Department welcomes new Chief Academic Officer Tome

I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Rachelle Tome to the position of Maine Department of Education Chief Academic Officer.

In her new position, Tome will direct the Department’s core focus on school improvement and accountability. She will provide policy and operational leadership for the major programs related to: implementation of the state’s system of Maine’s Learning Results, including content standards (MLR, Common Core, and the future Next Generation Science Standards), curriculum development, instruction and assessment; oversight of federal ESEA programs and the state’s comprehensive assessment and accountability system; Adult Education and Family Literacy; Career and Technical Education; and the Department’s work with higher education. Tome will oversee a range of programs and activities and directly manage and supervise program managers and others on the PK-20, Federal Programs and Adult Education Teams to advance the Department’s mission of improving student outcomes.

This is particularly vital as we are working to focus as much of the Department’s resources as possible on school improvement for both Title I and non-Title I schools, and particularly to support the state’s struggling schools. We are well aware that if we are going to hold schools publicly accountable then we also have a responsibility to provide them with the support they need to improve.

Tome brings a wealth of experience to this new role. She has coordinated a number of federal programs for the Department focused on school improvement and accountability, has “on-the-ground” experience serving as a school and district administrator, and was most recently involved in developing the Department’s request for an ESEA waiver, proposing a new accountability system for Maine schools.

More information

• Rachelle Tome, Chief Academic Officer
  Maine Department of Education
  207-624-6705
  rachelle.tome@maine.gov