PRIORITY NOTICE: U.S. CDC COVID-19 School Testing Toolkit To Help Communicate with Families

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has created a COVID-19 School Testing Toolkit that includes materials that school administrators can use to teach parents, students, and staff about school testing programs and encourage participation. Many of these materials are customizable and can be adapted according to the school’s needs.

Toolkit features:

Social media content that communicates the importance of COVID-19 school testing and can be shared on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Informational flyers to promote school COVID-19 testing programs and answer questions about COVID-19 school testing.
Posters that highlight the benefits of COVID-19 testing programs in schools and portray in-person learning and activities.
Customizable letters and FAQs for teachers, parents, and guardians that address frequently asked questions about school COVID-19 testing programs.

Access the U.S. CDC COVID-19 School Testing Toolkit here!

A link to the COVID-19 School Testing Toolkit can also be found in the Testing Section of the Maine Department of Education (DOE) COVID-19 Toolkit.

Seeking Maine Educators to Create Content for MOOSE

After a successful first year, MOOSE, Maine’s Online Opportunities for Sustained Education, platform continues to grow as the Maine Department of Education (DOE) looks to hire educators to create new content during the upcoming school year. Nearly 300 teacher-created, student-driven modules were created showcasing an interdisciplinary, project-based model of education. MOOSE provides students, families, and educators with learning experiences that are accessible, inclusive, and available free online.

While maintaining an interdisciplinary and project-based approach, this year the content created on MOOSE will focus on creating PreK-12 learning progressions of specific topics. The year will be broken into two, six-month creation sessions. The learning progression topics for the first six-month session will be STEAM, Career Development, Climate Education, History of Genocide and the Holocaust, and Computer Science.

We are looking for Maine educators, including but not limited to teachers, curriculum leaders and representatives from Maine educational community organizations such as museums, libraries, and educational centers, interested in creating content for one of the topic areas mentioned above. The module creation work begins September 20th and concludes on March 18th. Each topic will have a full-time team leader who will support participants in the creation of these learning progressions. Topic are content specialists will work with content creators to curate and create resources for the learning progressions. Finally, Maine DOE digital learning specialists will support content creators in developing their skills in digital lesson design and tools. Content creators will earn a stipend of $3000 for successful completion of the work.

You can access the application here.

If you are interested in applying but still have questions, the MOOSE team will be holding Q&A sessions via zoom on Wednesday, 9/1 and 9/9, from 3-4pm. Please select the date you are interested in attending to register.

To learn about the work completed in MOOSE’s first year, view our video here.

For more information about MOOSE please contact Beth Lambert, beth.lambert@maine.gov or Page Nichols, page.nichols@maine.gov.

United States Senate Youth Program Seeking Nominations from High School Principals

The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) is pleased to announce that the state departments of education nationwide have begun their annual selection processes. Two Maine students will be selected to attend the Washington Week program March 5-12, 2022 and each will receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship. Each high school principal can nominate one student from their high school to be considered.

Students in Maine must submit their application and signed nomination via email to Joe Schmidt (joe.schmidt@maine.gov) no later than 11:59pm on October 15, 2021. All form, requirements, and additional information can be found at on the Maine Social Studies DOE Website. More about the program can be found on the National USSYP website.

The USSYP was created by Senate Resolution 324 in 1962 as stated in supporting Senate testimony from that year, “to increase young Americans’ understanding of the interrelationship of the three branches of government, the caliber and responsibilities of federally elected and appointed officials, and the vital importance of democratic decision making not only for America but for people around the world.”

Each year, this extremely competitive merit-based program brings 104 of America’s brightest high school juniors and seniors from every state, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education Activity, to Washington, D.C. for an intensive week-long study of the federal government and its leaders. The state departments of education throughout the country select the students through a rigorous nomination and selection process. Each of the 104 student delegates will also receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship, with encouragement to continue coursework in history, government and public affairs. The Hearst Foundations have fully funded and administered the program since inception; as stipulated in S. Res. 324, no government funds are utilized.

Maine DOE Update – August 27, 2021

From the Maine Department of Education

Reporting Items

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |

News & Updates

State Finalists Announced for 2022 Maine Teacher of the Year

Three Maine teachers have been announced as State finalists for the 2022 Maine Teacher of the Year program. The finalists were chosen from the 2021 Maine County Teachers of the Year honored earlier this year during a special virtual ceremony which was viewed over 2,000 times. | More

Remote Instruction Observation Tool

This spring, Maine Department of Education (DOE) Adult Education Professional Development Coordinator Amy Poland worked with the EdTech Center at World Education to develop an observation tool for remote instruction (specific for adult learners). | More

BACK TO SCHOOL Resources for Schools and Districts: Key School Safety Elements and Topics to Consider

With the start of a new school year underway, the safety and security of students, teachers, and staff remains top of mind for schools and districts across the country. For the pre-kindergarten through grade 12 (pre-K to 12) community, school safety encompasses measures and systems ranging from mental health support, threat assessment and reporting, and fostering a positive school climate. Integrating these various components and elements of school safety helps school communities better address the range of threats and hazards they may face, while maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment for students to thrive and grow. | More

Nominations and Applications are Now Open for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is currently accepting nominations and applications for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). PAEMST is the highest recognition that a Kindergarten through 12th grade science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science educator may receive for outstanding teaching in the United States. Since 1983, more than 5,100 teachers have been recognized for their contributions to mathematics and science education. Up to 108 awardees may be recognized each year. | More

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

| Submit your Maine School Success Story |

Professional Development & Training Opportunities

PRIORITY NOTICE: Fall Office Hours, Training, & Professional Learning Opportunities NOW Available

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is providing a comprehensive collection of fall professional learning, training, office hours and other opportunities for Maine’s education field as they prepare for and begin the 2021-2022 school year. | More

PRIORITY NOTICE: Fall Office Hours, Training, & Professional Learning Opportunities NOW Available

Please join the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse on August 31 at 3:00 PM EDT for an informational webinar on back-to-school safety for the K-12 community. | More

Virtual Workshop Series for New English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Teachers

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) invites teachers to participate in a series of virtual workshops on topics related to serving English learners and managing an English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program. While the sessions will be targeted to the needs of new ESOL teachers, all are welcome! More experienced ESOL teachers and others whose work relates to the topics listed will also find information of value and benefit from connecting with colleagues across Maine. | More

The Math Pact: Achieving Instructional Coherence Within and Across Grades Virtual Training

Join the Maine Department of Education mathematics specialists, Jen Robitaille and Michele Mailhot, in this 5-part virtual professional learning opportunity specifically designed for a team/sub-team of a school leadership team. | More

| Visit the Professional Development Calendar |

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

View current Maine Department of Education employment opportunities here

The Math Pact: Achieving Instructional Coherence Within and Across Grades Virtual Training

Join the Maine Department of Education mathematics specialists, Jen Robitaille and Michele Mailhot, in this 5-part virtual professional learning opportunity specifically designed for a team/sub-team of a school leadership team. Teams consist of 4 – 6 members, which may include:

Administrator (required member)
Math coach
Curriculum coordinator
Classroom teacher
Special Education teacher

Why participate?

Strengthen your understanding of a Mathematics Whole School Agreement
Explore what it means to develop a Mathematics Whole School Agreement
Develop a shared school vision of rigorous, accessible, and equitable mathematics teaching and learning
Collaboration with your school coach
Take away ideas and materials to use in developing and implementing your Mathematics Whole School Agreement
Improve student learning and understanding of mathematics

What is our key goal? To provide you with experiences, information, and resources to guide you in key areas of school practice, leadership, and instructional strategies that have an impact on students’ mathematical learning.

What is our approach to professional learning?

Dig into math: Delve into key mathematics concepts such as language, notation, representations, rules and generalizations.
Connect to research: Discuss readings that connect each topic to research and take away powerful research-based approaches, tools, and resources to use in your school and classrooms.
Collaborate: Work together and share ideas with other teams.
Lead change: Set goals and generate a plan for ongoing mathematics improvement for your school and classrooms.

Registration Cost: Free team registration – some materials will be provided digitally. The required texts will be provided to your team at no cost.

Contact hours: 10 hours
Please select ONE SERIES. Plan to participate in ALL dates for that series.

Series A

Wednesday

Register Here

Sept. 22, 2021

3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Oct. 6, 2021

3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Oct. 20, 2021

3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Nov. 3, 2021

3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Nov. 17, 2021

3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Series B

Thursday

Register Here

Sept. 23, 2021

3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Oct. 7, 2021

3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Oct. 21, 2021

3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Nov. 4, 2021

3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Nov. 18, 2021

3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Space is Limited! Register by September 8, 2021

Questions? Contact: Michele Mailhot, Mathematics Specialist: 624-6829, michele.mailhot@maine.gov or Teri Peaslee, School Turnaround Team PL Coordinator: 624-6706, teri.peaslee@maine.gov

Nominations and Applications are Now Open for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)

This current cycle will recognize K-6 educators. Anyone—principals, teachers, parents, students, or members of the general public—may nominate a teacher by completing the nomination form. To submit a nomination, you’ll need the teacher’s name, email address, and school contact information. Teachers may also initiate the application process themselves at www.paemst.org.

For ELEMENTARY K-6, the nomination deadline is January 7, 2022, and the application deadline is February 6, 2022. ELEMENTARY K-6 educators will be eligible to apply during the current cycle.

Please consider nominating outstanding STEM teachers today!

Questions? Contact:

Michele Mailhot, PAEMST Mathematics Coordinator, michele.r.mailhot@maine.gov

Shari Templeton, PAEMST Science Coordinator, shari.templeton@maine.gov

Nokomis Educator Wins 2021 Jacqueline Mitchell Mathematics Educator Award

Join the Maine Department of Education in extending congratulations to Ellen Payne, from Nokomis Regional High School, as the 2021 Recipient of The Jaqueline Mitchell Mathematics Educator Award! The award was presented by The Association of Teachers of Mathematics in Maine (ATOMIM) on June 16, 2021.

Read more about Ellen and the award on the ATOMIM website.

Contact information: Michele Mailhot, Secondary Mathematics Specialist, michele.r.mailhot@maine.gov

BACK TO SCHOOL Resources for Schools and Districts: Key School Safety Elements and Topics to Consider

The U.S. Department of Education (USED) has created an informational one-page document that includes key school safety elements and topics for schools to consider this year, including Bullying and Cyberbullying, Mental Health, Threat Assessment and Reporting, School Climate, Emergency Planning, Physical Security, and COVID-19.

BACK TO SCHOOL Resources for Schools and Districts (PDF)

For further information visit https://www.schoolsafety.gov/ or reach out to the Maine School Safety Center.

Remote Instruction Observation Tool

As a member of the Innovating Distance Education in Adult Learning (IDEAL) IDEAL Consortium, Maine is part of a consortium of states dedicated to increasing access to high-quality distance and blended education opportunities for adult learners, and this work was an extension of our work with IDEAL.

Here is a blog post about the remote instruction observation tool, why the Maine Department of Education wanted to engage in this important work.

For further information, reach out to Maine DOE Adult Education Professional Development Coordinator Amy Poland at amy.poland@maine.gov.

U.S. DOE WEBINAR: Back-to-School Safety for the K-12 Community

Please join the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse on August 31 at 3:00 PM EDT for an informational webinar on back-to-school safety for the K-12 community.

During the session, leaders from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education will provide an overview of resources, programs, and guidance to support schools in safely re-opening as the 2021-2022 academic school year gets underway. The discussion will feature information on efforts including the Return to School Roadmap, the Lessons from the Field Webinar Series, and the Summer Learning & Enrichment Collaborative.

The webinar will close with a brief look at the additional resources offered through the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse on school safety topics like school climate and mental health, physical security, and threat assessment and reporting, as well as a question and answer period for participants to engage directly with our speakers.

When: August 31, 2021, 3:00 to 4:00 PM EDT
Where: Adobe Connect (access link to be provided one day in advance of the event)
Who: K-12 School Superintendents and Principals; School and District Administrators; Teachers and School Staff; School Resource Officers; Local Law Enforcement; Mental Health Practitioners and School Counselors; Parents
Registration: https://schoolsafetybacktoschoolwebinar.eventbrite.com/

We hope you can join us for this special event. If you have any questions, please contact the School Safety team at SchoolSafety@hq.dhs.gov.

This webinar is part of the 2021 School Safety Webinar Series, a program hosted by the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse to address emerging risks and threats facing the K-12 school community. Held on a monthly basis, the webinar series covers a range of school safety topics, and provides information on the resources, tools, and best practices available to equip school leaders with a set of strategies in creating safer and more resilient school systems. Learn more about the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse at SchoolSafety.gov.