Part-Time Educator, K-12 Student Experiences

MISSION

The Art Institute of Chicago shares its singular collections with our city and the world. We collect, care for, and interpret works of art across time, cultures, geographies, and identities, centering the vision of artists and makers. We recognize that all art is made in a particular context, demanding continual, dynamic reconsideration in the present. We are a place of gathering; we foster the exchange of ideas and inspire an expansive, inclusive understanding of human creativity.

We offer a competitive, comprehensive benefits package:

• Generous paid time off

• Paid holidays (up to 14 days)

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• Generous parental, caregiver, and medical leave benefits

• Competitive retirement plan (up to 9% matching contribution)

• Tuition remission and Tuition Exchange Program

• Great employee discounts

• Complimentary general admission to participating cultural institutions

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OUR VALUES

All staff members are expected to embrace the museum's commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable institution and to adhere to the museum's shared values.

• Our museum reflects and deepens our collective humanity; the arts are integral to an inspired and just society.

• We respect and acknowledge each of our colleagues' contributions and expertise across all roles within our organization.

• We share in the responsibility to create an antiracist culture built on equity, inclusion, and justice for all, acknowledging that these efforts are intersectional and ongoing.

• We encourage and advance a culture of hospitality, empathy, and gratitude for each visitor, supporter, and member of our staff.

• We embrace innovation and foster change with a progressive understanding of-and obligation to reconsider-our past.

• We sustain an open and dynamic civic platform, inviting and advancing the diverse perspectives of our city, staff, visitors, and supporters.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Learning Center is a platform for culturally responsive experiences that bring young people and the adults around them into dynamic and inspiring encounters with art and creativity. The Ryan Learning Center team:

• champions the role of art and culture in people's lives,

• promotes access and equitable participation in art and the museum,

• fosters critical and creative thinking.

As a result, youth, teens, families, students, and educators from various backgrounds and abilities engage with each other and with works of art from across time, cultures, geographies, and identities, activating the museum as a place for learning, insight, inspiration, and community. These museum experiences enable young people and the adults around them to feel more connected and confident in their capacity to imagine, create, and make sense of art and their world.

ABOUT THE POSITION

As part of the area of K-12 Student Experiences, the Part-Time Educator provides instruction, contributes to curriculum development, and administrative support for in-museum, K-12 student learning experiences; contributes to training for a teaching corps that facilitates student experiences; and supports teacher inquiries and outreach related to student tours. These activities reflect a pedagogical vision and impact framework for the museum's K-12 offerings that prioritizes access for all teachers and students to high-quality arts experiences across learning contexts, through an accessible, inclusive, multi-sensory, and multimodal approach, with a priority for Chicago Public Schools.

The Part-Time Educator collaborates with colleagues in the K-12 Student Experiences division, the Ryan Learning Center, and throughout the museum to carry out their responsibilities. A member of Chicago's education and arts ecosystems, the Part-Time Educator facilitates culturally responsive museum engagement on a weekly basis, collaborating with teachers, schools, and communities to deepen audience connections and position the museum as a valuable space for connection, learning, and meaning-making.

This position is expected to work 9:00-5:00 three weekdays (Thursdays required, ranked preference for Fridays, Mondays, and Wednesdays) on-site with occasional weekend and evening hours required. Performs other duties as assigned. Due to tour scheduling, the Part-Time Educator should not plan extended time off in March, April, or May.

Required attendance for training held from September 5-28 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. Training will include a combination of lesson observations, workshops, and at-home readings or resource review. Additional time for collaborative practice will be flexibly scheduled and communicated in advance.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Teaching and Training: On a weekly basis, facilitates museum, virtual and in-museum student experiences within inclusive, accessible, multi-sensory, and multimodal frameworks; Participates in ongoing training and community-building programs that address the pedagogy and logistical procedures for in-museum student experiences as well as professional development for the teaching corps and broader RLC department.

Content Development: Contributes content for tour curricula and related resource development through research, writing, and piloting, and evaluation; engages in ongoing research about the museum's collection and exhibitions; follows scholarship and participates in professional development.

Supply and Space Coordination: Maintains the Ryan Learning Center's Gathering Hall and supports the distribution of materials to student groups.

Accessibility Implementation: Supports the creation and implementation of meaningful visitor experiences for K-12 school groups that address scheduling processes, group entrance procedures, the development and implementations of in-museum students offerings.

Community and Civic Partnerships: Supports the K-12 Student Experiences team's partnerships with schools through outreach, active community-based engagement, communication, and evaluation, with a priority for Chicago Public Schools; contributes data, insights, and enacts strategies to ensure school partnerships are responsive and aligned with the museum's community relationships and partnership initiatives.

Administration and Management: In collaboration with the RLC Operations team, supports aspects of scheduling student group visits to the museum specifically related to assigned tours and programs.

Communication and Collaboration: Collaborates with colleagues across departments to coordinate student group entrance and visitation to the museum. Provides timely and accurate reporting on attendance and finance relevant to in-museum student tours.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree preferred.

• Minimum 2 years of experience working with K-12 audiences (students and/or teachers), adult professional development, and/or in museums or informal education settings.

• Emerging knowledge of culturally responsive and multimodal curriculum design benchmarked on state and national learning standards; an understanding of current education trends, assessment, documentation, evaluation, and methods for differentiated learning and instruction; working understanding of students' developmental levels.

• Previous experience teaching with works of art and general knowledge of art history and various making techniques.

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, including ability to communicate with audiences of different backgrounds, levels of knowledge, and types of ability. Ability to function effectively as part of a team.

• Strong organization and planning skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, respond to shifting priorities and support multiple aspects of program development and operational sustainability.

• Proficiency in MS Office Suite, Google Suite, and experience with remote work systems required; experience with data fidelity, database management, and museum object records preferred.

• Familiarity with Chicago's K-12 education and arts ecosystems.

• Commitment to innovation and life-long learning.

Salary Grade 6

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by a teammate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Daily standing or active movement for periods of 2-3 hours

• Frequently lifts and moves packages of up to 25 pounds

• Operates computers, printers, and other standard office equipment

APPLICATION

If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you're new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar.

For full consideration, please submit the following materials, uploaded as one document:

• A resume;

• Brief response (300 words maximum each) on the following prompts:

• Share why you would excel as a member of our teaching community in the Museum Educator position.

• Describe what you consider the key aspects of a strong museum education experience for students.

• Referencing the Art Institute's Mission and Values, describe how you embed antiracism and equity into your teaching practice.

• One of the following: a lesson plan or instruction guide (1-5 pages in total length) you have designed to be used with K-12 students or educators that reflects your practice and articulates clear objectives, processes, learning outcomes, and reference materials.

CLOSING STATEMENT

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, veteran status or citizenship. The Institute complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at apply_help@artic.edu.

UNION INFO

This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Council 31