Pt/temporary social science curriculum writer

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. 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.

Curriculum Instruction and Digital Learning (CIDL) is responsible for the development of Skyline, CPS’ Pre-K-12 high quality curriculum. The Skyline curriculum is a lever used to move towards the district’s goals around effective instruction in all CPS classrooms. Presently CIDL is developing a new K-12 social science curriculum that is available to schools on a “point of use” basis for the SY26-SY27 school year.

Job Summary:

The part-time temporary Social Science Curriculum Writer will be responsible for supporting the development and refinement of high-quality, standards-aligned Social Science instructional materials for Pre-K through 12th grade. This role requires a strong knowledge of content standards and unpacking content standards to inform unit design. Key responsibilities include selecting culturally relevant sources for units, writing engaging student assessments, developing lesson slideshows, and writing comprehensive teacher facilitation guides and lesson plans. The part-time temporary Social Science Curriculum Writer will collaborate closely with curriculum designers, assessment managers, and content teams to ensure all materials align with district design guidelines and support effective social science instruction across CPS classrooms.

This part-time/temporary position will be compensated for time worked on an hourly basis. The work schedule for this role will consist of an estimated 20-30 hours per week for an anticipated period of 7 months beginning November 2, 2026 and ending June 20, 2026. Due to the part-time/temporary nature of this work, this is not a benefit-eligible position. This role will report to the Manager of Digital Curriculum for Humanities.

Responsibilities:

• Unpack content standards to inform unit design and align instructional materials with district goals
• Select culturally relevant sources and materials for units
• Write engaging student assessments and comprehensive teacher facilitation guides and lesson plans
• Develop lesson slideshows to support effective classroom instruction
• Collaborate closely with curriculum designers, assessment managers, and content teams

Qualifications:

Education Required:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university

Experience Required:

Minimum of three (3) years of experience writing and developing social science curriculum, including:

• Experience writing culturally relevant, grade-level assessments
• Experience utilizing educational and/or assessment technical platforms
• Three (3) years of experience teaching social studies in a large, urban setting strongly preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Deep knowledge of Pre-K–12 Social Science content standards and best practices in social science instruction
• Proven ability to unpack content standards to inform unit design, scope and sequence, and lesson alignment
• Demonstrated skill in evaluating and selecting diverse, culturally relevant primary and secondary sources
• Proficiency in designing engaging student assessments, detailed lesson slideshows, and comprehensive teacher facilitation guides
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with particular emphasis on clear, effective instructional writing
• Ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams, including curriculum designers, assessment managers, and content specialists

Benefits:

Health & Wellness:

Your Care, Your Choice

CPS is committed to providing comprehensive health coverage to our employees and their eligible dependents. You'll have access to a variety of choices to best fit your needs:

• Medical Plan Options
• Pharmacy
• Dental
• Vision
• Behavioral Health & EAP
• Employee Wellness Program

Financial Security:

Planning for Today and Tomorrow

We understand the importance of financial stability, which is why CPS offers strong retirement and savings options:

• Basic Life Insurance
• Life and Disability Insurance
• Pension Plans
• Supplemental Retirement Plans (403(b) and 457(b))
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Spot Pet Insurance

Work-Life Balance:

Supporting Your Personal and Professional Life

CPS values the well-being of its employees and offers competitive paid time off policies:

• Paid Leave
• Sick Leave
• Vacation Days
• Parental Leaves
• Short-Term Disability
• Religious Holidays
• Leaves

Reference the Chicago Public Schools: A Comprehensive Benefits Overview or the benefits handbook for comprehensive details.

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.