Instructional Specialist, Lou Frey Institute

The Opportunity

The Lou Frey Institute in the School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs (SPSIA) in the College of Sciences (COS) at the University of Central Florida (UCF) invites applications for a 12-month non-tenure earning instructional specialist anticipated to begin in March 2025. The selected candidate will contribute to the mission of the Lou Frey Institute by developing and facilitating virtual and face-to-face professional development, creating online resource development and integration for civics and government for elementary grades (K-5), revising and developing curricular resources for elementary grades civics and government, and collaborative organizational planning. The position will also include similar secondary responsibilities for collaboration on professional development and curricular work for grades 6-12. The position requires knowledge of existing literature in civic and social studies education. Relationship-building with stakeholders and potential collaborators and maintaining existing partnerships is also instrumental to this position.

The ideal candidate will have experience in curriculum development, facilitating professional development, and an understanding of current literature in best practice civic and social studies education. A working knowledge of Florida's approach to K-12 and secondary level civics and civic education, including standards, benchmarks, and assessments, and experience with the resources and work of the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship at the Lou Frey Institute is preferred. Experience with web-based content creation platforms, such as Articulate, WordPress or similar tools is also preferred. Additionally, we are interested in a candidate who can contribute to the excellence of our community and foster an environment in which faculty, staff, students, and community partners from a variety of backgrounds, cultures and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive.

The Lou Frey Institute at the University of Central Floridahouses the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship and is a leading provider of civic education instructional and professional development resources in Florida.Our work promotes the development of enlightened, responsible, and actively engaged citizens through civic education programs that encourage thoughtful debate and discussion about current policy issues; through experiential learning programs that encourage the development of civic and political skills; by working to help strengthen the civic education capacity of Florida's K-12 education system; and through research, policy analysis, and advocacy.For more information, visit: https://loufreyinstitute.org.

UCF is one of the most innovative public universities in the nation, as named by the U.S. News & World Report. UCF is a leading, metropolitan, research-intensive university with over 68,000 students. The university offers more than 240 degree programs. UCF's students represent all 50 states and over 120 countries.UCF has several associations for faculty and staff, among them, the Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA), the Latino Faculty and Staff Association (LaFaSA), and the PRIDE Faculty and Staff Association. UCF received the 2019 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, which recognizes U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.In addition to our comprehensive traditional benefits, UCF offers support for expectant mothers, paid parental leave for both parents, on-site pre-school, and professional development for faculty and staff at all career stages. UCF is an economic engine, attracting and supporting industries vital to the region's future while providing students with real-world experiences that help them succeed after graduation. UCF also has an accredited medical school that was established in 2006 and is a neighbor to the Orlando VA Medical Center, Nemours Children's Hospital, and the UCF Lake Nona Medical Center. Great weather, easy access to the seashore, one of the largest convention centers in the nation, and one of the world's best airports are just a few features that make Orlando an ideal location.We encourage you to learn more about UCF athttp://www.ucf.edu/faculty.

The UCF College of Sciences (COS) houses most of the university's natural, computational, and social sciences in ten departments and schools, and several centers. Seven departments hold national rankings for best graduate programs.The college's programs play a key role in advancing UCF as a national research university that is determined to help students from all backgrounds achieve success. For more information, visithttps://sciences.ucf.edu.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A master's degree from an accredited institution in social studies education, political science, curriculum and instruction or a related field.

• A background in elementary civics and/or social studies and at least five years of teaching experience in K-12 classrooms.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in curriculum development, providing professional development, and an understanding of current literature in best practice civic and social studies education.

• A working knowledge of Florida's approach to K-12 and secondary level civics and civic education, including standards, benchmarks, and assessments, and experience with the resources and work of the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship at the Lou Frey Institute.

• Experience in district or state level leadership, as a curriculum supervisor, curriculum developer, or professional development provider.

• Experience with K-12 assessment and assessment development, especially in civics education.

• Experience with web-based content creation platforms, such as Articulate, WordPress or similar tools.

• Knowledge of technical writing and best practices in elementary grades literacy development.

• Strong communication skills and working knowledge of common office software.

• Editing experience, especially involving curricular materials and/or student literacy resources.

• Active membership in state and/or national civics and social studies education organizations.

Additional Application Materials Required:

UCF requires all applications and supporting documents be submitted electronically through the Human Resources employment opportunities website, https://www.ucf.edu/jobs/. In addition to the online application, candidates should upload:

• A cover letter

• A curriculum vitae

• A list with contact information (phone and email) for three (3) professional references (please do not submit a letter of recommendation)

NOTE: Please have all documents ready when applying so they can be simultaneously uploaded. Once the online submission process is finalized, the system does not allow applicants to submit additional documents later.

The selected candidate will be required to submit official transcripts (and, as applicable, U.S. degree equivalency evaluations) documenting the conferral of their qualifying academic credentials.

Questions regarding this search should be directed to: Christopher Spinale, Search Committee Chair and Director of Curriculum, Lou Frey Institute: Christopher.Spinale@ucf.edu

Special Instructions to the Applicants:
This position is full-time, non-remote, contract-based and renewable, contingent upon continued satisfactory evaluations and budget availability.

This position may require up to 30-45 days of travel annually to provide professional development in Florida and potentially other states, as well as presentations and workshops at state and national conferences.

Job Close Date:

01/16/2025

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you'll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You'll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you'll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills and you'll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

Working at UCF has its perks! UCF offers:

• Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program.

• Paid time off, including annual (12-month faculty) and sick time off and paid holidays.

• Retirement savings options.

• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions.

• Education assistance.

• Flexible work environment.

• And more...For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide click here.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF's expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Additional Requirements related to Research Positions:

Pursuant to Florida State Statute 1010.35, prior to offering employment to certain individuals in research-related positions, UCF is required to conduct additional screening. Applicants subject to additional screening include any citizen of a foreign country who is not a permanent resident of the U.S., or who is a citizen or permanent resident but is affiliated with or has had at least 1 year of education, employment, or training in China, Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Syria, or Venezuela.

The additional screening requirements only apply to research-related positions, including, but not limited to faculty, graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, post-doctoral positions, undergraduate positions, visiting assistant professors, and visiting research associates.

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Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

The University of Central Florida is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer including Disabled/Vets. Click on UCF's Equal Opportunity Statement to view the President's Statement.

The UCF affirmative action plans for qualified individuals with disabilities and protected Veterans are available for inspection in the Office of Institutional Equity, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., upon request.

As a Florida public university, UCF makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.

The University of Central Florida is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.