Michael Kane M.Ed.
With a strong background in training and education, I have dedicated my life to public service, enhancing learning experiences, and fostering leadership in the youth of America.
I am currently director and founder of American Civics Snapshots, a non-profit project to bring civics education to disengaged American adults. I bring over 25 years of expertise in organizational development, talent management, and educational program design to my work, and to my personal community committments.
Professional Background
I started my working life as a Social Studies teacher. After 12 years in education, I was “too expensive” to retain or hire after the budget cuts of the Great Recession. I loved teaching and counciling high school students and helping to build in them the capacity for critical thinking, and self-esteem.
After my career in education ended, I moved to Vermont to work for US Citizenship and Immigration Services. In that agency, I was a background checker, adjudicator, team supervisor, and Training Officer.
As a federal supervisor I led a team of adjudicators, my leadership earned the Director’s Award for Employee Empowerment, recognizing my commitment to fostering career development among my team members. I also received the DHS Secretary’s Award for Excellence in 2016 for my innovative ideas which increased efficiency and customer experience in their interactions with my agency. I have successfully managed training programs and was rated ‘Achieved Excellence’ in 4 out of my last 5 years with the federal government.
In 2025 I felt that I could no longer uphold the oath I had taken to support the Constitution of the United States through my work with USCIS. I decided that I could better serve my community outside of federal employment, so I accepted their offer to resign.
As a recently displaced federal employee, I founded my own non-profit project to improve our civics infrastructure and am working with organizations around Vermont to promote civics education in advance of the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Educational Credentials
I graduated from St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio. My time there not only gave to me a great education, but also instilled in me a strong sense of ethics and morals.
I earned two degrees in my undergraduate career; a Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in Political Science and a Bachelor of Secondary Education from the University of Dayton. I furthered my education with a Master of Education degree from John Carroll University.
Community Engagement
Beyond my professional achievements, I am actively involved in my community. I have been a member of the Addison North-West School District Board of Directors since 2022; and I hold leadership roles in my sons’ Scouting America Cub Scout Packs in both Vergennes and Burlington, where I contribute to youth development and community service. I earned my own Eagle Scout Award in 1995, and it makes me so proud to see my own children enjoy and appreciate the scouting program.
Vision and Commitment
I believe in the transformative power of knowledge and am dedicated to creating a state which supports the rights and well being of all Vermonters. My leadership is characterized by a collaborative spirit, innovative thinking, and a steadfast commitment to excellence in all our endeavors.
Personal Interests
Supporting my kids’ hobbies takes up most of my time, along with my school board work and building my non-profit. But when I get a bit of free time, I am president of the Green Mountain Browns Backers, the fan club for the perennial basement dwellers of the NFL’s AFC North. I enjoy watching the Cleveland Guardians when I can because they acutally have hope each summer. I unwind by reading old comic books and joining my friends once a month with online table top games.
Baseball has been a constant joy in my life, so I make sure my family makes it to several Vermont Lake Monsters games each summer. Otherwise my time is spent trying to keep up with home maintenence for my home and camping and swimming at Vermont State Parks.