The Maine DOE is providing a 3-part workshop series with Miriam Dodge, a GoldStar speaker for Communication Across Barriers, that will challenge participants to understand poverty at a deeper level and to think about their own biases and beliefs around poverty. The series will be limited to 20 participants and will focus on the Pre-Kindergarten/Kindergarten age span. This series will address the following goals:
- Increase educators’ knowledge base to understand key concepts of poverty;
- Recognize personal biases, thoughts and beliefs around people living in poverty;
- Increase understanding of the effect poverty has on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES);
- Increase the foundational understanding that if basic needs are met (nutrition, medical, social/emotional), students can focus engage in higher order thinking skills; and
- Help educators recognize personal beliefs and how they can indirectly influence collaboration between school staff and families.
By understanding the effects poverty has on Maine’s children; teachers, principals and other school leaders will be better able to individualize supports and increase learning outcomes for students most at risk.
Schools are strongly encouraged to register 3-member teams representative of classroom teachers, administrators, guidance counselors, and special educators. Time will be provided for individuals to share their learning and to collectively plan for how to with colleagues in their respective schools.
Dinner will be provided during each session which will run 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm. Six contact hours will be provided to each participant over the course of the series.
Cost is $90 per team to attend the 3-part series. Registration requires a credit card. Event Registration Link
Training Dates: Training Location:
January 14, 2019 Educare Central Maine
March 18, 2019 56 Drummond Ave
May 13, 2019 Waterville, ME 04901
For further information, please contact Nena Cunningham Ed.D., Head Start State Collaboration Director at 207-624-6601 or nena.m.cunningham@maine.gov