance and perseverance. Writer’s Studio II emphasizes inspiration and ideas. Through reading, exercises, and individual interest, students will create a portfolio of projects and written work inspired by their experiences and knowledge. The instructor of this class should also have a working knowledge of the assignments in other creative writing classes and should act as a resource for the students and other creative writing teachers. Because of the student-writer workload, Writer’s Studio will provide students with significant time to write. The course gives students a space to draft and polish pieces that are assigned in their creative writing classes and to develop new work based on students’ knowledge and interests.

Instruction in Writer’s Studio will focus on the following:

• The Studio will emphasize aspects of writing (particularly Creative NonFiction) through mini-lessons, exercises, and experiences.

• Students will be given significant time to write during each Studio, and frequent individual coaching sessions will guide students through the writing process and address individual needs.

• Students will workshop their pieces. They will read each other’s work and provide supportive, constructive, and clear feedback.

• Additional lessons will be given based on trends and patterns in student work.

• Students will develop ideas and new pieces based on individual interest and experiences.

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.

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 needs of the students may demand (e.g., competitions, readings.)

Work with academic staff to ensure student’s overall success at ChiArts.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree

Minimum (3) years professional experience in creative writing or course-related field

Minimum (3) years 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

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Qualified applicants should visit employment page of our website www.chiarts.org

Qualified applicants should upload the following:

(1) Cover Letter

(2) Resumes (teaching, writing, other related resumes)

(4) 3-5 Professional References: Name, position, telephone number, and email (upload as "other" document).