Museum Educator K-12 Student Experiences

We expect to review candidate applications through June, invite strong candidates to interview in July, and provide communication with all applicants by mid-August.

As part of the area of K-12 Student Experiences, the Museum Educator facilitates instruction and administrative support for K-12 student learning 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 inclusive, multi-sensory, and multimodal approach, with a priority for Chicago Public Schools. The 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 Museum Educator facilitates culturally responsive museum and community-based 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 part-time position has structured hours from September 2, 2025 - May 29, 2026, and unstructured hours from June-August. The museum educator leads programs as assigned three weekdays per week with the opportunity for occasional weekend and evening hours.

Please click on the links below to view our competitive, comprehensive package:

• Hiring Range
• Job Classification: Special Services
• Grade Level: 6

RESPONSIBILITIES

● Facilitate K-12 student experiences that are hosted both in the museum and virtually; align with the museum’s pedagogical framework through the strategies of student-centered, inquiry-based museum teaching.

● Communicate directly with teachers of assigned programs in order to develop tours that best meet the needs of their classroom goals and strategies.

● Collaborate and have professional interactions with fellow educators and department staff.

● Support the development of artwork research, tour materials, and strategies that enable accessible and multi-modal student experiences.

● Support program evaluation and data collection through collaboration with staff. Participate in professional assessment and reflection sessions.

AVAILABILITY

● Must be available consistently to work a set weekly schedule from September 2, 2025–May 29, 2026. The schedule is 17 hours a week that includes 9 am - 5 pm on Thursdays, and 9:00 am – 2:00 pm two additional weekdays, ranked preference for Fridays, Mondays, and Wednesdays.

● When regular work hours fall on an institutional holiday, those hours can be rescheduled for another workday in the same week.

● Educator can work up to 21 hour per week during the spring season

● Must be available to attend initial training held from September 2 - September 25, 2025 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, which includes 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.

● Due to tour scheduling, the Part-Time Educator should not plan extended time off in March, April, or May.

QUALIFICATIONS

● Bilingual in English/Spanish is strongly preferred with comfort leading student experiences in Spanish as well as bilingually.

● Minimum of 2 years of experience working with K–12 audiences in informal or formal education environments, including museums, school classrooms, theaters, or other cultural institutional settings.

● Experience teaching with works of art using student-centered, inclusive strategies and general knowledge of art history.

● Ability to follow lesson plans to facilitate student experiences using thematic routes with predetermined artworks.

● Demonstrated ability to work with student and teacher audiences from across Chicago’s diverse communities.

● Exceptional email communication, written, presentation, and interpersonal skills.

● Ability to complete and pass background check and fingerprinting at a Chicago-based, Chicago Public School approved facility which requires ​​a valid, government issued, picture ID (such as a driver's license, state ID, or passport).

● Experience leading virtual learning experiences for K–12 audiences is preferred.

● Eagerness to learn and ask questions, as well as willingness to receive and apply feedback.

● Experience engaging and supporting students of diverse abilities is strongly preferred. This includes facilitating experiences for students who are blind or have low vision, students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and/or students with sensory processing disorders.

● Ability to actively move for extended periods of time and lift up to 25 pounds.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

● Command of or a commitment to learning Microsoft Office Suite and Google suite including Gmail, Google Meets, Google Sheets and Documents, and Google Calendar in advance of beginning role as an educator.

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.

We expect to review candidate applications through June, invite strong candidates to interview in July, and provide communication with all applicants by mid-August.

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

● A resume;

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

> Describe what you see as the role of a museum educator in preparing for and facilitating strong museum education experiences for students.

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

> 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.

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

EEO 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.