Education Apprentice at Writers Theatre

  • Contract / Stipend
  • Internship / Apprenticeship
  • Part Time
  • Glencoe/Chicago (Hybrid)
  • November 20, 2024

Website Writers Theatre

Position: Education Apprentice
Location: Glencoe, IL (Hybrid)
Department: Arts Engagement & Education
Time Commitment: February 3rd – May 9th, 12 hours per week minimum
Reports To: Associate Director of Arts Engagement & Education Coordinator
Compensation: $40/hour for teaching and $16/hour for administrative work & prep

Position Summary 
Writers Theatre’s Education Apprentice position is designed for college students or young professionals seeking to gain practical experience in arts administration and teaching artistry. The Apprentice will work closely with the Education Coordinator and Associate Director of Arts Engagement to develop curriculum, provide classroom instruction, carry out administrative tasks, and support our in-school residency programs, student matinee series, and onsite learning programs. This role is fully integrated into the daily operations at the Theatre and will have the opportunity to learn from other professionals employed at the Theatre. Department staff and the Apprentice will work together to set and track professional development goals. In addition to in-depth mentorship, the Apprentice can receive school credit and participate in professional development seminars. listing of educational programs, please visit www.writerstheatre.org/education or see below.

The ideal candidate will:

  • Have some prior experience working with young people
  • Have some prior experience working in the performing arts, professionally or non-professionally
  • Have a strong collaborative spirit
  • Be able to balance collaborative and independent projects
  • Prioritize communication and organization

We want to acknowledge that experience comes in many forms. This position requires the skills listed here but they are not a prerequisite for employment. If your prior experience does not align with most or all of these qualifications but you have a passion for education, young people, and the arts, please do not hesitate to apply. 

Responsibilities

  • Create and implement curriculum for in-school residencies and onsite learning programs in collaboration with WT Education staff.
  • Observe and co-teach in-school residencies.
  • Assist in the coordination of in-school residencies.
  • Support community engagement events as needed.
  • Support day-of tasks for Student Matinee performances.
  • Attend regular meetings with WT Education staff.
  • Submit regular updates and reflections about classroom work.
  • Maintain and organize contact databases. 
  • Attend professional development workshops, classroom observations, and occasional networking events.

Time Commitment & Pay 
Hours will vary week to week depending on teaching schedules and are primarily weekday daytime. A minimum of 12 hours is required per week. A schedule will be worked out between the Apprentice and the Arts Engagement & Education department upon hiring. Overall compensation for the position is estimated at $4,500 over the course of the 14 weeks.

Requirements 

  • Must have reliable transportation to Writers Theatre and various locations around Chicagoland (car, public transportation, or otherwise). Writers Theatre is accessible from the UP-N Metra.
  • Must be in the office in Glencoe a minimum of one day a week. Some nights and weekends may be required.
  • Must be available on select dates:
    • February 17th, 8:30am-3:30pm (Pop-Up Day Camp)
    • March 24th – 28th, 8:30am-3:30pm (Spring Break Camp)
    • April 23rd & May 1st, 9:30am-2pm (Student Matinees of Translations)

Must have availability to teach two 10-hour Novel Series residencies to be scheduled with department staff over the course of the apprenticeship. Novel Series residencies take place over the course of 2-3 weeks.

TO APPLY: Submit a resume and a brief statement of interest (video, audio, or written, 250 words/2 minutes long or less) via this form.

In your statement of interest please address:

  • Your most relevant teaching and administrative experience
  • Three things that you hope to gain from this experience
  • Why you think Writers Theatre would be a good fit for your career goals

Reach out to Becca Levy, Education Coordinator, at education@writerstheatre.org with any questions. No phone calls please.  Applications are due Wednesday, November 20th, 2024. 

For assistance with creating a resume, see these resources:
City Colleges of Chicago Resume Guide  
Resume Template  

About Writers Theatre 
Writers Theatre (WT) is a nationally recognized, award-winning theatre company located on the North Shore of Chicago with a pre-pandemic annual operating budget of $5.7 Million. Known for the consistent high quality and intimacy of its productions, WT is focused on the power of the written word and dedicated to the artists who bring that word to life. Having captivated audiences for years with its commitment to creating the most intimate theatrical experience possible, the theatre is now a major Chicagoland cultural destination with a national reputation for excellence, being called “America’s finest regional theater company” by The Wall Street Journal. Under the leadership of Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma and Artistic Director Braden Abraham, the company is charting a path forward for its future.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion  
WT is deeply committed to creating and sustaining an organizational culture that values equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as promoting a safe, supportive, and collaborative work environment conducive to professional and personal growth. A successful candidate will share these values.

WT is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants from populations underrepresented in the theater field are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, familial status, sexual orientation, national origin, ability, or veteran status.

Please find more information on our culture and specific policies at the following links:
• https://www.writerstheatre.org/working-at-wt
• https://www.writerstheatre.org/our-code-of-conduct
• https://www.writerstheatre.org/edi-at-wt

Writers Theatre Education Programs  
WT Education offers a variety of on-site and in-school residencies, camps, classes, and field trip opportunities for young people ages 3-18. Programs encourage collaboration and student-led cultivation of a range of creative and artistic practices. Several offerings promote literacy through arts-integrated learning practices.

THE NOVEL SERIES is a 10-session theatre and literary arts curriculum designed to allow students to explore literature and the artistry of bringing text to life. Students engage in a layered investigation of text and enter a rigorous artistic process that includes deep academic enrichment and meaningful text-to-self and text-to-world connections. Teaching Artists collaborate with classroom teachers to create curriculum around a novel the students are studying. Students work in small groups and rotate through CORNERS that focus on vocabulary, writing, and discussion through a theatre-based lens in addition to performance. The corner work is paired with whole-class sessions and culminates in a final presentation of student work. Novel Series partners with Chicago Public Schools in 3rd-8th grade classrooms.

ACTIVATE is Writers Theatre’s wraparound residency designed to deepen students’ engagement with the art on our stages. ACTIVATE is designed to prepare for and extend students’ experiences at the theatre through participatory workshops. These pre and post-show workshops investigate contextual information and the major themes in the play working with Teaching Artists in conjunction with the school’s attendance at a Student Matinee on-site at Writers Theatre. ACTIVATE partners with primarily high-schools in Chicago and the suburbs.

ONSITE CREATIVE LEARNING includes Pop-Up Day Camps, Family Matinee Series, and Wake Up Words Family Playtime.

Instructions to Apply:

TO APPLY: Submit a resume and a brief statement of interest (video, audio, or written, 250 words/2 minutes long or less) via the form linked in the body of the posting and below.

In your statement of interest please address: 
- Your most relevant teaching and administrative experience 
- Three things that you hope to gain from this experience  
- Why you think Writers Theatre would be a good fit for your career goals 

Reach out to Becca Levy, Education Coordinator, at education@writerstheatre.org with any questions. No phone calls please.  Applications are due Wednesday, November 20th, 2024. 

Application Form Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwAjj5ROB2oKh50CFQxo9m4vmd0TCIQuN3r8tHN15jdea8DA/viewform

To apply for this job please visit www.writerstheatre.org.

Pay Rate/Range*: $40/hour for teaching and $16/hour for administrative work & prep