July 31st through August 4th, 23 educators grades K-12, along with other participants at the Maine Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) Summer Institute, hosted at the University of Maine, learned how to incorporate information on Maine agriculture into their classrooms.

(Pictured above: Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Summer Institute participants enjoy a final group gathering outside their classroom at the University of Maine at Farmington)

Through local farm tours and creative lesson plans, educators gained additional insights into agriculture and its importance to the Maine economy and to Maine’s rich culture and history, as well as how to connect agriculture with the academics they teach at their home schools.

(Pictured left: Bonnie Brown instructs teachers about growing flowers at Shaky Barn Farm Gardens in Livermore.)

The Summer Institute was supported in part through the proceeds from Maine’s Agricultural license plate.  Farm tours in the Farmington area included a goat/cheese farm, sheep/wool farm, apple orchard, dairy farm, flower nurseries and other exciting highlights.

Participants left with not only an increased appreciation for the role and work of the Maine farmer, but also with many ideas on how to impart agricultural information to their students in the coming year.

(Pictured below: Teachers enjoy the dairy goats at York Hill Farm in New Sharon.)

For more information on Maine Agriculture in the Classroom and training/grant opportunities available to teachers, please contact Willie Sawyer Grenier, Executive Director, Maine Agriculture in the Classroom, maitc@maine.gov  (207) 287-5522  www.MaineAgintheClassroom.org

The revised Chapter 115 certification rules have arrived and the Maine Department of Education (DOE) is providing the following clarifications: 

• Part I of Chapter 115 goes into effect August 12th, 2017.
   
• Part II does not go into effect until July 1, 2019, including the revisions to grade spans.  For now we will continue to use the K-3, K-8, 7-12 or K-12 grade spans for certification purposes.
   
• For future reference a decision has been made by the Maine Department of Education to allow individuals who have a K-8 certification to continue with that credential, as long as the credential does not lapse.   

During the fall, the Maine DOE will be making more recommendations to certification rules to further accommodate the needs of, and feedback from the educational field.

For more information contact the Maine DOE Certification office at 207-624-6603 or cert.doe@maine.gov. 

The Brewer Police Department in conjunction with the Penobscot Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is hosting the following two day training from the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA):

“SCHOOL and WORKPLACE VIOLENCE: PREPARATION and RESPONSE”

The training provides a venue for law enforcement to train, plan, and participate alongside of fire, EMS, dispatchers, government officials, school professionals, and business professionals. This course is nationally recognized and past attendees have given it outstanding reviews.

This course is being taught by the National Tactical Officers Association’s (NTOA) subject matter expert, Don Alwes. Don Alwes is a police officer and trainer with more than 36 years of law enforcement experience. He is the current chair of the National Tactical Officers Association Patrol Section, providing instruction in active shooter response and school and workplace violence. Don also serves as an adjunct instructor for the NRA’s Law Enforcement Division and Kentucky’s Department of Criminal Justice Training. Don has also taught courses for the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors. Topics of instruction have included active shooter response, rapid deployment, terrorism, homeland security, school and workplace violence, and vulnerability assessment. Don is a member of the NTOA, the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors, the Police Marksman Association and the International Association for Counter-terrorism and Security Professionals.

Course Information:

NTOA’s “SCHOOL and WORKPLACE VIOLENCE: PREPARATION and RESPONSE”
AUGUST 28-29, 2017 8AM to 5PM
JEFF’S CATERING & EVENT CENTER – 15 Littlefield Way, Brewer, ME 04412
COST: $110 per attendee: includes drinks and snacks and lunch

For more information download (PDF): Training Announcement and Registration Form for 2017 School and Workplace Violence