Now Hiring: Teaching-Writer Apprentice
Organization: THE CABIN, a center for readers & writers
Job Title: Writers in the Schools Teaching-Writer Apprentice
Reports To: Program Manager
Deadline to Apply: Friday, September 29th, 2023
Submit Materials to: hillaryc@thecabinidaho.org
The Cabin is seeking writers in the community to serve as paid teaching-writer apprentices for the WITS program over the 2023-24 school year. Apprentices will be paired with a mentor teaching-writer for 24 or 12-week residencies based on their interests and availability.
The goal of these apprenticeships is to give writers in the community the direct experience of planning and teaching a creative writing residency in a 3-12 classroom. Through on-the-job training and guidance from an experienced mentor, each apprentice will complete the year with the skills to lead their own creative writing residency at a school or juvenile detention center.
The Cabin's Writers in the Schools (WITS) program is designed to foster creativity, communication, and self-discovery. Working in 3rd–12th grade classrooms and juvenile detention centers throughout the Treasure Valley, The Cabin’s professional teaching-writers—poets, novelists, playwrights, and journalists—lead creative writing, reading, and discussion projects over the course of customizable 6, 8, 12, or 24-week residencies.
Key Accountabilities and Job Summary:
Attend all in-class sessions of a WITS residency for 12 or 24 weeks. Though each residency varies, most apprentices will be assigned to residencies that involve at least two classroom hours per week.
Assist students in the classroom who might need one-on-one support engaging with the WITS lesson.
Support mentor teaching-writer as necessary by assisting with and contributing to lesson planning, preparing materials, and responding to student work.
Participate in a pre-residency meeting with The Cabin’s Program Manager, mentor teaching-writer, and WITS classroom teacher to help determine the goals of the residency and learn how to best support the needs of student writers.
Meet with a mentor teaching-writer for a one-hour check-in four times over the course of the WITS residency.
Attend the WITS training as well as any other meetings as assigned. Time for any additional meetings will be compensated.
Requirements and Experience
Apprentices must commit to assisting with a full residency. The anticipated time commitment will be 4-5 hours per week depending on the assigned residency.
The perfect candidate would have....
A dedicated writing practice and experience producing, publishing, performing, studying, and/or teaching creative writing. We are looking for someone who is actively working on their own writing and participates in Boise’s literary community.
Passion for The Cabin’s mission to forge community through the voices of all readers, writers, and learners.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, time management, and relationship building skills.
A willingness to learn, grow, and change and adapt to the individual needs of each student.
A sense of humor and an ability to work with a wide range of student writers, teachers, and schools.
An anti-racist lens for all work in the classroom and an interest in anti-racist education.
Because teaching-writers work with children, all apprentices are subject to a background check.
Compensation and Opportunities
$25/hr. for an anticipated 4-5 hours per week. Project pay will be determined at the onset of assigned residency. Meetings outside the scope of the project will be compensated at a rate of $15/hr.
Free tickets to the two 2023-24 Readings & Conversations events held at the Morrison Center, priority access to last-chance tickets for live events at the Egyptian Theatre, and discounted tickets to The Cabin's experimental reading series, Ghosts & Projectors.
Preferred status for hiring for future WITS residencies.
Hiring Timeline
Applications due Friday, September 29th
In-person interviews will be held at the Cabin October 11th and 12th
Finalist interviews will be held October 19th
How to Apply
Applicants should send their application materials by Friday, September 29th, 2023 to hillaryc@thecabinidaho.org.
Application materials must include:
Cover letter (The Cabin values diversity of all kinds and will prioritize candidates who will both challenge and compliment our team. In your cover letter, please share the unique skills, background, perspective, demographics, viewpoints, etc. that you would bring to this position.)
Resume
An idea for a lesson based around a model literary text with a creative writing prompt to ignite student writing that is appropriate for school-age children
A 1-5 page creative writing sample