Category Archives: From the Commissioner

Improving education with ABC plan

Posted on July 26, 2012 by | 3 Comments

Author icon: Head shot of Commissioner Stephen BowenGovernor Paul LePage and I held a press conference this week to discuss the results of a recent Harvard University education study, which found that Maine’s NAEP test scores have barely moved over the past two decades.

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Posted in Accountability, From the Commissioner

Superintendents unite

Posted on June 28, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Head shot of Commissioner Stephen BowenEducators from across the state gathered in Augusta for the 101st annual Maine Superintendents’ Conference earlier this week.

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Posted in Administrators, From the Commissioner, Professional Development

Teachers as students

Posted on June 18, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Author icon: Head shot of Commissioner Stephen BowenI had the chance to speak with future teachers at the University of Maine Wednesday. It was great to witness their passion for education and the student-centered direction the profession is moving in.

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Posted in From the Commissioner, Higher Ed, Listening Tour, News & Views

Five-year HS a reality at Hermon

Posted on June 13, 2012 by | 2 Comments

Author icon: Head shot of Commissioner Stephen BowenGovernor LePage and I had the opportunity on Monday to attend Hermon High School’s kick-off ceremony for the Bridge Year Program, a pilot project set to launch 15 students on the path toward associate’s degrees starting in July.

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Posted in From the Commissioner, High School, Higher Ed

New teacher eval system means better educator training

Posted on June 12, 2012 by | Leave a comment
Commissioner Bowen tests out Farwell Elementary's pilot teacher evaluation system, which makes good use of iPads.

Commissioner Bowen tests out Farwell Elementary’s iPad teacher evaluation system in Danielle Bilodeau’s fifth grade classroom.

Administrators and teachers at Farwell Elementary School in Lewiston are using iPads to develop new educator evaluation rubrics, the first Teacher Incentive Fund school in Maine to do so. I had the chance to use the app to evaluate fifth grade teacher Danielle Bilodeau when I visited Farwell last week, and I can assure you that teachers have never had any feedback system like this before.

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Posted in From the Commissioner, Instruction, Listening Tour

A call for ESEA flexibility feedback

Posted on May 31, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Author icon: Head shot of Commissioner Stephen Bowen

This week, in addition to the usual updates about our work, I will ask for something from you. The September 2012 deadline to request flexibility from the federal government in Maine’s implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act (or Elementary and Secondary Education Act) is growing nearer, and we at the Department need your feedback to develop our proposal.

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Posted in Accountability, ESEA, Featured, From the Commissioner

Showcasing success

Posted on May 24, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Over the next three weeks I’ll be travelling the state visiting schools and programs to showcase the Maine DOE’s strategic plan which we developed last year with input from hundreds of teachers, parents, students, taxpayers, and others. Whereas last time I was listening for ideas, this time I’m sharing the product of those ideas so we can talk about how to make this vision happen.

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Posted in From the Commissioner, Science & Technology, Standards

Accountability and improvement work in high gear

Posted on May 16, 2012 by | 1 Comment

Author icon: Head shot of Commissioner Stephen BowenOur efforts to create an accountability and improvement system that works for our students, teachers and schools — and replaces the system we have under the No Child Left Behind Act — are kicking into high gear.

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Posted in Accountability, From the Commissioner

Appreciating our teachers

Posted on May 9, 2012 by | 1 Comment

Author icon: Head shot of Commissioner Stephen BowenIt’s Teacher Appreciation Week, a time to thank our teachers for their dedication to our students.

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Posted in From the Commissioner, Teachers

Clear expectations, rigorous evaluations, continued growth

Posted on April 6, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Author icon: Head shot of Commissioner Stephen BowenIf this legislative session results in the passage of just one bill that brings about major improvements to our educational system, this would be it: LD 1858.

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Posted in Administrators, From the Commissioner, Instruction, Teachers