Welcome to the October edition of Maine DOE Updates.
This month we’ve made history by opening Maine’s first two charter schools, offering students more choices when it comes to their education. We also released Maine’s annual accountability results, which showed that submitting a request last month for flexibility under our current accountability system was the right decision.
Within our schools, cafeteria menus went local in honor of Maine Harvest Lunch Week, and Commissioner Stephen Bowen announced metal trades instructor Peter Barlow as career and technical educator of the year.
DISPATCHES AND PRESS RELEASES
Maine releases latest ed accountability results
AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Education released its annual report on the progress of schools under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The results show a majority of schools not attaining the targets set under the federal rules. | More | Looking forward to a better accountability system (By Stephen Bowen)
Harvest Lunch Week a trend at Brooklin School
During Harvest Lunch Week, schools statewide are encouraged to incorporate Maine-made ingredients into their lunch menus. But at the Brooklin School in Hancock County, Harvest Lunch Week is nothing out of the ordinary – cook Lori Boyce serves local food every day of the year. | More | From garden to table at Mount Desert Elem. | Houlton students harvest 400 ears of corn
Maine names career-technical teacher of the year
LEWISTON – Peter Barlow, a metal trades instructor at the Region 9 School of Applied Technology in Mexico, was named Maine’s newest Career and Technical Educator of the Year in front of more than 400 of his colleagues. | More
Maine’s first two charter schools open doors
AUGUSTA – The Maine Academy of Natural Sciences (MeANS) and Cornville Regional Charter School opened as Maine’s first two public charter schools on October 1, providing new choices for Maine students. | More | Charter school commission gets new members, 8 notices of proposals
School choice in action
School choice has always been an option for some Maine students, but we’re getting closer and closer to offering choice to all our kids—enabling them to take charge of their own learning. By Stephen Bowen | More
Students present at Google conference
Three Nokomis Regional High School students explaing the technology tools they use every day to educators atthe Google Teacher Academy at Google’s New York City headquarters on Oct. 3, 2012. | More
From homelessness to happiness through Jobs for Maine’s Graduates program
You might not think a teenager who earned good grades and had plenty of friends would have any trouble in high school, but Missy Nolette-Bald did. | More
Two Mitchell scholars study diplomacy abroad
This spring, the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) and the Mitchell Institute selected two exemplary, globally minded students from current Mitchell scholars to participate in an innovative diplomacy internship. | More
Top Maine science, math teachers honored
AUGUSTA – Today, the LePage Administration honored three science teachers and one math teacher from Maine as finalists for the 2012 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. | More
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