Maine DOE Announces Nominees for 2026 RISE Award

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is pleased to announce the nominees and top 10 finalists for the 2026 Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award.

Created by Congress in 2019 and overseen by the U.S. Department of Education (ED), the prestigious RISE Award honors classified employees in the education workforce who provide exemplary service. The Maine DOE, in coordination with the Office of Governor Janet T. Mills, has selected 10 finalists from a pool of 32 exceptional nominees from across Maine, submitted by school administrators, teachers, professional associations, nonprofits, parents/caregivers, students, and community members.

Classified employees include those who work in a pre-K—grade 12 setting in any of the following occupational specialties: paraprofessional, clerical and administrative services, transportation services, food and nutrition services, custodial and maintenance services, security services, health and student services, technical services, and skilled trades. RISE nominees must demonstrate excellence in work performance, school and community involvement, leadership and commitment, local support (from co-workers, school administrators, community members, etc., who speak to the nominee’s exemplary work), and enhancement of classified school employees’ image in the community and schools.

Of the 10 finalists, two individuals will be selected and announced in February of 2026. These two honorees will be submitted to ED to represent Maine for consideration in the national RISE Award. ED will announce one national honoree and present that individual with an award in the spring.

Maine’s Top 10 RISE Nominees

Finalists:

Jana Bechard
Kitchen Manager
Farrington Elementary School, Augusta School Department

Linda Cloutier
Lead Custodian
Tripp Middle School, MSAD 52

Nicholas Dare
Custodian
Scarborough Middle School, Scarborough Public Schools

Monique Gilbert
Administrative Assistant
Capital Area Technical Center, Augusta School Department

Ryan Hewins
School Security
Nokomis Regional Middle and High Schools, RSU 19

Elizabeth Loiko
Educational Technician
Sylvio Gilbert Elementary School, Augusta School Department

Elizabeth Meahl
Lead Administrative Assistant
Casco Bay High School, Portland Public Schools

Larry Plourde
Custodian
Caribou High School, RSU 39

Renee Quattrucci
Lead Custodian
Ocean Avenue Elementary School, Portland Public Schools

Neisha Strom
Educational Technician
Elm Street School, RSU 16

Maine’s Additional RISE Nominees:

Christina Aguair
Educational Technician Interventionist
Sebasticook Valley Elementary School, RSU 19

Megan Bell
Educational Technician
Jonesboro Elementary School, AOS 96

Pauline Bowie
Lead Custodian
James W. Russell School, MSAD 15

Susan Cabana
Educational Technician
Westbrook High School, Westbrook School Department

Gloria Carter
Secretary for Student Services
Bonny Eagle Middle School, MSAD 6

Reinette Chenard
District Data Manager
RSU 10

Carrie Coffren
Educational Technician
Gray-New Gloucester Middle School, MSAD 15

Jane Dunne
Educational Technician
Saccarappa School, Westbrook School Department

Valerie Dyer
Administrative Assistant
Hancock Grammar School, Hancock Public Schools

Shamso Farah
Family and Community Engagement Specialist
Multilingual and Multicultural Center, Portland Public Schools

Nicole Fyfe
Special Education Administrative Assistant
RSU 38

Greg Hatt
Educational Technician, Student Support Services
Belgrade Central School, RSU 18

Ashley Maguire
Food Service
Bucksport Middle School, RSU 25

Deidre Mooney
Pre-K Educational Technician
Dirigo Elementary School, RSU 56

Lauren Ostis
Community Partnership Coordinator
East End Community School, Portland Public Schools

Susan Russell
Educational Technician
Fort Fairfield Elementary School, MSAD 20/RSU 86

Lisa Sanborn
Administrative Assistant
T. W. Kelly Dirigo Middle School, RSU 56

Suzanne Sherman
Administrative Assistant
Boothbay Region High School, AOS 98

Teena Thibodeau
Educational Technician
Orono Middle School, RSU 26

Melissa West
Administrative Assistant
Ocean Avenue Elementary School, Portland Public Schools

Tamara Whitehurst
Administrative Assistant
Dayton Consolidated School, Dayton School Department

Nicole Witas
Educational Technician
Dirigo Elementary School, RSU 56

For more information about the RISE Award, visit ED | Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award. To learn more about Maine’s RISE Award process, visit Maine DOE | Educator Recognition.

Recognize Your Outstanding School Staff: RISE Award Now Accepting Nominations

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) invites students, friends, families, community members, educational organizations or associations, co-workers, and supervisors to nominate school employees for the Recognizing Inspirational School Employees (RISE) Award. Anyone can nominate. The deadline to submit a nomination is October 15, 2025.

In collaboration with Maine Governor Janet T. Mills and the U.S. Department of Education, Maine DOE is now accepting nominations for the prestigious RISE Award. This federal award, passed by Congress and overseen by the U.S. Department of Education, is intended to honor and promote classified school employees who provide exemplary service.

Through the RISE Award, we honor the often-unsung heroes whose work behind the scenes is essential to ensuring safe, supportive, and effective learning environments. Publicly recognizing their service strengthens morale, boosts motivation, and reaffirms our commitment to valuing all roles within the education workforce.

Who Is a Classified School Employee?

A classified school employee is a staff member employed by a state, local education agency, or nonprofit entity who supports students in grades pre-K through grade 12 in any of the following occupational specialties:

Paraprofessionals / Educational Technicians
Clerical and Administrative Services
Transportation Services
Food and Nutrition Services
Custodial and Maintenance Services
Security Services
Health and Student Services
Technical Services
Skilled Trades

Examples include bus drivers, secretaries, cafeteria workers, school safety staff, health aides, technology staff, mechanics, crossing guards, and more.

Nominee Selection Criteria

Nominees must demonstrate excellence in the following five areas:

(A) Work performance: Reflects the nominee’s ability to fulfill their role with exceptional skill, dedication, and reliability

(B) School and community involvement: How nominees contribute to the broader school community, including volunteer efforts, participation in school activities, or engagement with families and local groups.

(C) Leadership and commitment: Emphasizes the nominee’s ability to inspire others, take initiative, and demonstrate a strong dedication to their role and school mission.

(D) Enhancement of classified school employees’ image in the community and schools: Highlights efforts to positively influence public perception and understanding of classified employees’ vital roles.

The Maine Department of Education will submit up to two finalists to the U.S. Department of Education. The U.S. Department of Education will select one finalist from across the United States to inspire excellence among classified school employees around the nation.

How Do I Submit a Nomination?

The deadline to submit a nomination is October 15, 2025.

Nominate today by clicking here.

For further information or questions, please reach out to Maine DOE Educator Excellence, Recruitment and Retention Coordinator Christina O’Neal at christina.l.oneal@maine.gov.

MEDIA RELEASE: Maine DOE, Educate Maine Announce 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year Semifinalists

Eight of the 2025 Maine County Teachers of the Year continue to be in the running for 2026 Maine State Teacher of the Year.

Augusta, MAINE — Eight exceptional Maine educators are state semifinalists for 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year. As members of the 2025 Maine County Teacher of the Year cohort, they embody the dedication, innovation, and leadership in the classroom synonymous with this recognition. These educators serve as ambassadors for their students, colleagues, and school communities, celebrating and elevating the entire teaching profession.

The semifinalists for 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year are:

Julia Edwards
2025 Androscoggin County Teacher of the Year
Choral Music Teacher
Poland Regional High School, RSU 16

Monica Malcomson
2025 Cumberland County Teacher of the Year
Second Grade Teacher
Frank I. Brown Elementary School, South Portland School Department

Annie Goodwin
2026 Hancock County Teacher of the Year
Kindergarten Teacher
Dedham Elementary School, AOS 47

Melissa Goeke
2025 Knox County Teacher of the Year
Fifth Grade Teacher
Hope Elementary School, School Union 69

Bridget Wright
2025 Lincoln County Teacher of the Year
English Teacher
Lincoln Academy

Benjamin Johnson
2025 Penobscot County Teacher of the Year
Latin Teacher
Hampden Academy, RSU 22

Dawn Lee
2025 Sagadahoc County Teacher of the Year
School Library/Media, Unified Literacy Teacher
Morse High School, RSU 1

Amanda Blunda
2025 York County Teacher of the Year
Fourth/Fifth Grade Experiential Classroom Teacher
Buxton Center Elementary School, MSAD 6

The selection process for the Maine Teacher of the Year Program is rigorous and designed by educators to offer candidates an opportunity to reflect on their instructional practice. In January, each candidate was nominated for this recognition by a member of their community, as a result of their exemplary service in education and commitment to their students. Candidates first participated in the county selection process, where a distinguished panel of teachers, principals, business leaders, and community members chose them as 2025 Maine County Teachers of the Year from among hundreds of nominees. In May, the members of this cohort embarked on the Maine State Teacher of the Year selection process, showcasing their instructional practices through a classroom video and written reflection.

In the next phase of the selection process, the eight semifinalists will deliver keynote speeches, submit professional portfolios, and participate in an expert panel discussion about educational equity, teacher leadership, and education policy.

“The Maine Teacher of the Year Program provides an essential opportunity to highlight the hard, and often underrecognized, work that Maine educators put into their classrooms every single day,” Pender Makin, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Education, said. “Congratulations to the eight 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year semifinalists on this esteemed and well-earned recognition. Your commitment to your students, communities, and the teaching profession in Maine is commendable.”

“It is an honor to recognize these exemplary educators, whose passion and commitment truly represent the best of Maine’s education community,” Jason Judd, Ed.D., Executive Director of Educate Maine, said. “Their dedication to student success, to innovation in the classroom, and to preparing the next generation of Maine leaders is truly an inspiration. We are excited to work with this cohort in the next phase of the selection process for the 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year.”

The state finalists will be announced in September, and the 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year will be revealed in October. The 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year will represent Maine in the National Teacher of the Year Program.

The Maine Teacher of the Year Program is administered by Educate Maine through a unique partnership with the Maine Department of Education, with support from the Maine County and State Teachers of the Year Association (MCSTOYA) and the Maine State Board of Education. Funding for this program is generously provided by Bangor Savings Bank, Unum, Geiger, Hannaford Supermarkets, Maine State Lottery, and the Silvernail Family.

For more information about the Maine Teacher of the Year Program, and to see a list of Maine County Teachers of the Year and Maine State Teachers of the Year, please click here.

Media Release: Maine DOE Celebrates Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School and Deering High School Employees as 2024 RISE Award State Honorees

Food Service Coordinator Sheila Nevells and Administrative Secretary Liana Littig Selected as Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) State Finalists

Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin joined School Union 76 school leaders and staff to honor Food Service Coordinator Sheila Nevells, and Deputy Commissioner Dan Chuhta joined Deering High School and Portland Public School leaders and staff to honor Administrative Secretary Liana Littig with the Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award for the extraordinary contributions they have made to their students, schools, and communities. Both honorees are known for their dedication to their communities and their support for colleagues and students.

Created by Congress in 2019 and overseen by the U.S. Department of Education, the prestigious RISE Award honors non-teaching school employees who provide exemplary service. Nevells and Littig were selected as the two state-level honorees out of ten finalists. Nearly 70 nominations were submitted to the Maine Department of Education (DOE) by colleagues and community members. Nevells and Littig were selected to represent Maine for consideration for the national RISE Award.

“I am in awe of Sheila. You are a true hero, a champion of education, and a champion of making sure kids get fed. The most fundamental thing that can happen for any of us is the food that feeds our souls and our bodies, and fuels us for learning. You have consistently gone so far above and beyond to make sure the kids in your school and community are fed,” said Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin while presenting the honor to Nevells.

“You make my job easy. I enjoy cooking for every one of you. I enjoy talking with every one of you every day. I am humbled and very appreciative of this award,” said School Union 76 Food Service Coordinator and Maine’s 2024 RISE Award State Honoree Sheila Nevells.

“Liana’s day-to-day dedication to the students, families, and staff at Deering High School has been described by her colleagues as ‘unmatched’. You are an essential part of the school, a valued community member, and a true example of a public servant,” said Maine Department of Education Deputy Commissioner Dan Chuhta while presenting the honor to Litig.

“Everyone who knows Liana says she is remarkable. She has especially impacted our Portuguese students and embraced them warmly, connecting them with the resources they need. She is so helpful and never makes anyone feel less than for needing help. We all adore her,” said Deering High School Assistant Principal Halima Noor.

“I feel so loved and appreciated. This is such a good place. They are so good to me,” said Deering High School Administrative Secretary and Maine’s 2024 RISE Award State Honoree Liana Littig.

RISE nominees demonstrate excellence in the following areas: (A) Work performance; (B) School and community involvement; (C) Leadership and commitment; (D) Local support (from co-workers, school administrators, community members, etc., who speak to the nominee’s exemplary work); (E) Enhancement of classified school employees’ image in the community and schools.

Maine’s Two RISE State Honorees

Liana Littig
Administrative Secretary
Portland Public Schools

From Liana’s nomination: Liana’s involvement in school and community is unmatched. She is the first person students and staff see when they walk in the door. For many of our newcomer students who speak Portuguese, it is the first time someone in the school system stops and has a deep, kind and welcoming conversation with them in Portuguese. All students know if they have a question to find Ms. Littig in the main office because she always has the answer or knows who does! No student is turned away without receiving a thoughtful response when she is in the office.

Liana is not a gatekeeper of knowledge but rather imparts knowledge and the know-hows of all she does to better equip staff, students and parents with what they need to have a successful day at school. Liana has also become well known in the community, especially with immigrant families.

Liana’s sense of confidence and calm demeanor has ensured our students, staff, parents and building are able to withstand even the most challenging disruptions with ease. That air of confidence and calmness shrouds the entire building and allows every single person to genuinely feel like everything is under control. That is credit to Ms. Littig!

Sheila Nevells
Food Service Coordinator
School Union 76

Fom Sheila’s nomination: Since Sheila took over as Food Service Coordinator in 2017, her work performance and leadership and commitment have been exemplary. She quickly learned all the ins and outs of USDA and our food service funding, and then took it upon herself to see that no child on our island ever went hungry. Sheila learned how to write grants, and then found every way available to provide food for everyone. CACFP, No Kid Hungry, summer food program -she went after them and worked hard to provide all these opportunities for our children and families. She organized an amazing food delivery service during the COVID lockdown and continues to provide comprehensive food service despite a number of administrative changes. Sheila goes above and beyond, and it all comes from her big heart and love for this Sheila is a quiet leader, but the programming that she does gets some great PR. She is a role model for all of us in the school system and to our children and families who come in contact with her every day. Her work ethic, ambition and drive to help others, and her big smile and caring heart impact us all.

Sheila has also done all the extra work of getting grants and running extra programming on top of her everyday work of also being Head Cook at Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School. Sheila doesn’t sit in an office all day – she cooks and serves and talks to all the kids, cleans up, and then she sits in her office after hours getting all the paperwork done and finding new ways to feed our families. Sheila is Lunch Lady Extraordinaire!
Maine’s RISE State Finalists

Sarah Beam
School Social Worker
Talbot Community School, Portland Public Schools

Kerrie Edgerton
Executive Assistant to the Superintendent
Biddeford School Department

Kadija Fulli
Custodian
Portland High School, Portland Public Schools

Ben Jacobson
Food Service Director
RSU 26

David Martin
Director of Maintenance
Maine School of Science and Mathematics

Tanya Ouellette
Secretary
Sabattus Primary, RSU 4

Nicole Richard
Ed Tech
Veazie Community School

Christine Small
Nurse’s Assistant
Portland High School, Portland Public Schools

Shelley Tinker
Transportation/Bus Driver
Lubec, SAD 19

Reminder: RISE Award Nominations Open Through Oct 20. Nominate an Extraordinary School Employee Today!

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) invites students, friends, families, community members, educational organizations or associations, co-workers, and supervisors to nominate school employees for the Recognizing Inspirational School Employees (RISE) Award. Nominate today by clicking here.

The RISE Award is a federal award, passed by Congress and overseen by the U.S. Department of Education, intended to honor and promote classified school employees who provide exemplary service. Nominees must demonstrate excellence in: work performance; school and community involvement; leadership and commitment; local support (from co-workers, school administrators, community members, etc. who speak to the nominee’s exemplary work); and enhancement of classified school employees’ image in the community and in schools.

A classified school employee is defined as an employee who works in any of the following school roles: ed tech, clerical and administrative services, transportation services, food and nutrition services, custodial and maintenance services, security services, health and student services, technical services, and skilled trades (pre-kindergarten through high school).

The Maine DOE will put forth up to two finalists to the U.S. Department of Education which will select one finalist from across the nation to inspire excellence among classified school employees around the nation.

Last school year’s state finalist was Southern Aroostook Community School Administrative Assistant Elaine Small for the extraordinary contributions she has made to students, educators, and the community. Whether it’s spearheading fundraisers to support students’ post-secondary aspirations, participating in community events, providing support to a variety of staff, or working alongside colleagues to coordinate bus routes, Small makes a huge impact each day on the students and staff around her. Read more about Small here.

The deadline to submit a nomination is October 20, 2023. Nominate today by clicking here. Anyone can nominate!

RISE Award Nominations Open. Nominate an Extraordinary Classified School Employee Today!

In collaboration with Maine Governor Janet T. Mills and the U.S. Department of Education, Maine DOE is now accepting nominations for the Recognizing Inspirational School Employees (RISE) Award. This federal award, passed by Congress and overseen by the U.S. Department of Education, is intended to honor and promote classified school employees who provide exemplary service. Nominees must demonstrate excellence in: Work performance; School and community involvement; Leadership and commitment; Local support (from co-workers, school administrators, community members, etc., who speak to the nominee’s exemplary work); and Enhancement of classified school employees’ image in the community and in schools.

A classified school employee is defined as an employee who works in any of the following occupational specialties: paraprofessional (ed tech), clerical and administrative services, transportation services, food and nutrition services, custodial and maintenance services, security services, health and student services, technical services, and skilled trades (pre-kindergarten through high school).

The Maine Department of Education will put forth up to two finalists to the U.S. Department of Education.  The U.S. Department of Education will select one finalist from across the United States to inspire excellence among classified school employees around the nation.

The deadline to submit a nomination is October 20, 2023. Nominate today by clicking here.