2025-2026 Intro to Visual Communications instructor

Job Identification:

Title: Intro to Visual Communications instructor

Department: Visual Arts 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. 

The Chicago High School for the Arts seeks an instructor for the Intro to Visual Communications course for the 2025-2026 school year in the Visual Arts department.

The Intro to Visual Communications instructor supports the mission of the school by fostering a safe, healthy, and inspiring learning community for students and teachers. Intro to Visual Communications is a 3-hour studio class that takes place on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 2 pm - 5 pm. 

The course is designed to offer students an introduction to Visual Communications and reflects graphic design, illustration, and critical decision-making related to the principles and elements of art and design. In this course, students will enhance their knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and gain an introduction to Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign. Emphasis will be placed on typography, layout techniques, storytelling, graphic reduction, and conceptual development for specific audiences and clients. Professional design practices will be discussed, and projects will push students beyond the walls of the classroom to interact with both local and international design communities.

Job 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.
• Manage studio material inventory and equipment: ordering and upkeep.
• Manage studio setup and breakdown of equipment and furniture.
• Document student work for digital portfolio files.
• 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, exhibits.)
• Work with academic staff to ensure students’ overall success at ChiArts

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities/Attributes