K-12 Deliberative Pedagogy Lead

Position Status: Part-Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt:
Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Office of the President Unit

Pay Band:5

Pay Rate:Hourly

Specify Range or Amount: $36.00 per hour

Is this a JMU only position?No

Is this a grant-funded position?Yes. This is a grant-funded position and is contingent upon continued funding.

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position?No

Beginning Review Date:05/28/2026

About JMU:

At James Madison University (JMU), we're more than just a publicly funded institution - we're a vibrant, welcoming community located on a stunning campus where innovation, collaboration, and personal growth thrive. Our mission is to prepare students for a bright future, and we believe that starts with supporting the people who make it all possible: our employees.

JMU offers several perks to all employees including:

* A Tuition Waiver Program that allows employees to have tuition waived for undergraduate and graduate level courses taken at JMU.

* Free Access to the University Recreation Center (UREC):
Employees can enjoy facility access and program registration privileges at UREC and University Park. This includes the climbing wall, equipment centers, and group exercise studios.

* A variety of voluntary benefits such as Pet Insurance, Identity Theft and Legal Protection Plans, and several other supplemental benefits.

* Holiday Breaks:
The university is granted 12 holidays a year.

* Talent Development Trainings:
The Talent Development department offers a wide variety of personal and professional trainings, eligible for all employees to join.

At JMU, we believe in Being the Change - and that starts with creating an environment where you can grow, contribute meaningfully, and feel supported every step of the way.

Discover what makes JMU a great place to work: bit.ly/JMUEmployment

General Information:

The K-12 Facilitation Lead Coordinator plays a central role in the implementation of Teaching Historic Decisions for America's 250th and Beyond: A Deliberative Approach to Civic Education, a national initiative led by the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement in partnership with the National Issues Forums Institute (NIFI) and JMU CARE.

This position provides instructional leadership and facilitation oversight for the project's K-12 Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)/National Teacher Fellowship program and place-based teacher professional development experiences. The Coordinator ensures high-quality, consistent implementation of deliberative pedagogy across PLCs, supports teacher learning and reflection, supports project evaluation and assessment goals. The role combines program coordination, facilitation, instructional design, and evaluation alignment, with a strong emphasis on deliberation in the classroom.

This is a grant funded position and is contingent upon continued funding.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Professional Learning Community (PLC)/National Teacher Fellowship Leadership & Oversight:

• Provide overall coordination and instructional leadership for all K-12 Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) associated with the project.
• Design and develop agendas, session plans, and facilitation materials for all PLC meetings, aligned with project goals, deliberative pedagogy, and teacher needs.
• Ensure PLC sessions support teachers in implementing deliberation using the Historic Decisions and What's Next, America? issue guides.
  Coordinate with Madison Center staff, NIFI consultants, and partner organizations to align PLC content and delivery.

Direct Facilitation & Instructional Support:

• Serve as lead facilitator for at least 2-3 PLCs per project year, providing sustained coaching and instructional support to participating teachers.
• Model high-quality deliberation facilitation practices appropriate for K-12 classroom contexts.
• Lead and support workshops focused on deliberation in the classroom, including strategies for managing controversy, fostering inclusive dialogue, and scaffolding student deliberation across grade levels.

Summer Professional Development Seminars

• Co-lead in-person summer professional development seminars for K-12 educators, in collaboration with project partners and instructional faculty.
• Support the design, refinement, and delivery of seminar content related to deliberative pedagogy, historical inquiry, and classroom application.
• Facilitate interactive sessions, simulations, and guided reflection aligned with best practices.

Assessment, Evaluation, & Implementation Fidelity

• Ensure participating teachers understand and consistently apply project assessment and evaluation protocols, including pre/post surveys, reflection tools, and implementation documentation.
• Collaborate with JMU CARE and project leadership to support accurate data collection related to PLC participation, teacher learning outcomes, and instructional practice.
• Incorporate evaluation findings into PLC planning and instructional adjustments to support continuous improvement.
• Work closely with the Project Director/Principal Investigator,…