From the Maine DOE

Last week, Maine DOE Chief Academic Officer Rachelle Tome and I had the honor of visiting two Lewiston elementary schools undergoing transformation thanks to support from our Department and the federally-funded Title I School Improvement Grant program (SIG). To say I was impressed by what I saw at Longley and Montello would be an understatement.

But what struck me more than the challenges these two schools face – nearly 100 percent of the students at Longley and 84 percent of those at Montello qualify for free or reduced lunch and 65 percent of the students at Longley and 38 percent at Montello are English language learners – was their “accept no excuses” attitude to overcoming them.

That’s because staff within these two schools are taking a team approach to serving students, and not just the ones within their own classrooms. Through collaboration, not only is each student better supported, but so is each educator.

News & Views

Shari Templeton joins Maine DOE as Science Specialist

Shari Templeton has joined the Maine DOE as its Science and Technology Specialist. In her new role, Templeton will support districts in their implementation of best practices in science education, work on the development of the State science assessment and serve as the regional representative for York County. | More

Livermore educator named 2013 Maine History Teacher of the Year

Janet Ventrella, a teacher at Livermore Elementary School in Livermore, has been named the 2013 Maine History Teacher of the Year.  Ventrella is in her ninth year of teaching at Livermore Elementary School.  She is a graduate of the University of Maine Farmington and routinely designs lessons and projects which integrate social studies and language arts for her fifth grade students. | More

Governor LePage to deliver State of the State Tuesday

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage will deliver his State of the State Address in the House Chamber at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4. The much-anticipated speech will cover a variety of priorities that include growing Maine’s economy and encouraging families to stay in the state. | More

ACCESS for ELLs testing materials due to Metritech

The ACCESS for ELLs® testing window closes Jan. 31 and districts are required to pack and return all testing material to MetriTech by Feb. 7. | More

Gifted and talented program applications, budgets past due

In December, school administrative units (SAUs) should have completed applications for their gifted and talented programs and submitted them to the Maine DOE for annual program approval. The application represents the school unit’s status of implementation of the gifted and talented program. | More

School construction tax credit bond applications due

The Department will be accepting applications for the Federal Qualified School Construction Bond (QSCB) Program through March 14. QSCB funds can be used for construction, rehabilitation or repair of a public school facility, or the acquisition of land on which such a facility is to be constructed. | More

Free webinar on supporting students with ear infections

hear ME now, Maine’s leading auditory oral education enter, will host a free webinar entitled “Runny Noses in the Classroom” in February to help educators learn how to recognize children who may be struggling with middle ear fluid and what they can do to help them in the classroom. | More

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

• Agency Web Coordinator
• Assessment and Accountability Coordinator
• Education Specialist III – Higher Education
• Maine Ed Data Management System (MEDMS) Administrator
• Office Associate I – Learning Systems Team
• Secretary Specialist – Special Services
• Special Education Program Monitoring & Approval
• State Director – NCLB Title I

More

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From the Commissioner

From the Maine DOE

I believe that our Department has done more over the last two years than at any other period in our history to ensure there is an effective educator in every classroom and an effective principal in every building.

Earlier this month, we advanced our commitment to supporting great teachers and leaders even further when we provisionally-adopted a new rule to help districts implement the landmark teacher and principal effectiveness law proposed and signed by Governor LePage in 2012. Chapter 180, “Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth Systems,” now moves to the Legislature for their consideration and what we hope will be approval to move to final adoption of the rule.

News & Views

Acting Commissioner Rier to visit Lewiston schools Thursday

LEWISTON – Maine Department of Education Acting Commissioner Jim Rier will tour two Lewiston schools this Thursday that are undertaking significant initiatives to improve student outcomes. | More

Two Maine schools nominated for National Blue Ribbon distinction

The Maine DOE  has nominated Turner Elementary School and Winthrop Grade School to be 2014 National Blue Ribbon Schools. | More

Department supports, clarifies MPA evaluation model

A committee of the Maine Principals’ Association (MPA) has developed a model for evaluating the professional practice of principals.  The model was designed to meet the requirements of Maine’s educator effectiveness law and the rule implementing that law (which was provisionally-adopted this month). | More

Improving literacy skills with close reading

Whether we are writing full sentences or using text messaging shorthand including abbreviations and icons, our ability to make meaning of the language around us is a critical aspect of our society. The updated Maine Learning Results for English Language Arts and literacy reflect this shift in literacy practices. | More

Guidance from Maine DOE on special education students in crisis placements

School administrative units (SAUs) sometimes become aware that a special education student enrolled in one of their schools has been placed in a residential facility identified as a crisis stabilization unit. | More

Nominations open for CTE Excellence in Action award

The National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc) is pleased to announce its first annual Excellence in Action award, which will recognize and honor superior Career Technical Education (CTE) programs of study from around the nation. | More

Updates to special education web resources

The Maine DOE has added a new question-and-answer to the “Consent” entry of the Maine Unified Special Education Regulations (MUSER) frequently asked questions section of its website. | More

Dyslexia for a Day workshop in Brewer on Feb. 1

Project D.E.B.U.N.K., a resource for youth with dyslexia and their families and educators, is sponsoring a Dyslexia for a Day workshop in Brewer on Feb. 1. | More

Opportunity to participate in accessible assessment project

The Maine DOE has served as a critical partner to the Maryland State Department of Education and Measured Progress Innovation lab for the Guidelines for Accessible Assessment Project (GAAP), a project that involves developing research-based guidelines for representing assessment content in audio and sign forms. | More

Students sought for humanities ambassador program

The Maine Humanities Council (MHC) wants creative and energetic rising 10th or 11th graders interested in community engagement through the humanities. | More

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

• Assessment and Accountability Coordinator
• State Director – NCLB Title I
• Education Specialist III – Higher Education

More

Dispatches
Press Releases
From the Commissioner