Fashion Design Instructor - Gallery 37

Summary of Position :  This is a part-time position scheduled for approximately 7.5 hours per week for 10 weeks.  The start date for this position will be January 13, 2026, and the end date will be May 16, 2026. The Fashion Design Instructor will be responsible for teaching teens garment construction, textile science, fashion illustration, and portfolio development.

Examples : Intro to Sewing : Fashion and Design, Fashion Design Fundamentals, Streetwear and Trend Forecasting, Costume Design, Accessory Design

Major Duties and Responsibilities :

Instructional : Plan and facilitate a 75-hour curriculum, including field trips and guest speakers

Create clear structure and support for teens, including agenda setting, creating group norms, and abide by ASMs supportive behavior management plan and incident reporting procedures

Lead the teens through the planning and implementation of an end of session demonstration of learning (showcase)

Administrative : Conduct teen interviews and select teens by the roster deadline, complete data entry including interview outcomes, daily attendance, teen checklist support, program reports, teen survey administration

Prepare program budgets in accordance with ASM guidelines

Teach and demonstrate fashion design, including garment construction, textile science, fashion illustration, and trend forecasting.

Guide teens through hands-on projects, portfolio development, and industry-standard design practices to prepare them for careers in fashion.

Supervise teens at an average of 15 : 1, teens : instructor ratio

Instructors must have a program curriculum plan. See ASM Program Planner ()

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

Demonstrated practical knowledge of content area

Classroom management experience, preferred

Ability to effectively communicate with a variety of stakeholders including teens, participants, parents, ASM program staff, vendors, etc

Intermediate computer skills, working in Google Suite

Cultural competence

Required Qualifications :

Bachelor’s degree in relevant content area etc. is preferred, high school diploma or GED required

Experience working in a field relevant to the content area is highly preferred

Experience teaching, specifically teens, if highly preferred

Commitment to diversity and inclusion is required

Program schedule :

Programs meet for approximately 7.5 hours per week, typically 3 days a week for 2.5 hours.

Preferred schedules are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday between the hours of 3pm – 7pm, hours vary on location availability

Spring programs will run from February 26, 2026, to May 9, 2026. The programs last for 10 weeks, Monday through Friday (after school hours) and / or Saturday and include 60-90 instructional hours (based on the program model). Additional hours are allotted for planning, recruitment, professional development and meetings.

Compensation : $20-27 salary / per hour, depending on applicable experience and education

About Us : After School Matters is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that annually offers after-school and summer programs to nearly 19,000 Chicago high school teens to explore and develop their talents while gaining critical skills that will set them up for success in college and beyond.

ASM has engaged more than 400,000 Chicago teens and is the nation’s largest and most successful provider of after-school and summer programs for high school teens.

ASM offers paid apprenticeships led by professionals in the fields of arts, communications and leadership, sports, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Our nationally respected youth development model has been replicated in cities across the country and earned us the City Livability Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Programs take place at community locations throughout the city, including three ASM buildings : downtown at Gallery 37 Center for the Arts, the Michael and Karyn Lutz Center in Belmont Cragin, and the Pullman community at Gately Park. Currently, After School Matters’ annual operating budget is approximately $35M and employs approximately 500 staff across the organization.

EEO :   After School Matters is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, military discharge status, age, marital status, parental status, or source of income.

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