Intro to Construction Trades Instructor

Summary of Position : After School Matters is seeking committed, part-time instructors to teach its Intro to Construction Trades program during the Spring 2026 Session for 15-18 high school participants between the ages of 16 to 18.

The Intro to Construction Trades program will provide teens who are interested in the trades with the opportunity to explore different career pathways in the construction trades and learn from various trades professionals. Teens will be learn about craft skills and key components of the trades industry, engage with trades professionals during program visits and field trips, and hone critical life and work skills through hands-on, project-based learning experiences. Teens will also be able to get OSHA and CPR certifications by the end of the program session.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Design & implement an engaging and hands-on construction trades curriculum aligned with After School Matters program guidelines.
• Expose a diverse group of teen participants to various facets of the construction trades industry
• Facilitate career exploration and connect program activities to competencies in the skilled trades
• Intentionally support critical youth development skills, including leadership development; community building; real-world and experiential learning; public speaking; youth voice and agency.
• Deliver instruction in, and lead teen participants though, inquiry-based discovery methods, including but not limited to, Instructor demonstrations, hands-on activities, research, oral presentations
• Facilitate teens in the completion of a culminating project and/or event at the end of the program session to demonstrate overall learning.
• Develop, plan, and implement high-quality related field trips, master classes, events, and guest visits to enhance instruction and training
• Provide supervision during program field trips and other youth engagement opportunities
• Report all problems or concerns and program updates to After School Matters Program Specialist to maintain consistent lines of communication throughout the program session
• Attend all planning and program dates, including: Instructor orientation, professional development workshops, meetings and other required sessions
• Participate in the recruitment, interview, and selection process of teen program participants
• Manage and track program activities such as attendance, interview outcomes, enrollment, evaluation surveys, and pertinent student records in an online data tracking system (CitySpan)

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant major (e.g., construction management) OR completion of a recognized trades apprenticeship program is preferred.
• Experience in the field of Carpentry is preferred.
• Experience teaching, specifically teenagers, is highly preferred.
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion is required.

The typical schedule for program sessions are as follows:

• Programs meet for approximately 7.5 hours per week, typically 3 days a week for 2.5 hours.
• The Spring program session will run for 10 weeks from February 23 rd to May 9 th . Program hours are Monday through Friday after school, and include 75 instructional. 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.

Compensation: $20 - $27 /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.

Thirty-five years later, now known as After School Matters, our program 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. No other organization offers programs to high school students at the scale and quality that we do.

We offer 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. For more information, visit

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.