Working Title: K–12 Facilitation Lead Coordinator (Part - Time)

State Role Title: Education Coordinator I

Position Type: Part-time - Wage / Part-time Salaried

Position Status: Part-Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt: Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Office of the President Unit

Department: 520132 - America 250 Teaching

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.

Collaboration & Program Alignment

• Work closely with the Project Director/Principal Investigator, Program Coordinator, NIFI consultants, and evaluation staff to ensure alignment across professional development, coaching, PLCs, and evaluation activities.
• Contribute to project documentation, facilitator guides, and internal reports as needed.
• Support national scaling of PLC and coaching models by documenting best practices and lessons learned.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications

• Knowledge in education, social studies, civics, or a related area.
• Background in deliberative pedagogy, especially deliberative pedagogy on the NIFI model.
• Demonstrated experience facilitating professional learning for K–12 educators, including PLCs, workshops, or coaching.
• Experience leading or supporting professional development related to controversial issues, civic discourse, or inquiry-based learning.
• Ability to design engaging agendas and learning experiences for adult learners.
• Strong organizational, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Comfort working in both virtual and in-person professional learning environments.
• Willingness and ability to travel for in-person seminars and meetings.

Additional Posting Information:

This is a hybrid position with most work conducted virtually and occasional travel required for in-person professional development.

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

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

This is a part-time wage position working up to an average of 29 hours per week over the course of a calendar year with no benefits.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.