California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA), in collaboration with the CSSSA Board of Trustees, announces a Request for Applications (RFA) for the Writing Chair position. The Writing Chair is an annually contracted position that oversees CSSSA’s academic programming of the Writing Department.

The Writing Chair reviews student applications, supports student recruitment and orientation, plans facilities, supplies, and technology use, and develops and implements curriculum, courses, and pedagogy. The Chair may also instruct courses within the department. For a complete list of duties please see the Scope of Work Section below.

Program Overview

Enabling legislation, Chapter 1131 of 1985, established the California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) to provide a training ground for future artists who may wish to study and practice the arts, or to pursue careers in the major performing arts companies and commercial and fine arts institutions in California.

CSSSA offers pre-professional training to approximately 500 talented and gifted high school students each summer. The 2027 hosting site will be California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. CSSSA offers eight disciplines, including Animation, Architecture & Environmental Design, Dance, Film, Music, Theater, Visual Arts, and Writing. The 2027 summer session runs from July 3 to July 31. Individual housing and meals will be provided for the contractor at the host site.

Eligible Applicants

CSSSA welcomes writing professionals with broad ranging skills and experiences in the arts and arts education. Candidates with professional writing careers, arts educators, interdisciplinary artists, and more are welcome to apply. The Writing Chair shall not be subject to credentialing requirements or any other restrictions upon eligibility for employment generally applicable to public school instructors. This is in harmony with CSSSA’s legislation.

To apply for this opportunity, please submit a Curriculum Vitae/Resume by October 30, 2026 at 5:00 pm, Pacific Time. Please see additional submission details at the end of this Request For Applications (RFA).

Qualifications

· Undergraduate or advanced degree in the department’s discipline, or related field and/or equivalent professional experience.

· Minimum 5 years of teaching experience, preferably with some experience working with high school age students.

· Minimum 5 years sustained record of creative / professional practice in the writing industry.

· Knowledge of cutting-edge trends in arts education as well as opportunities in the creative industries for young artists.

· Skills and expertise in multiple genres of the writing discipline.

· Ability to work creatively and effectively with diverse students of varying levels and demographics.

· Demonstrated experience with and commitment to cultural and economic diversity in arts education.

· Demonstrated flexibility and adaptability, and able to work collaboratively in a fast-paced team dynamic.

· Excellent interpersonal, communication, and collaborative skills.

· Outstanding organizational skills and attention to detail.

Scope of Work

The Writing Chair will be contracted to provide the following services:

· Recruit and hire faculty and teaching assistants as assigned by CSSSA’s Board of Trustees.

· Ensure that the CSSSA contract analyst has complete contract information for each of the department’s hires. 

· Review student applications and participate in the selection of students.

· Manage the scheduling of student and faculty class schedules and develop course rosters.

· Create detailed supply orders for the entire department with estimates from competing vendors. 

· Develop and oversee the department’s curriculum, including courses, schedule, and pedagogy.

· Participate in the program set-up and tear-down before and after the session.

· Reside on campus during the summer session and supervise the work of full-time faculty, part-time faculty, teaching asistants, and visiting artists while the program is in session.

· Instruct courses and chair faculty meetings.

· Conduct pre-CSSSA webinars for student recruitment and Writing Department orientation.

· Monitor student academic / artistic progress, as well as department policies for obtaining college credits.

· Work with CSSSA agency staff to immediately report student issues, including student conduct and other student affairs issues.

· Work with other department chairs and faculty to develop an interdisciplinary and/or multi-disciplinary program.

· Administer required student and faculty surveys as assigned.

· Follow and uphold all CSSSA’s policies and procedures as outlined, including those in the Faculty / Staff Handbook.

Contract Status

CSSSA Department Chairs are paid on a contractual basis and are not considered state employees. The contract is preset by CSSSA. The contract amount is a comparable level set by the California State University System.

The Writing Chair will report directly to the Director of CSSSA. The contract starting date will be immediately upon hire to begin planning for the 2027 session. The position is part-time during the planning stages of the Scope of Work and is full-time for the duration of the summer session.

The contract salary is $12,871. This includes all aspects of the Scope of Work. Payment is made by check and is received within 45 days following the session.

Selection Process

Section 8955 of the California Education Code requires that faculty of the CSSSA Program be annually selected, subject to the final approval of the Director of CSSSA, and by the CSSSA Board of Trustees, upon consultation with a faculty selection panel convened by the CSSSA Board for that purpose. The faculty selection panel shall be composed of professional artists and arts educators, selected to be broadly representative of the schools, institutions, arts organizations, artists, colleges, and universities located throughout the state. Members of the CSSSA Board of Trustees may serve on the faculty selection panel but shall comprise no more than one-third of any faculty selection panel.

Upon review of submitted applications by the Selection Committee, select candidates will be contacted for an interview. The Selection Committee may request a second interview or additional materials for review by the CSSSA Board of Trustees before the final candidate is determined.

The Writing Chair shall be chosen for their excellence in artistic production, direction, and teaching ability. CSSSA does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, ancestry, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical disability, mental disability, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic which may be specified by law or state policy.