Teachers

Did you know Illinois elementary and high school teachers receive free admission to the MCA? Simply present a valid teacher ID (or a photograph of your valid teacher ID) at the Admissions desk for free admission to the museum.

Gallery

A group of people sit at a table with magazine pages scattered across it. Some are working on cutting out images from these pages. — Teachers crafting collages on small wooden cutting boards during Learning Series | The Impact of Food Apartheid in Education, part 4. May 25, 2024.
Photo: Alexis Ellers

A long exposure photo of people moving through a room filled with many lights and plants hanging from the ceiling — Teachers crafting collages on small wooden cutting boards during Learning Series | The Impact of Food Apartheid in Education, part 4. May 25, 2024.
Photo: Alexis Ellers

For Teachers

Teacher Institute

Registration-based.

The Teacher Institute is the MCA’s professional development program for classroom educators. Designed to help you investigate, create, incubate, and implement innovative, contemporary curricula, this free, yearlong program includes year-round programming like the Learning Series and the Teacher Residency.

Learning Series

Registration-based. Free and open to all.

Throughout the year, the MCA hosts high-quality professional development programming. Open to teachers of all disciplines, these events are skills-based trainings on contemporary art integration and educator-specific programs.

Programs are designed in connection with the cultural assets of the MCA (exhibitions, exhibiting artists, public programs, and performances). To hear about upcoming Learning Series programs, sign up for our educator email list.

Multiple Visit Program

We are not supporting school field trips or the Multiple Visit Program at this time. We apologize for the inconvenience. We look forward to welcoming student groups again soon!

You can still take advantage of free admission for student groups. To reserve tickets, please email [email protected].

Teacher Advisory Committee

A community of classroom teachers who meet quarterly to advise the MCA Learning team on school and teacher programs and matters of interest to the larger school community.

Current members of the Teacher Advisory Committee (TAC):

Aespyne Alix
Andrew Breen
Bridget Doherty Trebing
David Hossler
Kristal Pacheco
Lindsay Johnson
Lisa Wax
Marcia LaPorte
Philip Alvy
Rhavin Haynes
Sydney Walters

For more details about the TAC, email Evelyn Sanford-Nicholson, Polk Bros. Associate Director of Learning.

Teacher Residency

This 10-month partnership with 15 Chicago-area K–12 classroom teachers of various disciplines includes monthly collaboration sessions, MCA class field trips, and curriculum development.

Working closely with MCA staff and other mentors, teachers develop new curricula focused on contemporary arts integration for classroom and museum learning, earning up to $750 in the process.

2024–25 Teachers-in-Residence

Philip Alvy — Wolcott College Prep
Monica Thiele — Wolcott College Prep
Katie Schmelzer — KIPP Academy Chicago Primary (KACP)
Cortney Schoen — Doolittle Elementary School
Rhonda Gholston — Hyde Park Academy High School
Luis Ortiz — John Marshall High School
Ayonna Patterson — Jesse Owens Elementary Community Academy
Rachel Lechocki — Association House High School
Chasitie Neal — Morton Elementary School
D’Lynn Washington — University of Chicago Charter School - Donoghue
Karina Chavez — Intrinsic Schools
Shlinda Greer — Ralph Ellison High School
Nicole Phillips — Chicago International Charter School-Ralph Elllison Branch
Cindy Schnoll — Bronzeville Classical
Venice Keys

Teacher Resources and Guides

We currently create robust teacher guides in conjunction with our Tour Video (TV) series. Those can be found on our Learning Resources page.

View All Educator Events

Contact & Registration

Contact

The MCA creates immersive professional development programs and invites teachers to use the museum as their studio, laboratory, library, and classroom.

In need of fresh ideas for your curriculum? Need to know what’s happening in art, teaching, and learning right now?

MCA Educator Salons tackle timely issues through open exchange among peers, colleagues, and speakers.

Participants receive ISBE credit.

Vouchers for free parking in the MCA garage are provided pending availability.

Email Ahmad Bracey, Manager of Learning: School and Youth Communities, or sign up for our educator email list to be the first to hear about opportunities at the MCA for teachers and students.

Funding

Support for Teacher Programs at the MCA is generously provided by the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation and the Polk Bros. Foundation.

Additional generous support is provided by Discover and Reyes Holdings.