Jamie Higgins Shaull, Jaime Austin, James Duff, Nicole Maffei, Juliet Morris
Thanks to the hard work of the Society’s staff, our civics initiatives are growing faster than anticipated. To date, more than 250 high school students have participated in nine Supreme Court and My Hometown programs. Looking ahead, another 17 programs are scheduled for 2028, reaching over 500 students across seven of the 12 regional judicial circuits. Each program highlights a local case that made its way to the Supreme Court of the United States, builds lasting civic knowledge, and cultivates judicial branch ambassadors in communities nationwide.
Beyond the Bench, the Society’s civics education website, is also experiencing steady growth. This initiative brings the spirit of Hometowns into classrooms across the country by offering free, scholar-reviewed, classroom-ready resources that explore the judicial branch through eras of Supreme Court history. Two historical eras are currently available, along with supplemental judicial branch materials, and have already been used by over 37,000 unique visitors. A third era—featuring 25 new case summaries, biographical stories, and resources on the Waite, Fuller, and White Courts (1874–1921)—will launch this December. By the end of 2025, the number of resources available on Beyond the Bench will have tripled since its launch in December 2023.
As we continue expanding our civics education efforts, we’re pleased to introduce two new members of the Civics Education Department.
We are thrilled to welcome Jaime Austin as the Society’s new Civics Education Specialist. Jaime brings nine years of classroom experience from Fairfax County Public Schools, where she taught nearly every high school-level U.S. History and American Government course. She also spent several years grading AP U.S. History Exams for the College Board, giving her deep content knowledge that now informs her work on Beyond the Bench. Jaime was active in civic engagement initiatives at her school, serving as advisor to the social studies honor society and student government association, where she connected over 150 students annually with guest speakers and volunteer opportunities. She holds two bachelor’s degrees, one in U.S. History and one in American Studies, and a Master of Education from the University of Maryland, College Park, where she now mentors preservice teachers. Welcome, Jaime!
We also welcome Jamie Higgins Shaull as the Society’s new Civics Program Coordinator. Jamie is working alongside Nicole Maffei, Director of Civics Education, to plan and facilitate Hometowns programs across the country. She brings a deep well of knowledge from her 20-year career in Baltimore County Public Schools, where she chaired social studies departments at both the middle and high school levels and fostered an environment of professional development and collaboration. Jamie developed student-centered lessons for a wide range of subjects, including history, government, economics, and research, and taught multiple Advanced Placement courses. She also collaborated with school and district leaders to support both teacher growth and student achievement, developing civics curriculum materials now used across Maryland. A native of Pennsylvania, Jamie earned her bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education, Social Studies from Penn State University, and later earned a master’s in Instructional Technology and Library Media, along with advanced certification in Administration, from Towson University. Welcome, Jamie!