Maine DOE Certification Specialist Courtney Baehr is this week’s Employee of the Week! Learn a little bit more about Courtney in this brief question and answer:

What are your roles with DOE?

I work in the Certification office and ensure that all educators are properly credentialed. My main focus is to review the background checks of all applicants to ensure it falls within state and federal policies. I have performed all jobs in the certification office and continue to assist the office regarding rule changes, implementing policies and procedures, and assisting to create the new credentialing system that will help the field in processing their credentials.

What do you like best about your job?

Knowing that I am protecting students and helping the educators obtain their credentials. The certification process can be confusing at times, and I love to help the educators walk through the process and explain the rules and laws that are involved with obtaining their credentials. I feel like I’ve done my job for the day if I am able to help an educator understand the process and leave them with a better understanding of how the laws work for each endorsement we offer. I always like to hear the “Ah ha!” moment when an educator finally understands the process. It makes it a good day.

How or why did you decide on this career?

I kind of fell into the Department initially when I transferred from Maine Revenue Services in 2008. I started working in Certification as an office associate and worked my way up to my current position. I have a customer service and military background with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology from USM. Having spent 8 years in the US Coast Guard doing search and rescue and previous to that working in hotels for almost 10 years, my unique background not only helps me in my research performing background checks but also allows me to give the utmost customer service to the field. I’ve stayed in the office for so long because I truly believe in the effectiveness of the office and love that every day there is something new to learn.  As we’ve said for years, “there is never a dull moment in Certification”.

Tyler Backus is the Maine Department of Education’s Employee of the Week this week. Get to know a little more about Tyler through this brief question and answer:

What are your roles with DOE?

I oversee the School Finance & Compliance teams. We ensure each of the school districts submit accurate information that informs the school funding formula. A major focus for my role is the financial information that is submitted each year. What that really means is I get to talk with business managers, accounting managers, superintendents, special education directors, and lots of other school staff to ensure they understand how the information they submit impacts the state’s funding formula. I also am the Military Family Liaison for the State of Maine, where I get to work with the School Liaison Officer at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, to help students of military personnel during their transition into and out of Maine schools.

What do you like best about your job?

I really enjoy interacting with the field. Maine’s school funding formula is considered one of the most equitable funding formulas in the country, but to achieve that equity it is an extremely complex formula. That means most people do not understand the formula. So I love explaining the funding formula to anybody who is willing to take the time to learn it. I also enjoy coming up with creative ways to explain the formula, even with the use of food.

How or why did you decide on this career?

I do not know that I necessarily decided on this career. After leaving the Army (driving M1A1 Abram tanks) I started at UMF for Secondary Education Math, and after a couple of changes in major and a deployment to Iraq, I ended up with Political Science degree. I worked for 18 months at Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices reviewing financial submissions for legislative candidates. I then was hired by Jan Breton to review the use of Individual of Disability Education Act funding. During that time I visited about 75 school districts, where I got to interact with business managers, special education directors, and superintendents. During the time in this role I got to learn parts of the funding formula and account coding for school departments. When a position opened up on the School Finance team I applied for the position.

What do you like to do outside of work for fun?

Outside of work I mostly focus on my soon to be 6 year old son. I enjoy trying to get him excited about learning and trying different activities, some of which he still enjoys like soccer and swimming. I enjoy attempting to stay in shape (but I hate the gym) so I try different workout routines, running, bicycling, and playing soccer. I also enjoy trying to do my own work around the house including replacing the bathroom in our house, building a patio (including moving around 100 yards of material), pouring a 400 sq. ft concrete slab after building up the base, and this summer building a shed on the slab. Working in an office all day, I find it enjoyable to use as little mechanical assistance while doing these projects at home, and it also provide an opportunity for my son to help. We also get out camping as much as possible during the summer.