Bridget Wright, the 2025 Lincoln County Teacher of the Year and a finalist for 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year, welcomed a panel of selection committee members to Lincoln Academy this week to see her teaching in action and hear from those who know her best.

An English teacher at Lincoln Academy in Newcastle, Wright is known for fostering curiosity, encouraging academic risk-taking, and creating classrooms where students grow as writers, readers, researchers, and critical thinkers. Her teaching blends creativity with rigorous academic practice, using outside-of-the-box approaches to meet students where they are.

While visiting the school, the panel met with administrators, faculty members, students, and community members who shared stories and insight into what makes Wright such an exceptional educator and human being. Panelists also toured the school and visited Wright’s classroom to see her innovative teaching in action.

A student shared that they had previously disliked Shakespeare and felt anxious about studying his work until they took Ms. Wright’s class. Wright made the “Romeo and Juliet” unit engaging and fun by adapting a popular online format into an activity called “Am I the Arse?” Students wrote posts from the perspective of characters, blending humor with deep character analysis. The activity kept the class entertained while also helping them to gain a richer understanding of the play, which the student described as a genius idea. Students also regularly act out Shakespeare scenes, including light saber duels, to explore character development and descriptive writing.

Wright goes above and beyond to emphasize reflective learning. Lincoln County Executive Assistant Trish Jonason, who is also a parent and community member, shared that during a challenging sophomore research project, Wright supported her son and other students by pausing the work and introducing a reflective “Books that Raised You” assignment, which reignited her son’s creativity and joy in writing. The project became deeply meaningful for not only her son but the entire family, connecting them to childhood reading experiences and highlighting the lasting impact of those moments.

Wright’s focus on writing development has transformed student learning at Lincoln Academy. She founded a student-staffed Writing Center, giving students leadership experience and peer mentoring opportunities. Located in the library’s annex, the Writing Center is a space where students can get peer input and review on writing assignments. A student involved in the center explained, “It’s not about telling someone what a good paper is. It’s about listening to their ideas and helping them get closer to what they want.”

Colleagues also praised Wright’s collaboration and innovation with the school’s “I-Search Project.” This capstone assignment challenges students to choose a research topic and write an in-depth paper—a major undertaking for students.

“She pushed the I-Search Project forward in ways that made it relevant to more students and elevated their critical thinking,” Director of Library Services Laura Phelps said. “Her impact on students has been profound.”

A student described Wright’s approach to helping with the I-Search Project, which felt overwhelming at first: “She made it very personal. It could be about any topic you wanted, as long as it interested you. She mapped out the process in baby steps, so it wasn’t overwhelming. That was something I needed to learn, and it applies to all my writing now.”

“She really works with kids to help them simultaneously understand what their areas of interest are and how to learn more about something that they care about,” Kelley Duffy, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and one of Wright’s nominators for 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year, added. “The work that she’s doing there, the practice she’s having in her classes with that, is really informing how we now design some of the capstone work.”

Lincoln Academy Head of Schools Jeffrey Burroughs further highlighted Wright’s influence beyond the classroom: “She has a voice here because of the work that she has done that’s affecting what we’re doing from a policy standpoint. There’s a lot to her that is beyond just what you see in the class.”

The entire school community has a wealth of stories of connection, generosity, and personal growth to share about Wright. Her dedication to students and the community extends beyond academics. She is known not only as a safe space for students to share struggles but also as someone who celebrates birthdays with a specially baked treat, keeps chocolate on hand for students who are having a bad day, and ensures that kids have essentials like glasses wipes.

 “She takes individual relationships with students really seriously,” a student shared. “She’ll write a letter at the end of the year or leave a sticky note appreciating something you did. She makes sure people feel appreciated.”

“She is fantastic with students and is also just a fantastic coworker,” colleague Prema Long said. Long shared a story of watching Wright’s class for 20 minutes one time and being thanked the next day with a pumpkin-spice latte and a thank-you Post-it note.

“We shared an adjoining door for three years. She was the best person to work next to,” fellow English teacher Jack DeAngelis added. “We never taught the same classes, but having her voice right there was so important to me—to talk with her about big picture things but also exactly what I was going to ask my students to do in the next 10 minutes.”

Parents also celebrate Wright’s compassion and innovation. A Lincoln Academy parent shared how his daughter struggled academically from an early age due to a learning disability. When she entered high school, she continued to fail most of her classes except English. Wright recognized that while the student had difficulty writing, she was highly verbal and articulate. By allowing her to express her thoughts out-loud, and then helping to translate them into written form, Wright revealed the student’s brilliance and gave her a way to succeed.

Holly Arbuckle, a parent and local business leader, emphasized that while all teachers are caring and hardworking, what sets Wright apart is her innovation. She has transformed how writing is taught by focusing on process over product—helping students to measure growth against themselves rather than others. By allowing rewrites with clear feedback, she creates space for all students, regardless of background or starting point, to develop as writers. Her approach encourages vulnerability, restores confidence, and makes writing meaningful rather than punitive.

“She is really good at seeing the big picture and then instituting systems and processes that will get both herself and her students where they need to be,” English Academic Lead Brenda Sawyer said.

As the Maine Teacher of the Year selection process enters its final stages, Wright’s innovative teaching, compassion, and collaborative spirit exemplify the qualities that make Maine educators exceptional.

“It’d be great if she got the award, but I don’t think it’s going to stop anything,” parent and community member Sara MacCorkle said. “She’s not doing this to get an award. This is just who she is and how she moves.”

This article is part of a series profiling the four finalists for 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year. Visit the Maine DOE Newsroom throughout the week to learn more about each finalist.

Dawn Lee connects with a student over artwork during a Unified Literacy class.

In the hallways of Morse High School, the sense of school pride is palpable. On a regular Tuesday in September, cerulean attire—representing the Shipbuilders’ school spirit color—dots the sea of students transitioning from class to class. Teenagers smile at one another, occasionally shouting a name to wave a greeting excitedly from a distance. One word comes to mind in this cheerful, bustling morning moment: inclusivity.

For Morse High School librarian Dawn Lee, inclusion has been a focal point of her career. She is a founding leader of the school’s Unified Literacy program, which has been recognized at the national level for bringing students with and without intellectual disabilities together through reading, writing, and art. Lee is also the 2025 Sagadahoc County Teacher of the Year and one of four state finalists for 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year.

Dawn Lee is dedicated to capturing moments of inclusivity among her students through photography.

During the week of September 22, as part of the final stage for the Teacher of the Year selection process, a panel of state leaders visited RSU 1 to see Lee in her classroom—and to hear from the students, colleagues, administrators, and community members who know her. The feelings expressed and memories shared by all were warm, thoughtful, and telling.

“She is the perennial advocate, the positivity, the cheerleader, and the doer,” Eric Varney, Morse High School principal, gushed about Lee. “She is the person who is constantly thinking about the way that things could be better.”

Dawn Lee’s Honors English 10 class provides students with an opportunity to explore a meticulously curated book selection in the library.

Administrators and colleagues expressed that Lee has forever been on a mission to create an environment in which inclusion is the standard. When students returned to an in-person educational model following the pandemic, Lee and other educators noticed that the kids were not talking to one another. That separation ignited the spark that fueled Lee’s push to create the Unified Literacy program, based on the school’s Unified Athletics program—led by physical education teacher Charlie Bingham.

“She’s looking out for the best interest of all kids,” Bingham said.

“In working with Charlie to create Unified Academics, Dawn has changed the culture of this school,” Julia LaRosa, Morse High School Unified Science teacher, expressed. “Everyone is a learner, and everyone deserves to be everywhere.”

Even before Unified Academics existed at the school, Lee was cultivating that kind of an environment. In her decades of teaching at Morse High School, Lee has seen many students graduate, some of which are now her present-day colleagues. Angelique Tamburo, an instructor at Bath Regional Career and Technical Center, said she remembers the library—and Lee and library assistant Brenda Fagan—being her safe space as a student when she was experiencing a challenging home life.

“One of the things that Ms. Lee and Ms. Fagan taught me is that I mattered. My birthday never went by without them celebrating me,” Tamburo expressed. “Now, I get to help kids and tell them, ‘You’re not alone.’ I get to be that person now, and that’s thanks to Ms. Lee.”

Dawn Lee’s Unified Literacy class allows students of all abilities to connect over reading, writing, and art.

Tucked into the back corner of the library is a closet, replete with boxes of dry goods, canned food, and hygiene products. Lee has been running this food pantry for more than 15 years, recognizing that in order to successfully learn, students must first have their basic needs met. The pantry is open to all, no questions asked—leaving no room for stigma. On “Produce Tuesdays,” at Morse High School, Lee and Fagan also set up tables at the front of the building with fresh produce for kids to take home.

“She is a gentle warrior for our kids. She fights for them every day behind the scenes,” John Dever, a Morse High School educator and 2017 Sagadahoc County Teacher of the Year—who nominated Lee for the title in 2025—said.

Dawn Lee has run the Morse High School food pantry for more than 15 years.

Lee’s generosity is also not lost on her students.

“It’s really refreshing to see someone who cares so much about her community,” student Grace Kirk said.

“She’s very patient, and she’s very loving,” Avery Steenstra, another student, added. “It’s really important to see that a teacher cares about you and that she’s going to do anything to help you.”

Students likened Lee to a flattering variety of fictional characters including Miss Honey from
“Matilda,” Mary Poppins, Molly Weasley from “Harry Potter,” Joy from Inside Out, Maria from “The Sound of Music,” Ms. Frizzle, and Inspector Gadget. Whether they have connected with her through class, the library, study hall, or receiving help with projects like citations or AP research—students agree that “selfless” is a word that could be used to describe Lee.

“I didn’t have much positivity when I was in middle school, but when I met Ms. Lee, she was really eye-opening. She brought back a lot of my self-confidence that I lost when I was in middle school,” student Hunter Johnson said.

More than a dozen Morse High School students gathered to testify about their experiences with Ms. Lee for the 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year selection process.

Lee is a lifelong learner, taking advantage of various professional development opportunities and fellowship programs throughout the summer. Her prioritization of inclusion in education—made possible with help from her teaching partner, special education teacher Jonathan Fisk—has made an impact on what many of her students are choosing to pursue post-high school. A handful of local parents testified that their children are now studying education or special education in college because they had Lee as a teacher. One parent even mentioned that a previous exchange student her family hosted from Egypt expressed interest in bringing Unified Literacy to schools in her country.  

“She’s the ground zero,” Peter Kent, the parent of a Morse High School student with special needs, said of Lee. “The program that she and Mr. Fisk put together—this is what it created. She’s not at the center of it promoting herself, but she’s there in the background. I’ve heard from talking to some of the kids that this program made a huge difference to them.”

In expressing her gratitude for the esteemed recognition as a 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year finalist, Lee emotionally mentioned her beloved late grandmother, who was illiterate—and a driving force for Lee’s passion about making literacy accessible to all.

“I believe in what we do here,” Lee said of Morse High School. “I believe in our students. I believe that when you hold students to a high standard, they will rise to the occasion.”

This article is part of a series profiling the four finalists for 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year. Visit the Maine DOE Newsroom throughout the week to learn more about each finalist.

Julia Edwards, choral music teacher at Poland Regional High School and Bruce Whittier Middle School, is the 2025 Androscoggin County Teacher of the Year and one of four finalists for 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year. This week, as part of the final round for the Teacher of the Year selection process, a panel of state leaders visited RSU 16 to see Edwards in action and hear from the students, colleagues, administrators, and community members who know her best.

For more than a decade, Edwards has led the choral and other music programs in Poland with equal parts passion and joy. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, she has dedicated her career to ensuring that all students have access to excellent music education while fostering cultural curiosity and community connection.

At school, Edwards is seen as much more than a music teacher. To her students, she is a mentor, role model, and trusted adult who brings opportunities and encouragement every day.

“She is who I can go to if I have any problems with pretty much anything, whether it’s musical-related or not,” chorus student Blake Brown said.

Walking through the halls of Poland Regional High School and Bruce Whittier Middle School, you will find many students who are quick to share a memorable moment or a personal story about Ms. Edwards, who is a constant positive presence in their lives.

Colleagues describe Edwards as being both a leader and a bright presence who lifts up others.

“Julia brings joy to her work; it emanates with the students, colleagues, and through the school,” one teacher said.

Stories shared during the visit painted a clear picture of Edwards’ creativity and care, from building a “choose-your-own-adventure” unit in chorus that wowed her peers who have been working on adding differentiation to the curriculum, to writing substitute plans that empower students to lead in her absence, to gently guiding struggling students back into a place of success through music. It is evident that Edwards’ colleagues see her as both innovative and deeply human. As one said, “She has this warmth about her that makes everyone feel important—whether it’s a colleague, a student, or anyone who crosses her path.”

Even in the lunchroom, Edwards’ impact on students stands out through their kindness and manners. Veteran kitchen manager Cecile Martin noted Edwards’ dedication to instilling respect that extends beyond the classroom.

“I can always tell when students are in chorus,” Martin said, explaining that Edwards makes it a priority to teach them to say thank you.

During her lessons, Edwards also models kindness and respect by weaving positive language into her teaching. She gives students the tools and practice to communicate constructively—even when they feel frustrated.

“It’s about figuring out what kids are passionate about, helping them find their joy, and then building the structures to support them in doing those things,” Poland Regional High School principal Erik Anderson added. “That’s what Julia does day in and day out.”

Edwards’ impact extends beyond the school walls. She brings students into the community to sing, organizes joyful holiday caroling outings complete with hot cocoa, and helps staff to connect through music on opening day each year.

“She puts so much of her own personal time, energy, and passion into bringing the students out into the community,” RSU 16 school board member and parent Jess Smith said. “It’s one of our core values, and she’s just such a good example of that.”

When Edwards was named the 2025 Androscoggin County Teacher of the Year, her school community celebrated with a cherished “clap-in,” a tradition typically reserved for the first day of school when teachers line the entrance to cheer students into the building. This time, it was Edwards’ turn to be celebrated as she arrived, surrounded by applause from colleagues, students, and alumni.

“She has a depth of support from her colleagues,” Anderson added.

Students Max and Brady gave the selection panel a tour of the school as part of the visit:

Pride in Edwards’ nomination is felt deeply throughout RSU 16, as the community reflects on whether Edwards will be named the 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year in the weeks ahead.

“It would be a really wonderful thing,” community member and parent Carrie Mastrogiacomo said. “Not just because of the teacher that she is but also because music so often gets overlooked. This would spotlight how important it is for kids to have a place to shine and find their voices.”

Whether teaching in the classroom, building community through song, or helping others to see their own strengths, Edwards embodies the spirit of Maine’s educators. Her school family and the larger community she continues to touch with her work are celebrating her well-deserved recognition as a finalist for 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year.

This article is part of a series profiling the four finalists for 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year. Visit the Maine DOE Newsroom throughout the week to learn more about each finalist.