2025-2026 Writer's Studio: Inspiration Instructor

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

Job Identification:

Title: Writer's Studio: Inspiration 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: 

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 the 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 interests and experiences.

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

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.
• Regular