Wisconsin K-12 Civics Initiative
Our efforts to reach teachers across the state of Wisconsin by working with faculty partners and Wisconsin-based organizations.
Improving teacher education across the state of Wisconsin.
Wisconsin is a key focus for the Founding Civics Initiative.
The Wisconsin Idea holds that knowledge and education should empower people to influence government and the economy, embodying a strong democratic vision that education serves the public. This idea fosters a strong culture of partnership between the state’s universities, K-12 institutions, and the public, providing a solid foundation for the Jack Miller Center’s programs. University faculty, K-12 teachers, and public administrators are all eager to work together to improve education across the state.
This culture has created fertile ground for civic education reform, making Wisconsin an ideal state to develop a national model.
Since 2016, JMC has collaborated with a number of faculty partners on campuses across the state to offer professional development programs to Wisconsin teachers. Thanks to the generous support of donors, we have been able to offer these programs at no cost to teachers. If you are interested in bringing a K-12 professional development to your community, please reach out to our Founding Civics Initiaitive team.
Our goals by 2026
We have an ambitious strategic plan to reach a record number of teachers across Wisconsin by America’s 250th birthday in 2026 through scholar-led seminars, classroom application sessions, and rigorous study of founding documents and ideas.
40
professional development programs for K-12 teachers
500
Wisconsin social studies teacher alumni
90,000
Wisconsin students taught key primary sources and ideas
Our impact in Wisconsin
The Jack Miller Center has been active in Wisconsin since 2016.
We support an annual seminar on civic literacy with the Center for the Study of Liberal Democracy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and have developed an innovative series of graduate courses for teachers with the UW-Madison Department of Political Science, the first of which took place in summer 2021. Partner faculty at UW-Stout and UW-Eau Claire also offer programs for Wisconsin teachers.
Meet Emilee McHorney, JMC’s Wisconsin Teacher Programs Manager
Emilee McHorney joined the Jack Miller Center in July 2024 as our Teacher Programs Manager for the Midwest. Emilee is a former teacher and plays an instrumental role in conducting professional development programs, building lesson plans, helping teachers integrate primary sources in the classroom. She is also a current exam reader for the College Board.
Emilee is based in Eau Claire, WI and is an ongoing resource for educators across the state and region.
