Mike Muir joins Maine DOE as Learning Through Technology Director

The Maine DOE has selected one of the state’s leading learning technology integrators and a 30-year veteran educator to head its Learning Through Technology Team, which administers the groundbreaking 1:1 Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI).

Dr. Mike Muir, who now serves as the Multiple Pathways Director for the Auburn School Department, will join the Maine DOE starting Jan. 26. In his current role in Auburn, Muir supported the district’s large scale school change initiatives, including customized, performance-based learning; shared leadership teams; proficiency-based professional development; and one of the first 1:1 primary grades iPad initiatives.

Prior to his tenure in Auburn, he worked as a mathematics teacher in Winslow and Skowhegan, and later as a practicum supervisor and professor of middle grades education and educational technology at the University of Maine at Farmington.

While this is the first time Muir has worked for the Maine DOE, he has long been an advocate of MLTI and a leader in integrating technology provided by the State into the classroom to improving teaching and learning.

He founded the Maine Center for Meaningful Engaged Learning (MCMEL) to share information with educators on student motivation, technology for learning, proficiency-based learning, professional development and leadership for school change. MCMEL was an early partner in MLTI, and Muir served on the MLTI Design Team for Curriculum and Professional Development. Later, he leveraged MLTI’s success strategies as an educational developer and manager on other learning initiatives, including projects in Philadelphia, PA; Chester, PA; Fairbanks, AK; Buffalo, NY; Lake Charles, LA; and Maine.

Additionally, Muir has been active in education service, including the Association for Middle Level Education (Past President, former Research Advisory Board member), the Maine Association for Middle Level Education (Past President), Maine’s Middle Level Education Commission, and the International Society for Technology in Education (former SIG 1:1 Chair and founding member; former SIG Council member).

Muir replaces former LTT Team Director Jeff Mao, who has joined Common Sense Media.

Most known for MLTI, which has put devices into the hands of tens of thousands of Maine students and educators each year for more than a decade, the LTT Team also supports the Maine School and Library Network and other programs to increase the access to quality digital learning opportunities in the state and provides technical assistance to support library and media services in schools.

In addition to Muir, the team includes School Library/Technology Integration Coordinator Sherry Wyman, Distance Learning & AP4All Project Manager Abigail Manahan, Project Assistant Stephanie Masse and Educational Technology Planning Coordinator Thomas Cosgrove.

Starting Jan. 26, Maine DOE Learning Through Technology Team Director Mike Muir can be reached at mike.muir@maine.gov.