The Maine Department of Education (DOE) convened its first meeting of the 2022/2023 Student Cabinet in mid-October. It is the first time the Department has been able to host an in-person Student Cabinet meeting since 2019.
In its 4th year, the Student Cabinet program has allowed the Maine DOE to integrate student voice into decision-making on education issues that impact their journey through Maine’s education system. In past years, students have helped in identifying mental health needs at school, raised issues of racial equity, and helped brainstorm ways to individualize learning.
Representing all 16 counites of Maine, both newly appointed students and students serving their 2nd year on the Cabinet spent the day meeting with representatives from the Maine DOE including Commissioner Makin to talk about education issues important to them and their peers. They also toured the Capitol Complex with Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, and learned about local education systems from a state-wide perspective with Maine School Management Association (MSMA) Executive Director Steve Bailey. The students closed out the day participating in group activities to brainstorm ideas around project-based learning and instruction.
In between and during activates, the day was an excellent opportunity for students to get to know one another, talk about Maine’s education system, and share their ideas for improvement.
To learn more about the Maine DOE Student Cabinet visit the Maine Department of Education’s Website.