English learner educators from twenty-five school districts participated in the ESL Summer Academy at UMaine in Orono where participants engaged in activities to facilitate professional development planning based on the needs of their schools and districts. This valuable training supports educators as they become in-house facilitators, building capacity within districts to develop all teachers into teachers of English language to further support the needs of all students.
The Department received numerous comments on the great value of the academy and the benefit of credits for recertification being provided. One teacher wrote “I am grateful for this opportunity. I am the only ESL teacher in our district and therefore, I work in isolation. I need to come and learn, and network. I am now energized about the next school year.” The three-day ESL Summer Academy is offered annually through the University of Maine and will take place in 2017 from June 26-28.
For more information contact Maine DOE’s Director of ESL/Bilingual Programs Nancy Mullins at nancy.mullins@maine.gov or 624-6788.