Sports and Recreation Leadership Instructor

Summary of Position: After School Matters is seeking Sport & Recreation Leadership instructors to begin working in Fall 2026 or Spring 2027.

ASM is seeking committed, part-time instructors to facilitate in-person programs for 15-30 high school participants (15:1, instructor: teen ratio) between the ages of 14 to 20. Youth enrolled in the program will engage in activities that will prepare them to be leaders in the sports and recreation field. The instructor will guide teens through a wide range of activities that will meet measurable programmatic outcomes.

Program activities include:

· Sports and recreation games

· Wellness activities

· Leadership opportunities

· Job readiness practices

The program will allow students to learn and engage in activities specific to becoming a Chicago Park District: Summer Recreational Leader. An instructor will introduce teens to a wide range of activities and concepts to meet measurable programmatic outcomes. The instructor will recruit, teach, and mentor teens and will also manage operational pieces such as entering attendance.

Program Sessions and Schedules

The typical schedule for an in-person session is as follows:

• Recruitment: Instructors must complete onboarding requirements prior to approval to work. Recruitment begins the month before program starts.

• 75 synchronistic instructional hours (7.5 hours per week)

• Additional hours are allotted for planning, recruitment, professional development, and meetings. Exact program meeting days/times are flexible, with some restrictions, so long as instructional hours are met.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Instructional: Plan and facilitate a 75-hour Sports and Recreation 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

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

Supervisory Responsibilities:

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

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated practical knowledge of content area

• Experience working with teens, 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

• Commitment to cultural competency of our teams and their communities

Qualifications:

• Ability to create a diverse range of recreational activities ranging from sports and wellness to arts and crafts is strongly preferred.

• 2 years of experience in youth development or related field preferred.

• Previous experience coaching youth in athletics preferred.

• Familiarity with specific Chicago neighborhoods is required.

• Experience teaching, specifically teenagers, is highly preferred.

• Commitment to diversity and inclusion is required.

Compensation: $20 - $27 / 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 450,000 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 four ASM buildings: downtown at Gallery 37 Center for the Arts and Orleans, 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 $48M 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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