The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) has awarded $15,000 to the Maine State Board of Education to advance the state’s education reform work on Common Core State Standards (CCSS), Deeper Learning Principles and school leadership. Maine is one of only six boards to receive a stipend award. Kentucky, West Virginia, Guam, Washington D.C. and Delaware were also selected.
The grant will support the efforts of the State Board and the Maine Principals’ Association through the end of the 2014-15 school year.
Maine used its grant to leverage an additional $16,000 in matching funds to partner with the Maine Principals’ Association to expand its principal mentorship program to include better awareness of CCSS and Deeper Learning implementation. This partnership will reach out to the Maine DOE and other education groups to maximize the effect of this work. The program will strengthen both principal pre-service and in-service professional development opportunities.
“”The State Board is delighted to be working with the Maine Principals’ Association in support of mentoring for principals. NASBE will, also, enrich our work with their breadth of knowledge of what is going on in states across the country. Maine principals are at the heart of school leadership and we are very pleased to be able to support their efforts and success through this grant,” said Maine State Board Chair Nancy Perkins. This grant provides the opportunity for our board to focus on two of the goals of our strategic plan. Providing resources (Goal #6) to our educational leaders (Goal #5) will enhance the educational experiences of both students and educators.”
“The Maine Principals’ Association (MPA) is pleased to be able to collaborate with the State Board in this important effort to support beginning principals,” said MPA Executive Director Dick Durost. “We fully recognize the challenges thrust on instructional leaders and understand the value of a strong mentor in supporting the professional growth of the principal.”
Jeanne Crocker, Assistant Executive Director of the MPA and mentor program leader added, “This grant will allow new principals and their mentors to more fully comprehend the many aspects of Common Core State Standards and Deeper Learning and to develop the leadership skills necessary for successful implementation in their schools.”