Program Coordinator, Arts Education Student Programs - RE:Alize

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 330,000 students in 600+ schools and employing nearly 36,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments - student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.
The Department of Arts Education (DAE) realizes high-quality Arts Education by providing arts learning opportunities for students, strengthening teacher and administrator capacity, and promoting policies that expand equitable access to the arts for all students through the CPS Instructional Core Vision.
Job Summary:
The Program Coordinator will provide administrative, recruitment, and logistical support for large extracurricular Student Programs that are run by the CPS Department of Arts Education, including the RE:ALIZE program, an early college arts program offered to CPS juniors and seniors in collaboration between DAE and Wells Community Academy High School. This position will report to work primarily at Wells Community Academy High School, with occasional meetings at other CPS worksites or off-site locations. The Program Coordinator will report to the Program Manager, Arts Education Student Programs - RE:ALIZE.
The Program Coordinator will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the Program Manager and colleagues across DAE to help drive successful student programming, and ensure the mission and vision of RE:ALIZE are clearly articulated and aligned with the overall strategy and vision for Arts EducationStudent Programs
• Support efforts to ensure RE:ALIZE includes a strong student-centered climate and culture, with an emphasis on artist habits of mind and contemporary art-making approaches
• In collaboration with the Program Manager, provide direct support for all aspects and major operations of the designated student program to ensure programmatic quality, operational health, and strategic growth, including, but not limited to, the following:
• Oversee the day-to-day administrative tasks related to Student Programs, including participant communications, student registration, artwork submission management, volunteer and vendor support, and/or other related tasks
• Provide virtual and on-site logistical support for student program rehearsals, events, and other functions
• Assist with facilitating the recruitment, selection, hiring, and onboarding of program staff and student workers
• Act as the primary point of contact for student hiring related to designated Student Programs, including providing direct support to students during the application and onboarding processes, and throughout employment
• Assist with payroll processing for vendors and staff, including student employees, where applicable
• Support program enrollment and participation through dynamic channels, assisting with the creation and/or facilitation of program handbooks, flyers, social media content, posters, open houses, information sessions, etc.
• Assist with the facilitation of relevant internal and external program communication, including with students, parents/guardians and teachers
• Provide support in maintaining internal and external strategic partnerships to provide supplemental educational experiences and opportunities for students
• Liaise with school site-based staff and leadership, including school counselors and programmers, building security, facilities/engineering or custodial staff, as necessary
• Attend, participate, and provide support at key program-related events and meetings, assisting Program Manager with program needs
• Support the coordination and successful execution of student showcases and program events
• Provide daily on-site coordination for the RE:ALIZE program at Wells Community Academy High School, including supporting work such as monitoring staff and student attendance, programming student schedules, daily student transportation needs, student record maintenance, grades and progress reports, referring any disciplinary issues to the appropriate parties, field trip approvals, and troubleshooting any emergent issues
• Serve as a DAE liaison with Wells Community Academy High School
• Assist with monitoring program classroom and studio spaces, providing input/relaying feedback on capital improvements to the Program Manager, as necessary
• Support the Program Manager in collaboration with the Wells Fine & Performing Arts teacher team to align goals and curriculum across Wells and DAE programs to ensure a pathway for Wells students
• Assist with communication and collaboration with City Colleges of Chicago and other early college partners to promote a positive experience for students as they complete their dual-enrollment college courses
• Support the facilitation of work-based learning experiences and other early college opportunities for RE:ALIZE students, matching the student to the appropriate opportunity; coordinate college visits, college audition dates, and higher Education Student opportunities
• Contribute to the development and implementation of out-of-school-time (OST) curriculum for four art disciplines (dance, music, theater, and visual art); monitor for any necessary changes
• Provide recruitment and scheduling support for annual cohorts of Artists-in-Residence and other supplemental staff
• Assist with departmental daily operations, special events and other initiatives, where appropriate
• Other duties and/or programmatic responsibilities as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Program Coordinator must possess the following qualifications:
Education Required:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field from an accredited college or university

Experience Required:

• Minimum of three (3) years of professional work experience in project or program coordination/management, required
• Experience in event coordination, graphic design, Arts Education, or related field, preferred

Other Requirements:

• Access to reliable transportation to travel to/between worksites and event locations
• Ability to maintain flexibility of schedule to meet the needs of the department, including working nontraditional hours and weekends as needed to support student programming and events

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong communication skills (speaking - including presentations - listening, and writing)
• Outstanding organizational and time-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously within a fast-paced environment
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with a variety of constituent groups, including external partners, to ensure the entire system operates in the most effective manner possible to support schools and principals
• Ability to collaborate effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders, including (but not limited to) CPS teachers and administrators, other CPS office and department staff, and external partners
• Ability to maintain accurate data/data sets and analyze the information available to glean insights and make recommendations
• Strong technology skills, especially Google Suite and Microsoft Office applications; ability to quickly learn and use internal CPS systems and software
• Knowledge of graphic design programs and applications (e.g., Photoshop, InDesign, Canva), and/or the ability to create engaging marketing materials, social media platform postings, and similar promotional information is strongly preferred
• Bilingual or multilingual fluency, preferred

Conditions of Employment
As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. This Chicago residency requirement does not apply to part-time/temporary positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.

• Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 - Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire. "Up-to-date" on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.