Title: Summer Education Camp Instructors- Illionois Shakespeare Festival 2026
Employee Classification: Student Help Regular
Division Name: Academic Affairs
Department: School of Theatre, Dance, and Film

Job Summary

This posting is collecting applications for Summer Camp Instructors for the 2026 Illinois Shakespeare Festival.

The Illinois Shakespeare Festival Education Camp Instructor position will allow you to closely work with professional theatre educators and artists. You will have the opportunity to learn more about professional practices for theatre education. The skills required for success in this field are best learned by doing, and this summer, you will be given the opportunity to experience planning, developing, and teaching theatre to a variety of students.

In addition to getting the chance to practice the craft in a professional setting, you will be making valuable professional contacts that will serve you after graduation.

The instructor position runs mid-June through July. You will be expected to work during the spring semester to plan and develop curriculum for the summer programming in conjunction with the Education Directors.

The daily instructor responsibilities will be to execute assigned tasks as instructed by the Education Directors.

In this role, the Assistant Teacher works in collaboration with the Education Supervisor to plan and implement engaging educational activities for Illinois Shakespeare Festival youth camps. They contribute to the development of theatre curriculum for elementary, middle, and high school students, creating age- and ability-appropriate lesson plans and facilitating dynamic learning experiences in the classroom.

The Assistant Teacher collaborates closely with fellow educators and guest theatre practitioners, including actors, directors, and designers, to enrich student learning and connect classroom work to professional practice. They prioritize strong classroom management, preparedness, and professional teaching dispositions, arriving each day ready with materials and a clear instructional plan.

Central to their work is maintaining a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where student well-being is the top priority.

The Assistant Teacher adheres to all University and Illinois Shakespeare Festival policies and procedures, upholds a clean and respectful workspace, and contributes to a positive and efficient working atmosphere. They remain committed to professional standards, including compliance with health and safety guidelines, and ensure that all work is conducted responsibly, respectfully, and with integrity.

Additional Information

The Illinois Shakespeare Festival is a professional repertory theatre company that produces Shakespeare and contemporary plays in the spirit of Shakespeare every summer at the beautiful Ewing Cultural Center in Bloomington, Illinois. The Festival hires professional Directors, Designers, Actors, and production personnel and offers a variety of internships to students from Illinois State University and other colleges and universities. The Festival sells an average of 10,000 tickets per year, is supported by Illinois State University and the Illinois Shakespeare Festival Society, and is preparing for its 48th season.

Student employees are eligible to participate in the University’s 403(b) Plan. More information can be found here.

Pay Rate

$15/hour

Work Hours

10 hours of planning during May-June 2026, TBD

Camp dates are:
July 6-10, 8:30 AM-3:30 PM

July 13-31, M-F, 8:30 AM-4:15 PM

Proposed Starting Date

May 2026

Required Applicant Documents

Resume

Please Note: These documents are required to be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

Contact Information for Applicants

Jimmy Chrismon
(309) 438-8949
jdchri1@ilstu.edu

Important Information for Applicants

This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or an employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

In addition, all appointments are contingent upon proof of eligibility for employment at Illinois State University to perform the required duties described above on your scheduled start date. The Immigration and Control Act of 1986, Public Law 99-603, requires all new employees to file an I-9 in person and no later than three days from the beginning of employment. This may be accomplished within the department or through Human Resources. A list of the types of documentation you will be expected to provide is available at https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents. Failure to comply with this law will result in cancellation of your appointment.

Illinois State University, as your employer, is required by federal law to ensure proper tax withholding from wages and to ensure that the required reporting of employee wages, withholding, and employment taxes is accurate. For this reason, every employee must have a valid Social Security Number registered with the University at the time of employment and/or as soon after as possible, but no later than 45 days from the start date. Failure to comply with this law may result in cancellation of your appointment.

Illinois State University student employees are restricted to no more than 28 hours per week of on-campus employment for all positions held.

International students are restricted by their visa status to no more than 20 hours per week of on-campus employment when the university is in session but may work more when the university is not in session. International students should contact the Office of International Studies and Programs for guidance if they have questions concerning employment restrictions.

Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at (309) 438-3383. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.

If you are having difficulty accessing the system, please call Human Resources at (309) 438-8311.