Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 325,000 students in 500+ schools and employing over 45,000 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. Aligned with our transformed philosophy, we are steadfastly focused on ensuring that the District provides resources equitably to support every student, every school, and every community. Six core values guide the work we do every day for our students – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning. Each role in the district supports our vision that every student deserves a rigorous, joyful, and equitable learning experience.

The Department of Arts Education (DAE) ensures that every student in Chicago Public Schools experiences innovative, rigorous, and joyful arts learning that cultivates creativity, curiosity, empathy, and confident self-expression. Rooted in equity and student choice, the department supports access to high-quality arts education delivered by inspired educators and sustained through strong, collaborative systems. Led by the Executive Director of Arts Education and consisting of a team of managers, content specialists, and instructional leaders, the department supports arts education across all grade levels and disciplines and serves as a key driver in realizing the CPS Instructional Core Vision and advancing student success through the arts.

Job Summary: 

The Director, Arts Education will lead district-wide instructional strategy, curriculum, and policy development and implementation in arts education across Chicago Public Schools. This role will be responsible for aligning arts instruction with CPS’s Instructional Core Vision and strategic priorities, ensuring arts education is integrated into the broader academic vision for the district. The Director will oversee major initiatives, including and not limited to Skyline arts curriculum development, professional learning systems, instructional coaching, arts integration, teacher pipelines, and cross-departmental partnerships. This position will report to the Executive Director of Arts Education and will provide direct supervision to managers and content specialists within the Department of Arts Education. This is a full-time, exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.

The Director, Arts Education will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership for arts curriculum and instruction across all CPS schools, ensuring alignment with the district’s Instructional Core Vision and the CPS Arts Education Plan 2.0: Cultivating Creativity.
• Oversee the development and implementation of Skyline Arts curriculum across all arts disciplines, in collaboration with the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Digital Learning (CIDL).
• Oversee the CPS Arts Course Catalog, including course approvals, pathway development, and alignment with graduation and postsecondary requirements.
• Manage CPS teacher evaluation protocols specific to arts education (REACH Performance Tasks), in partnership with the Department of Student Assessment.
• Lead the development and execution of strategic programs, policy, and instructional supports for CPS Fine and Performing Arts Schools, ensuring these schools serve as models of high-quality, equity-driven arts instruction and innovation across the district.
• In partnership with the Executive Director, provide oversight and direction to a team responsible for designing and implementing high-quality, collaborative professional learning for arts educators that aligns with the CPS Instructional Core and advances the goals of the Arts Education Plan 2.0.
• Supervise and support a high-performing team of managers, full-time staff, and content specialists to execute key departmental strategies and initiatives.
• Plan and lead departmental meetings to ensure alignment, collaboration, and progress monitoring across all teams and initiatives within the Department of Arts Education.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director to lead the development, monitoring, and strategic allocation of the Department of Arts Education’s budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility, alignment with departmental priorities, and compliance with district financial policies.
• Represent the Department of Arts Education at public and private events, including conferences, panels, school and community gatherings, and meetings with stakeholders, serving as a visible ambassador for CPS’s commitment to high-quality arts education.
• Other duties and work streams as assigned.

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Director, Arts Education must possess the following qualifications: 

Education Required: 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
• Valid teaching certificate/Professional Educator’s License (PEL) issued by the Illinois State Board of Education with appropriate content endorsement(s) is required
• Administrator endorsement is strongly preferred 
• Master’s degree in Education or related field preferred

Experience Required: 

• Minimum of seven (7) years of teaching experience in K–12 education, including the following, is required:
• Minimum of four (4) years in a leadership role related to arts education curriculum, instruction, or program management
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience supervising a team of direct reports
• Experience leading large-scale instructional initiatives and cross-functional teams, preferably in an urban school district or similarly complex educational setting
• Experience managing budgets, securing external funding, and overseeing grants or strategic investments in education
• Experience cultivating partnerships with cultural organizations, funders, or community stakeholders to advance educational goals
• Experience as an arts classroom teacher, teacher leader or school administrator, preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to design and implement high-impact professional learning, instructional frameworks, and curriculum development aligned to academic standards
• Ability to articulate a clear vision for arts education and set high expectations, guiding schools, principals, and educators in the realization of district-wide instructional goals
• Familiarity with arts education policy, arts integration strategies, and national/state standards in the visual arts, music, dance, and/or theatre.
• Ability to manage and coach staff, build team culture, and lead collaborative planning across departments or organizations.
• Deep instructional expertise in arts education with high levels of integrity, credibility, and the courage to make equity-centered and mission-driven decisions.
• Strong leadership and team-building skills, including the ability to inspire, develop, and lead high-performing teams around a shared vision for student success through the arts.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present to large and diverse audiences, actively listen, and produce clear and compelling written materials.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to define problems, assess data, and translate insights into concrete strategies and action steps.
• In-depth knowledge of district operations, budget development, finance, and organizational structures, with the ability to align resources and systems to support strategic goals.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and access in education, with a demonstrated track record of advancing initiatives that close opportunity gaps and support historically marginalized communities.

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. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions; however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.