Calling all Maine educators! Join your colleagues for the 2024 Maine ELO Summit, taking place on August 13th at the Brunswick Hotel. This year’s theme, “Celebrating Success, Fostering Sustainability,” promises an inspiring day filled with valuable insights and discussions on Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs). The summit is open to all Maine school personnel and supporting partners. Registration and meals are fully covered by JMG with support from the Maine Department of Education (DOE).
What are ELOs?
ELOs are a form of micro-credentialing that allow students to earn academic credit through diverse, hands-on experiences outside the conventional classroom. They emphasize community-based career exploration and are highly personalized opportunities for students to:
Engage in learning in ways that resonate with them.
Connect their learning to everyday life in meaningful ways.
ELOs combine elements of academic instruction (projects, papers, presentations) with experiential learning (project-based learning, internships, job shadows).
The Value of ELOs:
Flexible: ELO experiences can be designed for in-person, remote, or hybrid settings, allowing schools to utilize their resources effectively.
Personalized: ELOs offer the chance to customize courses for students who need additional support, specific motivation, or excel in a certain area. They cater to individual learning styles.
Relevant: Every ELO connects real-life experiences with learning standards. This format translates to highly relevant and engaging content, often incorporating valuable career exploration.
2024 ELO Summit Highlights Not to Miss –
Student Stories: Be inspired by students sharing their firsthand ELO experiences!
Dynamic Workshops: Interactive sessions will feature microlearning opportunities followed by facilitated workshops to translate insights into actionable plans.
Engaging Discussions and Networking: Connect with your peers through panel discussions, networking receptions, and collaborative planning sessions.
Don’t Miss Out – Registration is Free!
Register today and be part of the exciting future of ELOs in Maine! For more information, including a full agenda for the day, please see the event flyer.
As Maine elementary schools have added preschool programming and are promoting whole student approaches across the Pre-K -Grade 3 span, elementary principals have requested professional learning to support their work as educational leaders. The Maine Department of Education and several Maine educational organizations (listed below) have collaborated to design an exciting professional learning series to address identified needs and support professional growth. To date, the Leading Early Learning Fellowship series has supported three cohorts, one each year since 2021-22. We are pleased to announce that applications for the fourth cohort, 2024-25 school year, are now being accepted.
The fellowship provides participants with opportunities to deepen their knowledge of early learning pedagogy and best practices related to supporting students and teachers across Pre-K-3. Participants engage in a variety of modes of learning, from asynchronous modules to facilitated online professional learning communities to in-person gatherings.
“I really enjoyed the variety of materials and activities in which we were engaged–videos, utilizing the observation and reflection tools, and the readings. Also, it was a great group of people to interact with both online and in person,” said a participant from Cohort 3.
“Participating in the series has helped me to look at the decisions we make about our instructional programming and school community through the lens of early learning and what is developmentally appropriate for our youngest learners,” said a participant from Cohort 1.
If this opportunity interests you, please review the fellowship details in the informational guide. A link to apply for the series is included in the informational guide. The series will support up to 30 participants. Applications will be received through July 14, 2024. Once spaces are filled, a waiting list will be generated.
For additional information, please contact Lee Anne Larsen, Director of Early Learning at Maine DOE, leeann.larsen@maine.gov.
Leading Early Learning Partner Organizations
Maine Department of Education
Maine Roads to Quality Professional Development Network
Maine Association for the Education of Young Children
UMaine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies
Every year, the Maine Administrators of Services for Children with Disabilities (MADSEC) announces Honorees of the Year, who are individuals who work in the field of Special Education within Maine schools.
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) joins MADSEC in congratulating the 2023-24 awardees in addition to thanking all educators within the Special Education division. Congratulations to Angela, Kendra, Scott, and Erin, and read more about them below.
Angela Moore, Special Education Administrator of the Year, Brewer School Department
Kendra Perry, Special Education Teacher of the Year, Bangor Regional Therapeutic Day Program
Scott Flagg (OT), Special Education Professional of the Year, Brewer School Department
Erin Dupee (Ed Tech III), Special Education Support Staff of the Year, Old Orchard Beach High School
To learn more about MADSEC, these awards, and the honorees, visit their website:
Visual Access to Mathematics (VAM) – Free professional learning course with a focus on English learners/multilingual learners for grades 6 and 7 mathematics teachers:
Grade 6 and 7 mathematics teachers in Maine are invited to register for a FREE professional learning course focused on visual representations to support mathematical problem solving and communication and led by Pam Buffington and Johannah Nikula from Education Development Center.
Teachers will learn evidence-based strategies that they can integrate with their current mathematics curriculum to benefit English learners/multilingual learners and all students.
The course starts with an in-person summer institute (August 13th-15th in Cheshire, CT with hotel/mileage/meal costs covered) and continues during the school year with flexible online sessions. If enough teachers from Maine sign up, then a second summer institute option location in Maine will be added for August 21st-23rd.
Benefits include an $850 stipend for teachers and the option to sign up for graduate credit for a fee.
Check out the VAM flyer for additional information about this opportunity. Share the flyer with mathematics teachers in grades 6 and 7 who may be interested. They can register here for an information session to learn more directly from course developers.
This opportunity is part of a project the Regional Educational Laboratory
Northeast & Islands (funded by the U.S. Department of Education) is conducted in partnership with the Connecticut State Department of Education. Teachers from Maine are being invited to participate in coordination with the Maine Department of Education.
If you have any questions, please contact vam@edc.org
In November of 2020, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) launched SEL4ME. This FREE PreK-12th grade, Collaborative for Academic and Social Emotional Learning (CASEL)-aligned, trauma-informed web-based resource provides equal access to social emotional learning (SEL) resources for all Maine schools. The online platform of 450 modules for social emotional learning assists educators in embedding SEL practices into daily routines to ensure that youth of all ages in all Maine regions are equipped with the knowledge of the 5 Key Elements of SEL – Self Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationships, and Responsible Decision Making. Since the launch of this resource, over 135 schools have accessed these modules, with more than 90,000 logins during COVID 19 (2020-2022).
Advisory Team Purpose:
The Maine DOE is currently recruiting members for our SEL4ME State Advisory Team. As a critical partner in Maine’s education field, we invite you to serve in an advisory capacity to share your expertise. We will work to review SEL4ME modules, making informed improvements to the efficacy of this resource with updates to meet current knowledge about supportive SEL practices and cultural responsiveness. Alignment with Maine’s whole student approach is of the utmost importance, and we are seeking a diverse advisory team to support this effort. Essential to this team’s success is the involvement of educators, community members, and other stakeholders representing all regions of Maine.
Members:
The Advisory Team will include up to 20 members, including early childhood, early and upper elementary, middle, and high school educators and local—and state-level organizations. We are seeking participants from all regions of Maine.
Advisory Team Expectations:
Commitment is from June 2024 to August 2024. There will be two levels of Advisory Team participation:
Level 1 Team comprised of school personnel will review all grade-level modules in each of the 5 competencies aligned with CASEL and recommend the best 5 modules from each competency area for review by Level 2 Members. * The goal is for each grade level to have up to 25 modules in total.
Review modules and deliberate asynchronously, with July 12th as the deadline for submission.
Forward recommendations for Level 2 consideration.
Level 2, comprised of community organizations/parents/educators, will require a deeper level of engagement – synthesizing preliminary recommendations made by Level 1 participants – with compensation at a higher rate:
Review Level 1 recommendations and identify the modules—up to 25 per grade level PreK-12—encompassing the core competencies that CASEL identified.
Attend 5 virtual meetings (1.5 hrs. each) to determine the final selection of modules.
Attend the first asynchronous meeting on July 18th (with subsequent meetings determined by the team).
Compensation:
Participants will receive a stipend upon completion of all advisory work. If desired, they may apply to be part of both Level 1 and Level 2 teams.
Level 1:
Up to 13 members
Total commitment is10.5 hours
$45/hour
Deadline for submission of selected modules: Friday, July 12th @ 5:00 PM
Level 2:
Up to 10 members
Total commitment is 8.5 hours
$50/hour
Deadline for Level 2 work: on or before Aug. 16, 2024
To indicate your interest in becoming a member of the 2024 SEL4ME Advisory Team, please complete the following form by June 8th:https://forms.office.com/g/a8RHL0Q0Cx
American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds from the US Department of Education (DOE) support the implementation of this project. The project has an award totaling $10,000, of which 100% is federally funded and directly attributed to project implementation. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by the USDOE or the U.S. Government.
The Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) Child and Adult Care Food Program team recently hosted 100 of Maine’s child and adult care sponsors and providers for the CACFP Annual Training. The Child and Adult Care Food Program, a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture administered by participating states, provides reimbursements for meals and snacks to eligible children and adults enrolled in care at participating child care centers, in-home daycares, and adult daycare centers.
The focus for one day of training was geared towards food program staff to learn about food safety, efficiency in the kitchen, and standardized recipes, as well as how they can incorporate the Harvest of the Month and Maine Fish Programs into the meals they are feeding the children in their care.
The other training day focused on providers who handle the administration side of CACFP. The CACFP team reviewed the budget tool, agreement errors, and the integrity rule. Participants broke up into 16 groups to discuss topics that affected them. Several reported ideas to the entire group. The CACFP team collected all topics and ideas for further discussion on how to improve things for CACFP sponsors.
The Maine Department of Education’s Child Nutrition team hosts various in-person training opportunities, including culinary and food safety training for school nutrition professionals at its Augusta-based Culinary Classroom, along with other various training opportunities located in different regions throughout the state; the team also records training videos and provides recipes that are accessible as needed via their website. For more information, reach out to the Maine DOE Child Nutrition Team.
(Volunteers gave students a glimpse into working in the medical field.)
The Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education held its first annual Transition Maine Youth Summit at Central Maine Community College on Thursday, May 30th. Students with disabilities from all over Maine had the chance to explore nearly two dozen career pathways and engage with professionals and peers about post-secondary life.
“It was a fulfilling day for all our students with varying abilities and challenges around belonging and inclusion,” said Co-Chair of the Executive Student Committee Connor Archer.
This year’s Summit theme was I Belong. “Our students belong in all spaces,” Titus O’Rourke, Maine Department of Education Transition Specialist, shared with WMTW. “We must establish high expectations for students with disabilities and create pathways for them to explore their career interests. In doing so, we promote and further secure their opportunities to post-secondary economic inclusion.”
The Maine DOE created the Transition Maine program in early 2022 to provide equitable and inclusive transition services for students beyond high school and into adulthood. Since then, the team has been on a mission to amplify youth voices in Maine and beyond. One of these initiatives, with the support and guidance of the Summit’s Executive Steering Committee and a team of student advocates, promoted the need and value of the Youth Summit for our students with varying abilities.
“It’s an event where other students, like me, come and learn different skills,” said Camren Dubay, a student from Dirigo High School and member of the Summit’s Executive Steering Committee. “We’ve done a lot of planning in the background for this event.”
Joshua Ellis opened the event with a speech full of his signature humor.
Throughout the day, students engaged with different career pathway led by their peers and Maine businesses. Students explored potential occupations at each career pathway by participating in an activity highlighting skills needed to work in the respective industry. Joshua Ellis, another Executive Transition Student Committee member, taught his fellow students how to change spark plugs alongside two representatives from Darlings Auto, a skill he learned at Capital Area Technology. “Now I don’t have to pay someone to fix my car,” joked, or as he likes to say, joshed Ellis.
As students completed each activity, they logged their experience in their Career Exploration Passports. These Career Passports serve as student-led transition assessments, which educators can use to help develop the necessary Transition Plan sections of student’s Individualized Education Plans.
Stacey Brown, the climate educator at Revision Energy, led a Career Pathway on Solar Energy that was very popular with students. “I’ve really been enjoying seeing how excited the students are about certain activities. We have kits that students can build showing what they would do if they worked in the warehouse, and students have really enjoyed sorting and organizing those,” Brown explained. “Other students are just having fun understanding solar energy by playing with the circuits and the solar cars. So, it has been fun to have a variety of activities that meet the needs of all the students.”
When students weren’t outside exploring Career Pathways, they visited Let’s Talk Tables to discuss different themes around post-grad life, such as health equity, advocacy, and resume building. Darius Reaves, a student at Maine Virtual Academy, tested Maine’s new accessible voting machines at the Secretary of State’s “Come On, Let’s Vote” table. “It was great,” Reaves said of practicing his voting skills, “I think I might get used to it when I’m 18…I think I might like it!”
At the advocacy table, Anna Schmidt had one crucial message for students: “Know your rights! You can’t protect your rights if you don’t know them.” This message was echoed by the day’s guest speakers, Derek Schmitz and Michael Uher, self-advocates dedicated to making space for young people with disabilities like their own.
“You deserve to have your needs met,” Schmitz urged their peers in the Summit’s opening. “You deserve accommodations.” Schmitz is a paralegal in his second year at Gadsden State Community College in Alabama. They are also the Lead
Representatives from the Green Ladle, a culinary arts program at Lewiston Regional Technical Center, taught students how to make cannolis.
Advocate for Derek Schmitz Advocacy, a firm he started in 2018.
Uher is also a college student and disability rights advocate. Uher spoke over Zoom, sharing his experience finding his place after a traumatic event in fourth grade left him with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures. “My voice wasn’t being heard. I felt like it didn’t matter,” he told the crowd. Today, Uher uses that experience to connect and inspire other students with disabilities. “We all face our own challenges, disability-related or not,” said Uher. “But how we react to and overcome these barriers is what truly matters.”
For everyone present, the Summit was an empowering and inspiring experience. “I love seeing all the students that are coming into the Summit,” expressed Cathy Dionne, Executive Director of the Autism Society of Maine. “They’re looking around at different things that they may want to do in the future. It gives them opportunities to test things out.”
“This may seem like a small thing, but I’ve been told multiple times by my own mother one small action can make a big difference, and this is going to make a big difference in people’s lives,” said Ellis.
“We have so much more work to do. We are already thinking about our next initiatives, next year’s summit, and so much more,” said Archer of the event. “This is our true passion. We believe strongly that all students deserve the opportunity to live a successful life where their future and their plan is at the center of it all, no matter what abilities or challenges they have.
Educators looking to connect with Transition Maine can reach out to Titus O’Rourke at titus.orourke@maine.gov.
Working with the students is what Kristen Levesque, Principal of Turner Elementary School in MSAD 52, describes as the absolute best part of her job. However, she knows that to successfully reach students meaningfully at school, everyone in the building needs to feel safe.
“I wanted to make sure I was providing students and staff with the best care possible in regard to safety,” said Levesque.
Kristen Levesque is one of the 114 dedicated people working in schools and districts across Maine who have taken the School Safety Specialist course offered by the Maine Department of Education’s Maine Schools Safety Center (MSSC). The course helps fulfill State statute Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §1001, sub-§16 (LD892), which states there must be a “designated employee having oversight regarding school safety.”
After completing the 8-week, asynchronous course in April 2023, Levesque instituted many changes that have had a big impact on the Turner Elementary School community.
One of the most impactful changes has been leading the charge on completing the CSTAG assessments to ensure safety. CSTAG stands for Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines, and it is a comprehensive approach to early identification of students who may be on the pathway to violence by assessing problem behavior and offering interventions before the behavior escalates. CTSAG training is part of the MSSC’s larger Maine Safe School’s Initiative.
“The use of the CSTAG for threat assessments has greatly increased the feeling of safety within the school, and this has been communicated by staff,” Levesque explained.
In addition to the changes she has implemented at the school level, the district has been doing meaningful work with the district safety committee, including work to revise emergency handbooks.
Levesque extends a thank you to all staff in MSAD 52, including Superintendent Cari Medd, Asst. Superintendent Theresa Gillis, School Resource Office Sheriff Ham, and School Technology Director Walter Morris.
The School Safety Specialist course is a program of the Maine DOE’s Maine School Safety Center and is available at no cost to Maine schools. Cohorts start at the beginning of every month and complete in 8 weeks. All work is done asynchronously through Eastern Maine Community College (EMCC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and takes approximately 20-25 hours to complete.
For more information, visit the Maine DOE website, fill out an interest form, or reach out to Maine DOE School Safety Training Coordinator Wendy Robichaud at Wendy.Robichaud@maine.gov.
(Pictured: ELO Coordinator Kevin Napilillo and JMG Teacher and Career Counselor Becky Kash brought several Brewer High School students to the Summit. Three of the ELO students were featured as guest speakers on panels; two in construction ELOs and one in a teaching ELO.)
More than 500 employers and young people recently gathered at Bangor’s Cross Insurance Arena for the Maine Employer Summit. Hosted by the Maine Department of Labor and the Maine Department of Economic Development, the event provided a vital platform for employers seeking resources and solutions to pressing workforce challenges. Participants also had the opportunity to connect with young professionals, government agencies, State of Maine resources, and fellow business leaders to explore workforce opportunities.
During the event, there were several opportunities in which participants could engage in discussions on breaking down barriers to attracting, hiring, and retaining employees from diverse communities, sharing best practices, and fostering innovative solutions to create a more inclusive and sustainable workforce.
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) organized a panel on engaging local youth through work-based learning. This panel highlighted multiple forms of work-based learning, including extended learning opportunities, pre-apprenticeship to apprenticeship, and adult education, which includes integrated education and training. As an interactive component of the panel, JMG partnered with Maine DOE to facilitate a conversation with employers on implementing work-based learning into their place of business.
The Work-based Learning to Engage Local Youth panel featured Brewer High School ELO students Luke and Aiden, Kelly Flagg, Executive Director of Associated General Contractors, Hannah Greene from Educate ME, Michael Scannell a Maine Aquaculture Apprentice, and Karen Morin, Adult Education Career Navigator.
Adults listen to youth as they share what engages them in workforce.
The event featured an Innovation Hall with companies offering job opportunities, virtual reality or live demonstrations, mock interviews, and resume help staffed by Adult Education Career Navigator Kate Points and College and Career Success Coordinator Audrey Kimball, among others with career expertise.
People’s Inclusive Welding had live welding demonstrations for attendees.
Mari O’Neil discusses Retail Career Pathways
A Northern Light employee assists a young person in a CPR demonstration.
A young person tries out BIW’s virtual reality equipment.
Portable Pie Place showcased a large variety of their handheld pies for attendees to sample.
Breakout sessions also delved into strategies for creating more inclusive and sustainable workplaces. These discussions highlighted the importance of understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by different demographic groups, including New Mainers, young and aging populations, people of color, individuals with disabilities, those seeking re-entry into the workforce and the LGBTQ+ community.
No-cost headshots were offered to attendees during the sessions and at the Innovative Hall.
Several presentations and workshops showcased the latest innovations in workforce development. The emphasis was on practical solutions employers could implement to improve workforce dynamics.
Through the many interactive sessions, attendees shared their experiences, challenges, and successes, helping to identify effective practices that could be adopted by other organizations facing similar challenges.
The Maine Employer Summit emphasized the critical role that collaboration and innovation play in addressing workforce challenges. The event not only provided valuable resources and insights but also inspired attendees to think creatively about how to build a more inclusive and resilient workforce. The success of the 2024 Maine Employer Summit sets a positive precedent for future gatherings, ensuring that Maine remains at the forefront of innovative workforce solutions.
(Pictured: Morse High School freshman Rose Strelneck, Isla Polizotto, and Hannah Keller with their painting, a reimagined version of a FAMA mural done in Paris.)
Three students from Morse High School have won the 2024 French American Friendship Contest sponsored by The French Consulate in Boston.
This esteemed competition, open to high school students studying French and their teachers across New England, is a testament to the enduring bond between France and the United States.
Organized by the Cultural Service of the Consulate General of France in Boston and the Lounsbery Foundation, the contest blends education with enjoyment, inviting participants to explore the historical, cultural, artistic, and personal dimensions of Franco-American relations. This year’s theme commemorated significant milestones, including the 200th anniversary of Lafayette’s final journey to the United States and the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings.
The highlight of the contest is undoubtedly the grand prize: a one-week trip to Paris and Normandy, generously funded by the Lounsbery Foundation. During the trip, the winners will immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of French history and culture. From cruising along the Seine River to admiring the iconic Eiffel Tower from the Trocadero esplanade, their itinerary promises a blend of iconic landmarks and poignant historical sites, including the Musée des Armées, Pointe du Hoc, and the Caen Memorial Museum.
The winning trio spearheaded the creation of the FAMA mural painting. Comprising three talented freshmen—Rose Strelneck, Isla Polizotto, and Hannah Keller.
Congratulations to Rose, Isla, and Hannah for their outstanding accomplishment!
This story was submitted by Morse High School French teacher, Rebecca Deschaine. To submit a good news story to the Maine Department of Education, please use our submission form.
Maine DOE Newsroom 