Month: August 2024

New Collection of Resources Teaches Students How to Verify Online Information

Posted on by Sophie Gordon

Civic Digital Literacy, developed by the Digital Inquiry Group and iCivics, is a collection of nonpartisan, evidence-based resources to help middle and high school students learn how to navigate misinformation, disinformation, and AI-generated content.

CAMBRIDGE, MA [August 26, 2024] – As Election Day nears and Americans are flooded with related online content, iCivics and the Digital Inquiry Group (DIG) have released a collection of resources to equip students with everything they need to know about deciphering the veracity of what they encounter online.

The new Civic Digital Literacy collection is designed to prepare young people to be informed, engaged members of our democracy. It meets an urgent need to make digital literacy a key component of civic education.

These new materials help students better understand how to navigate online sources and to build the digital literacy skills integral to our democracy.

Civic Digital Literacy helps students understand a range of topics, including who’s behind cloaked websites, how to evaluate political claims on social media, and whether online content is clickbait or legitimate.

“In a digital age, civic engagement requires the ability to find credible information online,” DIG’s co-principal Sam Wineburg said. “The internet, however, can be a perilous place to become informed. Social media is a minefield of misinformation where bad actors peddle mistruths. Fortunately, there are evidence-based approaches to teaching people how to better discern online information. The Civic Digital Literacy materials are based on a decade of research by our team at DIG to develop and rigorously evaluate curriculum tools in real classrooms.”

Designed for middle and high school students, Civic Digital Literacy currently has nine lesson plans, ten student-facing videos, and six professional development videos for teachers. It was built with the digital literacy and curriculum expertise of DIG, an independent nonprofit established by the team behind the Stanford History Education Group, and the curriculum and pedagogy expertise of iCivics, the nation’s leading civic education nonprofit. The nonpartisan resources are research- and evidence-based.

“The average young person spends more than eight hours per day online, but even though they are digital natives, that does not mean they have the skills needed to counteract the information overload in which we all live,” iCivics Chief Executive Officer Louise Dubé said. “Teaching young people how to understand the information they receive is critical so they can become informed and engaged participants in our now digital democracy.”

Civic Digital Literacy is a valuable tool for any civics or social studies teacher. The resources are flexible and can be woven into existing curricula or expanded into lessons of their own. The critical thinking skills that Civic Digital Literacy teaches are applicable across many content areas.

Each of Civic Digital Literacy’s videos and lesson plans can be used independently. Lesson plans include step-by-step instructions for teachers and learning objectives that help make the content relevant to students—and guide them through a productive conversation. Each student-facing video features a call-to-action question to encourage students to reflect on and discuss the content.

Celebrating iCivics’ First Educator Convening in California

Posted on by Sophie Gordon

On July 17, 2024, we were filled with excitement and anticipation to bring together 60 K–12 educators for our first iCivics Educator Convening held in Sacramento, California. This event was hosted in partnership with California’s Power of Democracy Civic Learning Initiative, sponsored by Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero to bring equity to civic learning across the state of California by connecting courts with educators.

The majority of the participants consisted of 44 educators representing 19 counties from across California, who were thrilled to connect with the educators who traveled from 14 other states: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Idado, Illinois, Louisiana, Nebraska, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.

Teachers came to the convening with a vast range of personal goals, from learning how to “utilize strong resources in helping students understand our government and their role within it,” to “meeting with enthusiastic civics teachers, get[ting] inspired and energized.”

The agenda for the day was packed with learning opportunities, including a student panel discussion, two sets of breakout sessions exploring a variety of topics and resources, and a conversation about building relationships with the judicial branch. The two Californian students from the iCivics youth fellowship kicked off the day with a conversation around the importance of engaging youth in politics and sparking conversations that show how civics can be relevant in students’ daily lives and future career paths.

New and current iCivics educators got great insight into iCivics curriculum resources and how to implement them in the classroom. Sessions helped participants understand how to amplify their voice to advocate for civic education, teach the 2024 election using the iCivics Election Headquarters, engage students in civics projects using our step-by-step approach, bring U.S. Supreme Court cases from iCivics’ Landmark Library and games like Brief the Chief into civics classrooms, and integrate inquiry into classroom instruction.

After the interactive sessions, educators reconvened for a plenary session featuring Justice Judith McConnell, who presides over the state’s Fourth District Court of Appeal, and Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Julia Alloggiamento. Together they presented why and how courts support educators in classrooms starting in elementary school. Teachers were invited to connect with the Power of Democracy’s Judges in the Classroom program, modeled after similar efforts in the state of Washington. Many put in their requests on the spot for visits this September, Constitution Month.

We worked hard to make sure that our iCivics Educator Convening felt unique. We were intentional about designing an experience for our educators that not only focused on the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of civic learning, but also modeled best practices for the classroom. Educators were given space to connect with peers, collaborate, and process the information they were exploring in sessions to help the learning stick a little bit stronger. And we were delighted this was reflected in participating educators’ feedback!

“I was SO impressed by the convening. I am used to being disappointed by professional developments... This experience was a full 180 for me. The civic project curriculum was DIVINE. ... [It] has SO much more than I have learned yet, and is perfectly and expertly laid out for students. I was also deeply heartened to be in a room full of teachers like me—that kind of solidarity is so precious and rare in K–12 education. ... You all inspired me to keep pushing for civics education—which presently does not exist at all for 6th graders in my district. I am going to be told that there ‘is no time’ to teach the election, and I feel much stronger and prepared to defend my stance now.”

Trina English, Middle School Teacher, California

“I felt very seen as an educator. I enjoyed getting to know people from around the country and making new friends. This has also sparked an excitement in me when I've been feeling burnt out and a bit hopeless… so thank you for re-lighting my spark!!”

Manuwella Allen, High School Teacher, California

“The tools and resources provided through today's convening illustrate how important civics education at the elementary school level needs to be implemented statewide. This education directly impacts the trust and understanding of our civic responsibilities and our democratic process; it shouldn't be a mystery or a ‘figure it out’ mindset.”

Linda Roberts, Elementary Teacher, California

Our first iCivics Educator Convening in California concluded with a sense of optimism and determination among educators to elevate civic education as a priority. We hope to make this an annual event to bring together educators to re-energize, build community, and leave with a deeper understanding of the amazing resources available for their classrooms.

Our great thanks to the Koret and Stuart Foundations for making this event possible as part of their commitment to supporting iCivics’ robust professional learning for CA civics educators.

Written by Natacha Scott

As the Director of Educator Engagement at iCivics, Natacha focuses on growing the engagement of educators in-person and virtually through professional development sessions, curriculum, and other experiences. Prior to joining iCivics, Natacha was an educator at Boston Public Schools for 14 years, serving in various roles from elementary classroom teacher to the district K-12 Director for History and Social Studies. She is passionate about place-based learning and engaging educators in meaningful learning experiences that can immediately translate into the classroom.

David Ritter

Posted on by icivics

In his 45-year career as an engineer, executive, consultant, coach and investor, David Ritter has consistently helped to build successful teams, products and companies. He enables organizations to adopt collaborative, outcome-driven ways of working that create differentiated results – and allow all stakeholders to have good days at work.

​ David is currently a Senior Advisor to the Boston Consulting Group. He resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Posted in Bio

Our Moment of Consequence

Posted on by icivics

We are experiencing a national civics moment like none other in my lifetime. Americans are seeing why our institutions and political systems matter.

Increasing political divisions and distrust have separated Americans from one another, and our young people wonder about their place and purpose in our civic life. Too many are losing confidence in our country —​ and in democracy itself. ​We risk losing a generation’s desire to help build “a more perfect union.”

To meet this moment and seize possibilities to protect, preserve, and strengthen our constitutional democracy, I am excited to provide this update about iCivics’ vision and plans. 

At iCivics, we know that the best way to strengthen our democracy is to teach it.  Building young people’s faith in our democracy starts with teaching them how to participate in it.

That matters now more than ever. ​

We need civic education that is relevant, meaningful, and engaging for each new generation. Civic education that not only inspires a belief in our nation, but also instills in youth a sense of belonging and a confidence to shape the world around them and work with others to solve problems together.

The New iCivics: Advancing Education, Leading a Movement

As we head toward our nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026, iCivics is continuing to expand its vision and mandate by

We empower educators and lead the movement to make civic education a nationwide priority so all young people have the confidence to shape the world around them and believe in our country’s future.

Through iCivics Education, we are providing a wide variety of high-quality civic education resources and tools that are nonpartisan, standards-aligned, and inclusive of all learners.

Through our leadership in the civic education field and CivxNow, we are joined by more than 300 organizations working to make civic education a nationwide priority and provide the research, policy, and institutional practices that empower educators, administrators, students, parents, and community members to help all young people build confidence in themselves, each other, and our country’s future.

And we know that building confidence extends ​beyond the classroom​. Students who experience high-quality civic education are more likely to:

  • complete college and develop employable skills;
  • vote and discuss current issues at home; ​
  • be confident in speaking publicly and communicating ​with elected representatives ​about their ideas and priorities; and
  • volunteer and work on community issues.

In short, when young people see their role in helping to shape our country, they believe in its future.

Our Moment of Consequence

As our nation prepares to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026, our most urgent charge is to ensure the next generation has the confidence and character to engage in our democracy for the next 250 years and beyond.

Now is a moment of great consequence. By joining together, committing to our youth, and transforming civic education for all of us, we will step up to meet it.

Let’s get to work!

Senior Director of Marketing

Posted on by icivics

The Senior Director of Marketing—focused mainly on K–12 marketing—will play a pivotal role in developing and executing the marketing strategies that drive our organization’s growth and brand recognition.

Reporting directly to the Chief Marketing & Communications Officer (CMCO), this role requires a dynamic leader with a strong background in marketing, excellent strategic thinking, project management, analytical and technical skills, and the ability to manage a team effectively.

The Senior Director of Marketing will be responsible for the following:

  • Strategic Planning
    • Develop and implement comprehensive marketing plans that align with iCivics’ goals and objectives in the K–12 education space
    • Collaborate with the CMCO to define marketing strategies that enhance brand positioning and market penetration.
    • Monitor and analyze user data to identify opportunities and challenges
    • Drive marketing results to KPIs
  • K–12 Market Focus
    • Oversee product/content marketing, customer acquisition, and retention, as well as educator engagement strategies to meet organizational goals
    • Ensure that marketing messages reflect customer needs and engage our audiences
    • Support the launch of a new earned revenue business, expanding our customer focus to school administrator
  • Driving Lead Generation Programs to Meet Targets
    • Support overall brand visibility efforts
      • In coordination with the CMCO, drive maximum visibility for the brand
      • Ensure the website meets our traffic metrics and gains positive feedback
      • Drive the net promoter score for the brand
  • Team Leadership and Development
    • Lead and mentor a team of three marketing staff members to ensure the successful execution of marketing strategies.
    • Manage several marketing vendors who assist on email marketing, SEO, social media.
    • Foster a collaborative and high-performing team environment.
    • Provide ongoing training and development opportunities for team members.
  • Campaign Management & Event Support
    • Oversee the creation and execution of multi-channel marketing campaigns, including digital, print, social media, and events.
    • Ensure marketing campaigns are delivered on time, within budget, and meet or exceed performance goals.
    • Analyze campaign performance and provide actionable insights to optimize future campaigns.
    • Oversee marketing support to teams at organizational events and conferences, ensuring teams have all the materials and marketing resources necessary to support their goals
  • Brand Management
    • Support the transition to our exciting new brand both internally and externally.
    • Ensure consistent brand messaging across all channels and organizational materials.
    • Ensure alignment with brand guidelines and uniformity in brand presentation.
    • Navigate a complex political landscape through balanced language aligned to our brand promise
  • Cross-team Collaboration
    • Work closely with cross-functional teams, including curriculum, professional learning, policy, and education, to align marketing strategies with their team objectives.
    • Build strong relationships with external partners, vendors, contractors, and agencies to enhance marketing efforts.

Who You Are

This role is ideal for someone with the following skills and mindsets:

  • An experienced marketing professional: An experienced marketing leader with a proven track record of developing and implementing successful marketing strategies. You are able to use quantitative data to drive results in terms of customer acquisition and retention and to meet our visibility, traffic, and usage KPIs. You have seven or more years of K–12 marketing experience, with at least three years experience in leadership and a degree in Marketing, Business, Administration, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
  • Strong project management and analytical skills: You can competently manage a lively pipeline of activities and projects, communicate status, and coordinate multiple stakeholders. You successfully use data to drive results.
  • A customer-centric focus: You understand the dynamics of the school market, the needs of educators, and how to communicate effectively with them.
  • Strategic thinking driving execution: You are able to take a vision and execute it with strong attention to detail while having the judgment to make adjustments and innovate when needed.
  • An Effective Collaborator: You’ve successfully worked with others on dispersed teams, and you have the ability to operate in complex situations. You can easily gain trust from team members and are known for supporting them to ensure they are set up for success. You’re not afraid to ask questions.
  • Resourceful and Adaptable:You’re at ease with ambiguity and rapid change. You possess a positive attitude and identify creative solutions to obstacles. You can juggle many essential responsibilities at once, and you’re rigorous about prioritizing. You are able to handle multiple deadlines in a fast-paced workplace.
  • Experience with Digital Marketing and Tools: Including Hubspot or similar, SEO, social media, email marketing
  • A Team Player: You can work on any project with any team. Not because you know everything, because you love working on teams, and you are the one who always puts it on themselves to see their team succeed. You’re not afraid to ask questions.
  • Flexible: You can manage a diverse set of team needs and aren’t afraid to step outside your job description or comfort zone to help the team reach its goals. You’re comfortable with shifting schedules and don’t expect every day to go “as planned.”
  • Mission-driven: You are passionate about civic preparation and engagement.

Salary: The starting salary for this position is $140,000.

Location: This position is remote and able to work from anywhere in the United States, with occasional travel (less than 15%).

Application Process: To apply please email your resume and cover letter to [email protected]. We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis.

Judge Ann Claire Williams (Ret.)

Posted on by Sophie Gordon

Judge Ann Claire Williams (Ret.), a trailblazer and leader, heads Jones Day’s efforts in advancing the rule of law in Africa. Devoted to promoting the effective delivery of justice worldwide, particularly in Africa, she has partnered with judiciaries, attorneys, NGOs, and the U.S. Departments of Justice and State to lead training programs in Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. She also has taught at the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia.

President Ronald Reagan nominated her in 1985 to the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, making her the first woman of color to serve on a district court in the three-state Seventh Circuit. In 1999, President William Clinton’s nomination made her the first judge of color to sit on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and the third woman of color to serve on any federal circuit court. She brings her vast experience on the bench to serve as a resource for the Firms leading trial and appellate practices.

Judge Williams has served on many judicial committees and, as treasurer and president of the Federal Judges Association, was the first person of color to become an officer. Committed to public interest work, she helped found Just The Beginning — A Pipeline Organization, the Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Chicago, Minority Legal Education Resources, and the Public Interest Fellowship Program for Equal Justice Works. She serves on the boards of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, iCivics, NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, Weinstein International Foundation, Museum of Science & Industry Chicago, University of Notre Dame (emeritus), and National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) (emeritus), the Board of Counselors for Equal Justice Works, and chairs the Advisory Board of the International Law Institute-South African Centre for Excellence. She is also chair of the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary for 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024.

Posted in Bio

Pritesh Shah

Posted on by Sophie Gordon

Pri provides advice and strategic counseling on the intellectual property, data privacy and technology aspects of transactions including commercial and licensing agreements, mergers, acquisitions, JVs, financings, restructurings and collaboration arrangements. He advises companies in numerous industries, as well as private equity and other investors.

He negotiates and advises on bespoke agreements in commercial matters, including software, algorithm and mobile apps; data monetization; artificial intelligence and machine learning; brand and franchise licensing; programming rights; manufacturing, supply and distribution; payment services, e-commerce and IT outsourcing; and mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) and IoT connectivity. Pri also advises clients on IP and commercial issues related to generative AI, the metaverse, NFTs and blockchain-related platforms.

Pri is one of Davis Polk’s two hiring partners and serves on the boards of iCivics and Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts.

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Lindsay Reimers

Posted on by Sophie Gordon

Lindsay is a strategic philanthropist and impact investor. She has served on iCivics’ Governing Board since 2017. She has served on several committees and now chairs the Program Committee.

Prior to joining iCivics, she served with several organizations, including Horizons National Board of Directors, Teach for America-Connecticut’s Advisory Board, and Social Venture Partners-Connecticut. She also served on the Fairfield County Community Foundation’s (FCCF) Board of Directors. At that time, she was co-Chair of the Fund for Women and Girls, the largest women’s fund in Connecticut, where she co-authored a study of women and girls in the county and helped found a public–private community college partnership.

Lindsay holds a BA from American University and a Masters of International Public Policy from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. In 2014, Lindsay attended Harvard’s Advanced Leadership Initiative (ALI), a year-long executive level program designed to help leaders address significant social problems.

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Ann M. Ravel

Posted on by Sophie Gordon

Ms. Ravel is a former Fellow at New America working on issues of Civic Engagement, as well as adjunct Professor at the UC Berkeley School of Law. Former Commissioner Ann M. Ravel was nominated to the Federal Election Commission by President Barack Obama on June 21, 2013. After her appointment received the unanimous consent of the United States Senate, Ms. Ravel joined the Commission on October 25, 2013. She served as Chair of the Commission for 2015 and Vice Chair for 2014.

From March 2011 until her appointment to the Commission, Ms. Ravel served as Chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), to which Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. appointed her. At the FPPC, Ms. Ravel oversaw the regulation of campaign finance, lobbyist registration and reporting, and ethics and conflicts of interest related to officeholders and public employees. During her tenure at the FPPC, Ms. Ravel was instrumental in the creation of the States’ Unified Network (SUN) Center, a web-based center for sharing information on campaign finance.

Before joining the FPPC, Ms. Ravel served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Torts and Consumer Litigation in the Civil Division of the United States Department of Justice. Ms. Ravel also worked as an attorney in the Santa Clara County Counsel’s Office, ultimately serving as the appointed County Counsel from 1998 until 2009. Ms. Ravel represented the County and its elected officials, provided advice on the state Political Reform Act, and initiated groundbreaking programs in elder abuse litigation, educational rights, and consumer litigation on behalf of the Santa Clara County government and the community.

Ms. Ravel has served as an elected Governor on the Board of Governors of the State Bar of California, a member of the Judicial Council of the State of California, and Chair of the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation. In 2014, she was named a California Attorney of the Year by California Lawyer magazine for her work in Government law, and in 2007, the State Bar of California named Ms. Ravel Public Attorney of the Year for her contributions to public service.

Ms. Ravel received her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley and her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.

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Arnold B. Peinado, III

Posted on by Sophie Gordon

Arnold B. Peinado, III is a retired partner of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, an international law firm headquartered in New York City. He was a senior member of the firm’s Capital Markets Group.

During his 35 year tenure with Milbank, Arnold advised on general securities law matters, and a wide range of domestic and international debt and equity capital markets offerings. He also specialized in global aircraft and satellite finance transactions.

In addition to his work at Milbank, Arnold has substantial experience with nonprofit entities. He has been an advisor to boards on corporate governance policies, conflicts of interest, and financial statements and internal controls. He currently serves as a Director of the Urban Justice Center, an organization which provides legal advocacy services to homeless and disadvantage groups in New York City, as well as a Director of the Alleluia Fund of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, New Jersey which directs grants to nonprofit entities in New Jersey. Arnold also serves as a Trustee of The Nature Conservancy, New Jersey Chapter. Arnold is a graduate of Harvard College as well as both Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School.

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