Author: Maine Department of Education

Maine DOE Update – October 4, 2024

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities:

View current Maine Department of Education employment opportunities here

From the Maine Department of Education

Reporting Items

Reports Open in NEO: October 1 Enrollment, Dropout, Quarterly Reports, and Staff Certification

Fall reports are open. All reports require review, validation, and/or certification by superintendents. |  More

News & Updates

Maine DOE Awarded Funding for Interdisciplinary Civic Inquiry Projects

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) has received $99,149 from the Library of Congress’ Teaching with Primary Sources program to support the “Celebrating Rural Maine: Civic Inquiry Place-Based” project. This initiative, in partnership with the National Council for History Education (NCHE), aims to empower rural teachers to explore Maine’s history through an interdisciplinary approach. |  More

REMINDER: Seeking Public Comment on Chapter 115 – the Credentialing of Education Personnel

The Maine State Board of Education is conducting conversations with the public about Rule Chapter 115: The Credentialing of Educational Personnel, from August through December. Resolve 2024, Chapter 137 directed the State Board of Education to amend Rule Chapter 115, with special attention to sections related to the State Board of Education’s report submitted to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs in 2023. |  More

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

Western Maine Superintendents Celebrate 20 Years of Collaboration and Impact

The Western Maine Education Collaborative recently celebrated its 20th anniversary with a dinner among past and present superintendents who have participated in the collaborative. |  More

Submit good news to the Maine Department of Education here.

Professional Learning/Training Opportunities

Information Session: Using MOOSE Applied Ethics Modules to Support Your Classroom 

Looking for ways to use Maine’s Online Open-Source Education (MOOSE) modules in your classroom? Would you like support in incorporating personal development and interpersonal skills into your learning environment? The MOOSE platform offers a PreK-12 learning progression of modules focused on Applied Ethics that might be just what you need. | More

Reminder: Register NOW for the 14th Annual Maine PBIS Conference!

Join the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education for the 14th Annual Maine PBIS Conference! | More

Join the Maine DOE Learning Through Technology Team at the ACTEM Fall Conference!

The Maine Department of Education Office of Teaching and Learning’s Learning Through Technology (LTT) Team hopes to see you at the ACTEM Fall Conference. | More

Maine DOE Early Learning Team Support and Professional Development Offerings

The Maine Department of Education’s Early Learning Team, in the Office of Teaching and Learning, supports educators (teachers, administrators, and community providers) across the birth through early elementary years, with technical assistance, online tools, and professional learning opportunities. | More

View the Maine Department of Education’s Events Calendar here.

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities:

View current Maine Department of Education employment opportunities here

Western Maine Superintendents Celebrate 20 Years of Collaboration and Impact

(Pictured: Some of the early founding members of WMEC, whose leadership played a key role in shaping WMEC’s mission and vision. [L-R: Mona Baker, David Murphy, Michael Cormier, & Susan Pratt])

The Western Maine Education Collaborative recently celebrated its 20th anniversary with a dinner among past and present superintendents who have participated in the collaborative.

Founded in 2005, the Western Maine Education Collaborative (WMEC) is a non-profit organization that provides a structure for cross-district collaboration and the development of shared programs, services, and resources for its members.

WMEC began as a grassroots initiative by educational leaders from 11 school systems who sought to pool resources and engage in collective problem-solving. Since then, WMEC has grown into a robust collaborative with 17-member school districts which serve over 50 schools across five counties.

“WMEC is not good because we’re old. We’re old because we are good,” said Pam Doyen, RSU 56 Superintendent and WMEC President, underscoring the collaborative spirit that has driven WMEC since its inception. “We are member-led and work to strike an important balance between having enough structure to be effective and enough flexibility to be able to tailor our work to meet the needs of our members. In our case collaboration is truly a tool, not a goal.”

The celebratory evening event featured a special video presentation. WMEC partnered with Foster Career and Technical Education Center’s Digital Media Program to develop a film to capture WMEC’s evolution from its early days to its current status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The video also honored the leadership of Mona Baker, WMEC’s first Executive Director (2005-2016), who was instrumental in guiding the development of a sustainable regional collaborative. Her efforts, along with those of the founding members, laid the groundwork for what WMEC has become today.

The evening also provided attendees the opportunity to share their own “WMEC Moments,” reflecting on the organization’s influence and legacy. WMEC’s enduring success is attributed to the unwavering commitment of its members to continuous improvement, accountability, and collaboration.

As WMEC looks to the future, it remains dedicated to positively impacting students and educators throughout the region. To learn more about WMEC, visit their website.

This story was submitted by the Western Maine Education Collaborative. To share good news from your school, please fill out this form.

 

Information Session: Using MOOSE Applied Ethics Modules to Support your Classroom

Looking for ways to use Maine’s Online Open-Source Education (MOOSE) modules in your classroom? Would you like support in incorporating personal development and interpersonal skills into your learning environment? The MOOSE platform offers a PreK-12 learning progression of modules focused on Applied Ethics that might be just what you need.

Created by Maine educators for Maine students, these modules aim to help learners of all ages cultivate self-awareness, relationship-building skills, and empathy, while also becoming responsible decision-makers.

In this one-hour session, you’ll explore how the principles of Applied Ethics are integrated into the MOOSE modules and how you can foster a learning environment where rich, engaging, and respectful questioning and dialogue thrive. You’ll have the opportunity to experiment with how to use the modules with your learners and discover additional educator resources.

The session will be on Tuesday, October 15, from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM via Zoom. You can register for this event by clicking here.  The session will be recorded and sent to anyone who registers, even if they can’t attend in person.

For more information, you can contact MOOSE Team Leader Stephanie Connors (stephanie.connors@maine.gov) or MOOSE Project Manager Jennifer Page (jennifer.page@maine.gov).

Maine DOE Awarded Funding for Interdisciplinary Civic Inquiry Projects

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) has received $99,149 from the Library of Congress’ Teaching with Primary Sources program to support the “Celebrating Rural Maine: Civic Inquiry Place-Based” project. This initiative, in partnership with the National Council for History Education (NCHE), aims to empower rural teachers to explore Maine’s history through an interdisciplinary approach.

The Celebrating Rural Maine project aims to engage rural teachers in a deep examination of Maine’s history using an interdisciplinary lens by:

  • Connecting teachers with the Library of Congress’s rural collections to place local narratives within broader historical contexts,
  • Assisting teachers in creating community-focused public projects that engage rural students and
  • Offering no-cost professional development opportunities, including online and site-based sessions.

Who can attend?

  • Eligibility: Any PreK-12 educator in Maine is welcome.
  • Content Areas: All subjects are encouraged to participate.

Program Structure

This program is modeled after NCHE’s successful Rural Experience in America project. Past projects include:

For Year 1, the theme is “The Geography of Maine.” The three-part professional development series will include:

Part A: Using Primary Sources & Questions

  • Focus on primary sources and questioning techniques.
  • Includes optional after-school virtual workshops.
  • Format: Asynchronous Virtual.
  • Contact Hours: 12.
  • Timeline: December-February

Part B: Connecting Experts & Educators

  • 3-part virtual synchronous series with experts and master teachers discussing Maine geography from various perspectives.
  • Format: Synchronous Virtual
  • Contact Hours: 15
  • Timeline: March-May

Part C: Civic Place-Based Inquiry Projects

  • A summer institute for teachers and community partners to design civic inquiry projects, with coaching for implementation in Fall 2025.
  • Stipends available for time and materials
  • Format: In-person & virtual coaching
  • Contact Hours: 17
  • Timeline: Summer & Fall 2025

Register here.

About the Teaching with Primary Sources Program

Since 2006, the Library of Congress has funded Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) grants to enhance educational programming based on its digitized primary sources. The TPS Consortium fosters critical thinking and engagement among thousands of learners each year.

For more details about the Celebrating Rural Maine project or to register, please visit the Maine DOE website or contact Maine DOE Interdisciplinary Instruction Specialist Jaime Beal at jaime.beal@maine.gov.

Reminder: Register NOW for the 14th Annual Maine PBIS Conference!

Join the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education for the 14th Annual Maine PBIS Conference!

Thursday, November 7, 2024
8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Augusta Civic Center

The conference is a chance for Maine Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) leaders and implementers across Maine and beyond to come together to celebrate, learn, and network.

Dr. Ruthie Payno-Simmons (1)
Dr. Ruthie Payno-Simmons

This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Ruthie Payno-Simmons, the founder of RPS Educational Impact and serves as the Associate Director at the Midwest and Plains Equity Assistance Center (MAP Center). She leads the coordination, design, and delivery of universal, targeted, and systemic equity-focused professional learning experiences and technical assistance to state and local agencies throughout the MAP Center’s 13-state region. Her keynote address is on, “Enhancing Positive and Supportive School Climate Through Storytelling and Rightful Presence.”

Conference Fees:

  • General (individual)- $195
  • Group (groups of 3 or more attendees)- $165
  • Student (full-time undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in 6 credits per semester for at minimum two semesters per year)- $85
  • Lead Presenter (those accepted to present; only lead presenters are at no charge; co-presenters will be charged the individual rate)- $0

Visit the PBIS Conference website for more information about the conference, to submit a proposal, sign up for a school showcase, and/or register to attend.

Join the Maine DOE Learning Through Technology Team at the ACTEM Fall Conference!

The Maine Department of Education Office of Teaching and Learning’s Learning Through Technology (LTT) Team hopes to see you at the ACTEM Fall Conference.

The LTT Team will have a booth and playground on the main floor, and we hope attendees stop by to connect, join our mailing list, and check out what resources are available to support technology education in your school.

Maine DOE’s short playground sessions will focus on the Computer Science Mobile Lab technologies (Lego, Sphero, and Merge), Animation, Green Screening, VR with Meta Quest, Bloxels Game Design, and more.  Check out the listing and schedule.

The LTT team is presenting eight sessions over the two days of ACTEM, covering a variety of topics in addition to our playground offerings. You can find more information about the sessions below.

The Association of Computer Technology Educators of Maine’s (ACTEM) annual Fall Conference is held at the Augusta Civic Center on October 10-11th. ACTEM’s mission is to influence and enhance education in Maine through the use of technology. Our conference offers workshops, keynotes and exhibitors centered around this mission. The conference is a popular event for Maine educators each fall.

We hope to see you there!

LTT Team Session Descriptions

AI for Accessibility
with Jeff Ireland, Janice Medenica, and Stephanie McGruder

We will learn and practice using various AI tools to make your general curriculum more accessible for students. AI tools can increase the efficiency with which we generate, level, or translate text and make content more relevant for our students. AI can also help with scaffolding, assessment creation, high-interest content creation, and so much more. Bring some of your content with you and see how you might make your content more accessible for your students.

Bored Class? No, Board Games! Gamification With Tabletopia
with Chris Beckwith and Janice Medenica

Educators have long been in competition with digital entertainment for student attention at school. The tabletop board game simulator, Tabletopia, can be leveraged to engage students and reinforce what they are learning in the classroom. Building on the success of the last MLTI virtual student conference, the Maine Winter Classic, we will introduce this platform and share best practices for implementing the features available via the free version of Tabletopia.

Future Minds: Cultivating a Culture of AI Investigation
with Nicole Karod and Ashley Carroll

This session introduces elementary education to artificial intelligence, emphasizing its enhancement of teaching and productivity. Discover how AI can support differentiated instruction, foster creativity, and streamline administrative tasks. Gain practice strategies for integrating AI, boosting productivity, and inspiring students with future-ready skills.

Future-Proofing Technology Education in the Age of AI and Emerging Technologies
with the Maine DOE’s LTT Team

Join the Learning Through Technology (LTT) team from the Maine DOE for this engaging discussion-based panel on future-proofing education to help prepare students for emerging technologies. In this session, we’ll discuss the importance of foundational skills for success in an increasingly changing, technologically based society. Come to this session to explore these questions and learn more about how the LTT team can support your work.

Integrate Coding to Go Beyond Just the CS
with Allison Braley and AJ Rog

This session will show you how to embrace Scratch as a tool for students to show their knowledge, no matter what class they are in. Scratch can give students a creative outlet to what they are learning in your class. Go beyond Google Slides, Canva, and Google docs as a way to show understanding. Give your students the chance to show their learning by creating games, adventures, interactive stories, and much more.

It’s Elementary, My Dear Miltie: MLTI in Grades 1-5
with Jon Graham, Amy McInerney, Ashley Carroll and Donna Netzer

This year elementary schools have become part of MLTI like never before. The program has been tracking toward more focused support and inclusion of elementary educators, but we can do more. In this session, we will look at some recent elementary successes from our team. We will also look at what the program is planning, but we want to hear from you! If you are an elementary educator, please come, share and advocate how MLTI can best serve you and your students.

License to Drive: Developing Digital Wisdom & Leadership
by Jonathan R. Werner & Gwyneth Maguire

We know that the Digital Native is a myth, yet we often expect our students to navigate tech independently.  In this session, we will look at how to support students as they move toward independent navigation of the complexities of their online lives.   We’ll also explore ways to support their journey toward gaining greater digital wisdom including media balance and well-being. We will conclude by crowd sourcing strategies to create independent digital leaders.

Tech Integration VS Tech Use: Enhancing Learning
with Donna Netzer

Using technology is fun and engaging for students but it can often be seen as a toy not a tool. Technology integration isn’t just bringing in technology to the classroom, it is incorporating it in a way that enhances learning. We will explore the difference between just using tech with learning and integrating technology in a way that enhances learning in the classroom.

Reports Open in NEO: October 1 Enrollment, Dropout, Quarterly Reports, and Staff Certification

Fall reports are open. All reports require review, validation, and/or certification by superintendents.

Reports Open:

  • EPS October 1 Student Enrollment (including EF-S-05 Part1) – Currently Open for review, Certification Opens 10/16, Due 10/30
  • Dropout – Opens 10/2, Due 10/15
  • Bullying – Due 10/15
  • Behavior – Due 10/15
  • Daily Attendance – Due 10/15
  • Truancy – Due 10/15
  • Staff Certification (including EF-S-05 Part2) – Due 10/30

Reporting guidance, instructions, and recorded webinars about these reports can be found on the MEDMS Support page. For questions about these reports, please contact MEDMS.Support@maine.gov or call 207-624-6896

Maine DOE Early Learning Team Support and Professional Development Offerings

The Maine Department of Education’s Early Learning Team, in the Office of Teaching and Learning, supports educators (teachers, administrators, and community providers) across the birth through early elementary years, with technical assistance, online tools, and professional learning opportunities.

During the 2024-25 school year, in addition to ongoing technical assistance, the team will be offering online professional development opportunities, a monthly newsletter, and monthly office hours. See below for details:

Challenging Behavior and Early Childhood Environments Learning Modules: Utilizing the IRIS Center Early Childhood Environments and Early Childhood Behavior Management Modules, the Early Learning Team is offering the field a learning opportunity through the Maine Department of Education’s EnGine platform.  This 6-week module will take a deeper dive into Early Childhood Environments and Early Childhood Behavior Management: Developing and Teaching Rules offered by the IRIS Center.  The sessions will meet in person on 10/29/2024 and again for the final session on 12/10/2024 at 3:30-4:30pm via zoom.  There will be weekly asynchronous learning activities in-between the week 1 and week 6 in-person sessions. A limited number of participants will be allowed in each session with hopes of offering the learning opportunity again in Winter 2024. – Register for this opportunity here.

Monthly Virtual Newsletters:  Delivered to your inbox each month, the World of Early Learning newsletter will spotlight topics in early childhood education to support your work through a birth to third grade focus. The newsletter highlights communities, schools, and partnerships, and shares an ongoing list of upcoming events and professional development opportunities across our state.  Subscribe to the World of Early Learning Newsletter and/or update your Maine DOE subscriptions here.

Early Learning Team Office Hours:  Online office hours will be held on the second Thursday of each month.  Each monthly topic will correspond to the prior month’s newsletter (see schedule below). Attendees are also encouraged to bring questions and needs for discussion and guidance.  Save this zoom link – it will be used each month (Meeting ID: 851 6655 0471).

Office Hour Date

3:30-4:30pm

Topics for Focus Newsletter
10/10/24 Classroom Environment September
11/14/2024 Challenging behaviors October
12/12/2024 Inclusion in Early Learning November
01/09/2025 Kindergarten Entry Inventory December
02/13/25 Maine Instructional Programs/Purposeful play January
03/13/25 Data and Assessment February
04/10/25 Supporting Allied Arts March
05/08/25 Transitions through grades April
06/12/2025 First 10/community schools May

We are looking forward to supporting the field with these offerings and other future professional development opportunities.

For more information and questions, please reach out to Nicole Madore, Early Childhood Specialist, at nicole.madore@maine.gov or Marcy Whitcomb, Public Pre-K Consultant at marcy.r.whitcomb@maine.gov

REMINDER: Seeking Public Comment on Chapter 115 – the Credentialing of Education Personnel

The Maine State Board of Education is conducting conversations with the public about Rule Chapter 115: The Credentialing of Educational Personnel, from August through December. Resolve 2024, Chapter 137 directed the State Board of Education to amend Rule Chapter 115, with special attention to sections related to the State Board of Education’s report submitted to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs in 2023.  

The State Board of Education intends to take the following steps with respect to review of these rules: 

  1. Begin speaking with experts in the field 
  2. Revise necessary sections of Chapter 115 
  3. Invite public feedback on the revisions 
  4. File updated rule 
  5. Engage with Legislative oversight of the rule 

The State Board of Education will hold several regional meetings focused on ideas and goals related to certification regulations in a general sense. These meetings will also focus on specific sections of Chapter 115 and will provide invaluable feedback to the State Board. In addition, the State Board of Education’s Certification and Higher Education Committee will provide time within the established meeting schedule to receive public feedback on Rule Chapter 115.  

 Remaining dates for these meetings are as follows – for the Zoom link, please email Emily Cummins 

  • October 16, 2024; 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
  • November 20, 2024: 10:30 am – 12:00 pm 
  • December 18, 2024: 10:30 am – 12:00 pm 

Taking into consideration the insights gained from all of these discussions, the State Board of Education will propose updates to Rule Chapter 115 and begin the Maine Administrative Procedures Act (A.P.A.) routine technical rule process pursuant to Title 5 MRS §8052 (public notice of filing, public hearing, open public comment period). Once the proposed rule has been filed, the public will be notified of the scheduled public hearing and comment period.  This will be an opportunity to provide written and oral comments regarding the proposed rules. The State Board of Education will review all comments and respond accordingly.  Updates to the rules will then be submitted for review as to form and legality and legislative oversight before final adoption.    

For more information and updates check the State Board of Education webpage. 

For more information about the conceptual conversations for Rule Chapter 115 contact Laura Cyr at laura.cyr@maine.gov. 

Maine DOE Update – September 27, 2024

From the Maine Department of Education

News & Updates

Maine DOE Welcomes 2024/2025 Teacher Leader Fellows

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) has welcomed its 2024/25 Teacher Leader Fellows. The new class of six extraordinary educators are from across the state and bring expertise in civics, personal finance, integrated arts, and multilingual learning, specifically with newcomers, as well as multilingual learners with disabilities. |  More

Maine Department of Education Releases RFP for Statewide Reading and Mathematics Assessment in Grades 3-8 and High School

The Maine Department of Education is seeking proposals for a statewide reading and mathematics assessment, per State of Maine procurement regulations as outlined in 5 M.R.S.A. § 1825 A-E and Ch. 110 & 120 in 18-554 of the Code of Maine Rules (CMR). |  More

Maine Kicks Off Kindergarten Entry Inventory Project

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) kicked off Maine’s Kindergarten Entry Inventory (KEI) pilot project this summer. The project is a manageable, strength-based, formative tool that aligns with the Pre-K Maine Early Learning Developmental Standards (P MELDS). It is designed to provide educators, families, and caregivers with insights about the whole child’s development to inform instructional planning and decision-making at the beginning of kindergarten. |  More

Public Comment for Rule Chapter 132: Learning Results, Parameters for Essential Instruction

During the Second Regular Session of the Maine Legislature, Maine’s Legislative Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs declined to authorize the proposed social studies content standards of the Maine Learning Results. The committee directed the Maine Department of Education (DOE) to reengage in the rulemaking process for the social studies standards. To this end, the Maine DOE reopened the 2024 Steering Committee and writing team conversations for the social studies standards. |  More

Integrated Literacy Resources for Maine Educators

Literacy has been at the forefront of discussions in education across our state. We are a state filled with creative, engaging, and highly skilled educators – many of whom are actively harnessing new knowledge from evidence-based research to reshape the way their classrooms work and how students interact with their learning. |  More

A Day With Maine Teacher of the Year Finalist Emilie Throckmorton and Her Bangor High School Community

A Day With Maine Teacher of the Year Finalist Emilie Throckmorton and Her Bangor High School Community
Walking into Dr. Emilie Throckmorton’s classroom, one is immediately transported to another world. The tall, almost floor to ceiling window frames a small forest of trees, while the marked absence of fluorescent lighting creates a coffee shop ambiance in the room. |  More

A Day With Maine Teacher of the Year Finalist Becky Hallowell and Her Wiscasset Elementary School Community

On the banks of the Sheepscot River sits the OWLS (Outdoor Wonderful Learning Space) community. This outdoor learning space at Wiscasset Elementary School was the brainchild of 4th grade teacher Becky Hallowell, and each year she and her students transform this space into a vibrant community to build, learn from, and explore through the seasons. |  More

A Day With Maine Teacher of the Year Finalist Katie Strait at Baxter Academy for Technology and Science

Adventurous, vibrant, caring, fierce, authentic, inclusive, and passionate. Those were some of the words Baxter Academy for Technology and Science teacher Katie Strait’s students and colleagues used to describe her. |  More

A Day With Maine Teacher of the Year Finalist Allyson Gilbert and her Mt. Ararat School Community

Allyson Gilbert is the sun. That’s how several of Ms. Gilbert’s students and colleagues at Mt. Ararat High School described her. Yes, it’s because she dresses up in a big inflatable sun costume for one of her science lessons, bringing students outside and arranging them at different distances from her like the planets in the solar system. |  More

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

Common Threads of Maine Partners with Westbrook Adult Ed Program to Expand Workforce Training

When Common Threads of Maine, a nonprofit school specializing in Maine’s textile industry, made the difficult decision to close recently, owner Dory Waxman reached out to the Westbrook Adult Education program to see if they would be interested in taking over their sewing classes as part of their workforce training program. |  More

Chewonki Campers Learn to Love and Protect Nature Through the Maine Outdoor Learning Program

As students returned to school this year, organizations large and small across Maine breathed a happy, yet tired, sigh of relief as they wrapped up their summer programs for the year, reflecting on the outcomes for students and staff. |  More

Beloved Summer School Program Helps Midcoast Students Grow and Thrive

On a rainy summer day in Washington, Maine, students filed into the cozy main building of Camp Medomak. Looking around at the room full of smiling faces and picnic tables covered in books, games, and crafts, you may assume you’re at classic summer camp. However, these students are here for RSU 40’s Summer School program. |  More

Submit good news to the Maine Department of Education here.

Professional Learning/Training Opportunities

Maine DOE to Host Variety of Virtual Office Hours to Support Educators and Administrators for 24/25 School Year 

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is hosting a wide variety of office hours this school year to support school and district educators/staff with everything from technical assistance to professional learning, as well as opportunities to connect and share with colleagues across the state. | More

Professional Development Conference for Rural Maine Educators

Registration is open for the Island Readers & Writers (IRW) for the Dear Teacher 2024 professional development conference, which will be held at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor on October 10 and 11, 2024. | More

View the Maine Department of Education’s Events Calendar here.

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities:

View current Maine Department of Education employment opportunities here