Year: 2023

Noble Middle School Students’ 3D Gaming in Neuroscience Exhibit Showcased at Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History

Miela Bui from North Berwick, ME and Laiken Voishnis from Berwick, ME
L to R: Miela Bui from North Berwick, ME and Laiken Voishnis from Berwick, ME

As part of 2023 National History Day (NHD), 48 student-produced exhibits from across the United States were selected to be featured in a live showcase at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History on Flag Day, June 14, 2023. The exhibits were created by middle and high school students competing in the 2023 NHD National Contest.

One of the featured exhibits is 3D Gaming: A Mind-Blowing Frontier in Neuroscience, created by Miela Bui and Laiken Voishnis from Noble Middle School in Berwick, Maine. The exhibit explores the groundbreaking use of 3D gaming in neuroscience research and its potential to revolutionize the field. The students’ research sheds light on how 3D gaming can be used to treat various neurological disorders and improve brain function. Miela and Laiken are supported by the EXCEL program’s teacher, Christa Boeykens.

The NHD students whose projects were selected for this showcase by NHD affiliate coordinators addressed topics relevant to their own states’ or local communities’ histories. These exhibits also reflect the 2023 NHD theme, Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas.

“I’m honored to be here, seeing this amazing constellation of people showing off their talents and passions. I’m constantly reminding myself I’m part of it,” said Miela Bui. “Honestly, after seeing this amazing competition, I’m inspired to do NHD again, and again, and again… And maybe even become a museum curator in the future! Although, I’m pretty committed to neurological sciences.”

The live showcase was held on June 14, 2023, at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. where the students, their supporters, and museum visitors engaged with the student-produced exhibits to learn about the diverse and fascinating stories they tell about American history.

For more information on the NHD National Contest, please visit www.nhd.org.

Graduation Reporting Opens July 1st; Webinar Available on August 1st

Reporting of 2022-2023 graduation data will open on July 1st. This report allows districts an opportunity to review and certify their graduation data. All graduation certifications are due on August 30th.

There will be a webinar on Tuesday, August 1st at 10 am regarding this report. No registration is required, the webinar link below will be live at the time of the webinar. This webinar will be recorded for district use.

Join the Graduation Reporting Webinar here (no registration required)

Report information:

For questions about data team webinars please contact Data Quality Trainer – Alexandra.Cookson@maine.gov

Maine PBIS Advanced Tiers Cohort Training Opportunity

The Maine PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports) team is excited to announce applications are open for our first Advanced Tiers Cohort Training starting in fall 2023!

If your school has been implementing Tier 1 with fidelity and are ready for next steps, this opportunity is for you.

  • This two-year training sequence will lead school teams through developing the systems and practices to support positive outcomes for students with more intensive (Tier 2 and Tier 3) behavioral needs.
  • Each year will include four in-person team training days, four virtual coach meetings, and ongoing external coaching support. For more information, including application requirements and a link to our Listen & Learn presentation.

Download the flyer here

Please contact us at pbis@maine.edu if you have any questions!

The Maine Department of Education partners with the University of Maine System to provide Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) training and coaching for schools and school administrative units (SAUs) throughout the state. PBIS is a multi-tiered approach to supporting the social, emotional and behavioral development of students in K-12 settings. The purpose of PBIS is to improve the social, emotional and academic outcomes for all students, including students with disabilities and students from underrepresented groups. Learn more about PBIS here.

Registration Details for the DOE’s 2023 Educator Summit 

The countdown is on for the start of the Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) 2023 Educator Summit, which is being held August 7-10 at the Augusta Civic Center. Last year’s inaugural Summit attracted more than 600 educators from across the state. This year’s theme is Inspiration, Innovation, and Inclusion and participants will have access to more than 140 sessions and professional learning opportunities.

Registration is open through July 19 and can be accessed here.

Here’s a full rundown of the exciting opportunities happening during the Summit:

  • View the full Summit schedule and presentation descriptions here.  
  • School Safety Summit. The second annual School Safety Summit will be held in conjunction with the Educator Summit over all four days. All educators, administrators, school personnel, school transportation providers, school nurses and counselors, school social workers, school resource officers, local law enforcement working with schools, juvenile community corrections officers, local emergency management providers, first responders, and all stakeholders involved in school safety are welcome to participate. The safety presentations are listed within the larger Summit, but are also offered in a separate list identified by the own “button” on the Summit landing page.
  • Community Schools. Is a School-Based Health Center a Community School? What do First Ten Schools and Communities have in common with the community school model? Should Maine invest energy in the community school model for the whole student/whole educator to be realized? Whether you have never heard of community schools, are currently in a pilot plan, or are fully immersed in any form of community school, join us and have your voice become part of the vision of Maine’s community school approach. This professionally facilitated day will be interactive and highly engaging. Make sure your community is represented!
  • The Transformational Leadership Network (TLN) will be holding their 2023-2024 “kick-off” for building principals during the Summit and is an all-day event.  To have a better understanding of what the TLN is and how it can enhance your success as a building principal please click here.
  • EASE Maine Collaboration. RSU 12, RSU 24, RSU 54, RSU 73, RSU 79, AND RSU 85, Eastport School Department, Jefferson School Department, and Lewiston School Department are invited to attend this session. This session is for EASE Maine SAUs and building leadership, mental health providers, and teacher leaders who can take the knowledge gained and replicate it for your own district staff! EASE Maine SAU should have AT LEAST TWO PARTICIPANTS IN ATTENDANCE. Please select one of 2 three-hour sessions, either morning or afternoon, on Wednesday, August 9. Sessions will guide the best support possible for your mental health providers to begin the year supporting trauma-informed practices for students and school personnel. Further opportunities to connect with Advisory and Core Team EASE members will be provided.
  • Teach in Maine. The 2023 Educator Summit is also initiating an opportunity for those interested in entering the world of public education to come to the Augusta Civic Center on Thursday, August 10th from noon to 4 p.m. to receive immediate help and information regarding the certification process.
  • Poster Contest. The DOE is excited to offer an opportunity for each school and/or SAU to showcase what they have to offer to a new teacher in terms of location, activities, professional development opportunities, etc.  The theme of the contest is “Why I love living and teaching in my community.”

    To participate in this friendly competition, you must: Submit on a laminated standard poster board with pictures/art that features the best of your community. The poster must be laminated and have the following information on the back of the poster: name, number, contact information, and location of your SAU. We will be hanging these posters on the hall walls of the Civic Center to add to the experience for attendees. An award will be given to the entry that receives the most votes from attendees. The award will be announced during lunch on August 10. You can bring the poster with you to the registration table upon arrival.  DO NOT MAIL TO THE DOE.

For more information contact teri.peaslee@maine.gov.

Media Release: Maine DOE Awards Additional $800,000 in ‘Strengthening Maine’s Workforce’ Education and Training Grants 

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) announced funding for six additional Strengthening Maine Workforce grants to develop workforce training initiatives, build employer partnerships to address workforce shortages, and expand English language acquisition services.

In total, grants for Strengthening Maine Workforce Projects now totals $4 million invested in 14 projects. Funding for these initiatives is through Governor Mills’ Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, her plan, approved by the Legislature, to invest nearly $1 billion in Federal funds to improve the lives of Maine people and families, help businesses, create good-paying jobs, and build an economy poised for future prosperity.

Through these grants, Bangor Adult & Community Education will expand English language acquisition programs in the Bangor area, Augusta Adult & Community Education will offer an English as a second Language classes for Maine General Health employees and reduce barriers to employment, OOB/Saco Adult & Community Education will increase career pathways and allow students to earn industry-recognized credentials, Lewiston Adult Education will expand workforce training in healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing, Mid Maine Regional Adult & Community Education will create a Medical Assistant certification program, and Merrymeeting Adult Education will prepare new Mainers with language acquisition, healthcare certification courses, and partnerships with employers.

“These grants will provide Maine workers with the skills, knowledge, and pathways they need while helping employers address critical workforce shortages. Adult Education programs serve as a hub connecting learners and employers and strengthening Maine’s workforce,” said Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin.   

“We are excited to be awarded this grant and are proud to serve our community. Our goal as the local adult education program is to strengthen the community and economy through workforce training opportunities,” said Kayla Sikora, Director of Augusta Adult and Community Education. 

“We are thrilled to be a recipient of the MJRP grant, which will directly benefit the growing multilingual learner population in our region. This funding will allow us to provide augmented academic and advising services, and most importantly, enable us to better assist our learners with workforce training and employment opportunities,” said Dave Durkee, Director of OOB/Saco Adult and Community Education. 

Strengthening Maine Workforce Project Grant Recipients: 

Bangor Adult & Community Education: Increasing ELL Opportunities in Greater Bangor 
Total award amount: $93,396 
Bangor Adult & Community Education will partner with Las Palapas and other area restaurants to provide intake, assessment, advising, and instructional time with a national standards-based curriculum to English Language Learners. This project will more than double the access to Multilingual learner services for adult learners in the Greater Bangor Area.

Augusta Adult & Community Education: Maine General Health ELL Programming 
Total award amount: $91,602 
Augusta Adult and Community Education will partner with Maine General Health to provide English as a second Language classes to Maine General Health multilingual employees as well as the addition of a new pre-health class. The program will reduce barriers that may affect their employees from participating in programming by funding transportation, childcare, and technology costs for employees in environmental services and groundskeeping for career advancement and life skills.

OOB/Saco Adult & Community Education: Healthcare and Retail Career Pathways for New Mainers 
Total award amount: $200,000 
OOB/Saco Adult & Community Education will expand career and retail opportunities for Multilingual Learners through existing employer partnerships, and by increasing the capacity of urban programs. Participants will earn industry-recognized credentials of value in Healthcare and Retail Management.

Lewiston Adult Education: Integrated Skills-Based Pipeline Pathways to Employment 
Total award amount: $200,000 
Lewiston Adult Education will partner across Androscoggin and Oxford counties to expand workforce training to the healthcare, hospitality (restaurants and lodging), and manufacturing industries. Lewiston Adult Education will develop and expand adult programs for workforce training and pipeline pathways that can more effectively meet the needs of employers throughout the region. These workforce programs will prioritize the development of the foundational skills that lead to industry-recognized credentials of value, employment, and may also allow for renewal of certifications. The creation of these programs will both expand the HUB’s capacity to provide more training in these identified areas, and it will allow for the creation of new programs that are not currently part of the adult education offerings.

Mid Maine Regional Adult & Community Education: Clinical Medical Assistant Program Expansion 
Total award amount: $82,650 
Mid Maine Regional Adult Community Education will partner with Maine General Health to create a comprehensive, earn-to-learn Medical Assistant certification program to fill one of their largest employment gaps.

Merrymeeting Adult Education: Healthcare Certification Courses for New Mainers 
Total award amount: $129,126 
Merrymeeting Adult Education will prepare new Mainers with language acquisition, healthcare certification courses (CNA), and practical experiences to help learners connect with healthcare community partners and help fill the healthcare worker shortage in Lincoln and Sagadahoc counties.

The Maine DOE’s Adult Education Team funded 8 projects in the first round of funding last October.

Since the  Jobs Plan took effect in October 2021, the Mills Administration has delivered direct economic relief to nearly 1,000 Maine small businesses, supported more than 100 infrastructure projects around the state to create jobs and revitalize communities, and invested in workforce programs estimated to offer apprenticeship, career and education advancement, and job training opportunities to 22,000 Maine people.

For more about Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, visit maine.gov/jobsplan.

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New Members Appointed by Governor Mills to the Maine State Board of Education

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) and the Maine State Board of Education today announced the new members of the Board and member reappointments.

The Board consists of nine voting members and two nonvoting student members appointed by the Governor. Board members serve staggered, five-year terms and nonvoting student members serve staggered, two-year terms.

New Maine State Board of Education Student Member:

Phat Gia Thai

Phat Gia Thai of Portland will begin serving his appointment to the State Board of Education as a student member on July 22, 2023. Thai will be a Junior at Deering High School where he is currently an honors and AP student. He is an active member of his school community and a member of many extracurricular activities including Deering High School Student Council, President and Founder of Deering Asian Student Union, Class of 2025 Student Senate, Natural Helpers Club, and the Varsity Tennis Team. Thai has been involved in the organization Seeds of Peace and has led a school mural project in collaboration with the nonprofit organization Painting For A Purpose. He stated, “My main goal in creating this mural was to celebrate the importance of diversity in our community.”

New Maine State Board of Education Member:

Denham Ward, MD, PhD of Bowdoinham was appointed to the State Board of Education on March 20, 2023. Dr. Ward received his BS(EE) at the University of Maine and went on to get his PhD in Systems Science at UCLA. Becoming interested in physiology, he then went to the University of Miami to obtain his MD. Following his residency in Anesthesiology, he started his career in academic medicine at UCLA. Besides his clinical and research interests, he has been heavily involved in medical education, serving as residency program director at UCLA and then as the chair of Anesthesiology at the University of Rochester. While at the University of Rochester, Dr. Ward was President of the Association of Anesthesiology Program Directors. With a major interest in how medical school faculty teach, he became the Associate Dean for Faculty Development at Rochester and was instrumental in developing a Master’s Degree in Health Professions Education. After retiring clinically, Dr. Ward returned to Maine. He was President and CEO of the Foundation for Anesthesiology Education and Research, which gave grants to improve clinical teaching in Anesthesiology. Dr. Ward has been involved with education at Maine Medical Center, helping to start the Academy at the Maine Health Institute for Teaching Excellence and has continued his association with the University of Maine, currently serving on the Honors College Board of Advocates.

Maine State Board of Education Member Reappointments:

Fern Desjardins of St. Agatha was recently reappointed to a second five-year term on the State Board of Education. She has served on the School Construction Committee (currently Chair), Certification & Higher Education Committee, Legislative Action Committee, Maine Charter School Commission, Board Effectiveness Committee, and several other committees of the State Board. She represents the State Board on the Maine Education Policy Research Institute Steering Committee and on other education committees. Desjardins was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Association of State Boards of Education in June 2019 and has served on a number of their committees. She was elected secretary-treasurer of the organization in October 2021. Desjardins worked for 43 years in RSU 33/MSAD 33 as a teacher, elementary school principal, and superintendent of schools before retiring in 2017. She has taught graduate level courses for UMaine as an adjunct faculty member, worked as a facilitator for school systems, and served on various committees and special projects of the Maine DOE. She holds a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership and a Master’s Degree in Language Arts from UMaine, a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Educational Leadership from USM, and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from UMFK.

Wendy L. Ault of Wayne was recently reappointed to a second five-year term on the State Board of Education. Ault serves on the Certification & Higher Education Committee (currently Chair), Career & Technical Education Committee, Legislative Action Committee, Student Voices Committee (Co-Chair), and Board Effectiveness Committee. Ault is a graduate of Bates College in Lewiston. She served as the Associate Director of Admissions at the University of Maine at Farmington for 17 years. During her tenure at UMF, she was elected to four terms in the Maine House of Representatives representing part of Kennebec County from 1988 through 1996. She served all eight years as a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, serving as its House Chair during her final term. Ault is the Executive Director of the MELMAC Education Foundation.

Fern Desjardins, Chair of the Maine State Board of Education, stated: “The board will benefit from the reappointment of the most senior member of the board, Wendy Ault, who joined the board in October 2017; and the recent addition of Denham Ward, whose vast knowledge and experiences, especially in higher education, greatly supports the board’s efforts in carrying out its duties and responsibilities. I was very impressed with Phat Gia Thai’s testimony at his recent confirmation hearing in front of the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs and look forward to welcoming him to the State Board in July. I am blessed and deeply humbled by my reappointment to the board and for having had the honor of serving as chair of the board for almost two years. Leading a board of dedicated individuals committed to the board’s mission ‘to provide leadership and to support policy development that promotes equitable access to high-quality educational opportunities for all students in safe, healthy, and inclusive school environments’ is energizing and highly rewarding. As a board, we continue to make great strides toward our vision that all students will receive a high-quality education.”

For more information about the State Board of Education, visit their website https://www.maine.gov/doe/about/leadership/stateboard

Early Childhood C.O.A.C.H. Opportunity

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Early Learning Team is excited to announce a new opportunity for Pre-K and Kindergarten teachers to network during the 2023-2024 school year.

Continued Outreach to Assist ChildHood (C.O.A.C.H.) Educators will meet with Early Learning Team members once a month to discuss topics related to research-based high-quality early childhood classrooms, Pre-K through Kindergarten.

Who might be interested in attending?

The focus audience for this training is educators who are new to the early childhood field in pre-k and K classrooms. This might include teachers, ed techs, assistant teachers, and childcare providers. Additionally, those who may have shifted into Pre-K and Kindergarten classrooms from older grades could benefit.

When will C.O.A.C.H. Educators meet?

Virtual kickoff meeting on August 24th from 3:30-4:30 PM

Virtual one-hour meetings on the second Thursday of each month from 3:30-4:30 PM

  • September 14, 2023
  • October 12, 2023
  • November 9, 2023
  • December 14, 2023
  • January 11, 2024
  • February 8, 2024
  • March 14, 2024
  • April 11, 2024
  • May 9, 2024

Possible discussion topics

  • Implementing play strategies and interdisciplinary instruction
  • Formative assessments
  • Classroom environments
  • Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
  • Student inclusion
  • Building relationships with students
  • Family engagement
  • And more….

How can you sign up?

Complete this registration form by August 17, 2023.

Additional questions can be directed to Early Childhood Specialist, nicole.madore@maine.gov

REMINDER: 2023 Summer Symposium on Inclusive Practices for Students with Autism and Developmental Disabilities

Join the Council for Exceptional Children’s (CEC) Division of Autism and Developmental Disabilities (DADD) groups face-to-face at UMaine Orono or join via Zoom on July 21st from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm for a full day of inclusion-building topics in education centered around two strands of learning- 1) access to the curriculum and 2) quality of life. There are multiple ways of joining and learning. Get more information and register HERE now!

Contact hours are available. For more information please reach out to Anica Miller Rushing anica.miller.rushing@maine.edu.

Brownville Elementary Schools Holds Career Day for Students

Brownville Elementary held its 2023 Career Day recently. The day was a huge success with many presenters who came to work with the students all day.

There were six rotating groups in the morning with Zachary Monroe and Lincoln Mazzei from the Maine Forest Service presenting information about the helicopter rescue. Mr. Mazzei landed his helicopter in the backfield while the whole school watched.

Students also had the opportunity to participate in a demonstration with Tina Turcotte and Melissa Brown from Maine Search and Rescue Dog (MESARD), who showed students how their dogs find lost people by using scent. A student from each group was found by the dogs.

Matt Grant and Sean Hashey from Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern CPKC taught the students about railroad safety and the dangers of being on railroad tracks. Martina Coburn from Best Western talked with students about hospitality and they had the opportunity to make a towel animal. In addition, Jaime McCleary taught children about cosmetology, and Debbie Hamilton from AE Robinson helped children learn about the different jobs in the store and they even got to make pizzas together.

The afternoon portion of the day included Brownville Fire Department and EMR. Alicia Harmon and Jessica Wyman demonstrated their equipment and what all the pieces mean while Chief Shawn Mitchell, Kevin Black, and Richard Wyman gave each student a chance to try out their aim with the fire hose. Then Melissa Brown and Martina Coburn demonstrated how oximeters work, giving students the chance to listen to their heart with stethoscopes and looked at other medical equipment.

The day ended in the gym with pizza that the students made earlier with Debbie from AE Robinson.

The school extends a huge thank you to third-grade teacher Miss Crystal Cail for organizing the day, to Debbie Hamilton from AE Robinson in Brownville for donating the pizzas, to all of the community members who came to share their occupations with students that day and everyone else who made such a special day possible for the students!

This story was submitted by Carol Smith from Brownville Community School as part of the Maine Schools Sharing success Campaign. To submit a story or an idea, email Rachel Paling, Maine DOE Communications and Outreach Manager at rachel.paling@maine.gov.

Sumner Students Help Count Horseshoe Crab Populations in Taunton Bay

What can a species “older than dinosaurs” teach us about the importance of citizen science in the modern world? For eighth-grade students from RSU 24’s Sumner Learning Campus, all it took was a visit to the mud banks of Taunton Bay to find out.

Atlantic horseshoe crabs have been around for over 450 million years, making them one of the oldest surviving species found on Earth. Maine’s coastline represents the Northern end of the horseshoe crabs’ range, making population monitoring especially important to understanding species trends.

As part of a “Fun Friday” adventure, eighth-grade citizen scientists from Ms. Sarah Hooper’s 8th grade Middle School Life class and a high school mentor from Mrs. Ellen Hall’s High School Biology class visited the Bay recently to count horseshoe crab populations and learn more about the species. While observing the arthropods, students learned how to conduct field studies, collect data, and evaluate trends over time.

Dr. Frank Dorsey, a retired biostatistician, talked to the students over lunch about the value of collecting and monitoring population data and answered students’ questions. He stressed the value of population data to a broader understanding of the impact rising water temperatures and an increased presence of green crabs could have on the horseshoe crabs.

The elusive creatures are rarely seen outside of a short mating season in May and June. This makes the late spring an especially important time to research on the species. The warm water temperatures meant that students were able to spot the arthropods moving around and feeding. In total, students observed 15 solo horseshoe crabs and two pairs during their trip.

In addition to collecting data on the living population of Taunton Bay, students also got a close-up look at dead horseshoe crabs to learn about the species’ anatomy.

The data students collected on the trip contributed to a decades-long effort by researchers to monitor populations of horseshoe crabs in Taunton Bay. “These are the types of learning experiences that we hope to establish throughout all of our classrooms – real-world applications that get our students involved in active learning,” Principal Jackson Green said about the experience.

The Maine DOE encourages all schools and districts across the State of Maine to learn more about opportunities to expand access to outdoor learning. Department initiatives including the RREV Outdoor Learning Accelerator Program and Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative help to fund innovative projects involving students in outdoor and environmental learning.

This story was submitted by Sumner Middle & Memorial High School Principal Jackson Green in collaboration with Maine DOE Intern Ryan Hafener as part of the Maine Schools Sharing Success Campaign.