Category: Maine DOE Update

Professional Development, Training, and Events

Educational Trip Leader Permit Training Available at Maine DOE Annual Summit

Does your school unit sponsor outdoor learning opportunities in one of the following categories? Overnight trips away from potable water and/or Use of non-motorized watercraft on Maine’s waterways. Answering yes to either statement indicates that your school unit requires a school employee or approved volunteer to hold an Educational Trip Leader (ETL) permit to lead outdoor educational trips. | More

New Resources Available to Support PK-12 Literacy and Neuroscience Integration

The Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) Interdisciplinary Instruction Team has created new resources for supporting PK-12 literacy instruction. The Integration of Literacy and Neuroscience suite of resources reflects current research-based practices through a combination of asynchronous professional learning modules, strategies, and additional resources to support student engagement and reading comprehension through the lens of neuroscience. | More

There is Still Time to Register for the 2024 DOE Annual Summit!

The 2024 Maine Department of Education (DOE) Annual Summit will be held August 6th – 8th at the Augusta Civic Center. This year’s event features an all-in-one events app where you can select a personalized schedule following event registration. Register for the Annual Summit Here | See the Agenda & Sessions

View current Maine Department of Education employment opportunities here

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities:

Maine DOE Update – June 28, 2024

From the Maine Department of Education

Reporting Items

Three Maine Educators Honored as Alternative Education Teachers of the Year

News & Updates

Students and Families in Dover-Foxcroft Kick Off Hot Lunch Summer with New SUN Bucks Program

Support for Educators Teaching Shared History of Genocide & The Holocaust

Helping students understand the complex and painful truths of the history of genocide and the Holocaust is not always easy. The Maine Department of Education (DOE) and its partners have many resources available to Maine educators to support them personally and professionally in this work. | More

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

Ignite PI and SAD 1 Adult & Community Education Partnership Provides Free Hospitality Training in Northern Maine

This spring, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) awarded a $400,000 Strengthening Maine’s Workforce Grant to Ignite Presque Isle and SAD 1 Adult & Community Education’s workforce development partnership. | More

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) joins the Alternative Education Association of Maine in congratulating the 2024 Alternative Educators of the Year. The Alternative Education Association of Maine selects the recipients of the Maine Alternative Education Teachers of the Year for their hard work and determination as alternative education teachers in the State of Maine. | More

Biddeford ‘Odyssey of the Mind’ Teams Continue their Ongoing Success at State and World Championship

Biddeford High and Middle Schools had sweeping success in the recent Odyssey of the Mind State Championship, with six out of the nine teams placing in the State Championship, four teams placing in the top three of their respective divisions, and four teams moving on to the World Finals in Ames, Iowa. | More

Professional Development, Training, and Events

Summer Asynchronous Book Study Opportunities

Starting this July, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Interdisciplinary Instruction Team will offer two asynchronous book studies. Both asynchronous book studies include a free copy of the book and discussions on integrating the concepts into instruction, reflection, and collaboration through the EnGiNE learning management system. | More

Save the Date! 14th Annual Maine PBIS Conference Slated for November 2024

The Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) Office of Special Services & Inclusive Education will host the 14th Annual Maine PBIS Conference on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at the Augusta Civic Center from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. | More

Maine DOE Annual Summit Session Registration

Event and session registration are open for the 2024 Maine Department of Education (DOE) Annual Summit held August 6th – 8th at the Augusta Civic Center. Sessions take place from 7 am to 5 pm each day. Breakfast and lunch are included! This year’s event features an all-in-one events app where you can select a personalized schedule following event registration. Register for the Annual Summit Here | See the Agenda & Sessions

View current Maine Department of Education employment opportunities here

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities:

Seeking Teacher Leadership Fellows for Civics, Financial Literacy, and Arts Integration

As part of The Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) work to elevate the expertise of Maine’s education field, we are looking to hire Maine educators as Fellows in the following areas: Civics, Financial Literacy, and Arts Integration. | More

Maine DOE Update – June 14, 2024

From the Maine Department of Education

Reporting Items

News & Updates

Maine Department of Education Offers Educators Free Access to Evidence-Based Literacy Modules

To support educators in providing evidence-based literacy instruction, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) announced that all K-5 educators have free access to high-quality literacy modules through June of 2025. Educators who complete the modules by August 23, 2024, will be eligible to receive a stipend for each completed module. | More

Child Nutrition Programs Continue to Feed Children Beyond School Year with the Hot Lunch Summer Food Service Program and SUN Bucks

With the assistance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Maine public schools have long offered a nutritious breakfast and lunch meal program to thousands of children in Maine during the school year. In Maine, students have access to meals during the school day at no cost to them or their families. With summer around the corner, students can still access the meals they need through the Summer Food Service Program. This U.S. Department of Agriculture program operates at hundreds of sites across Maine. | More

Maine DOE Highlights Expanding Health Resource Access to Multilingual Families in Maine

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

Eight Maine Students Awarded Martin Mackey Memorial Scholarship

The Alternative Education Association of Maine has selected eight students to receive this year’s Martin Mackey Memorial Scholarship. Each student will be awarded $500 when they graduate. Each graduate’s inspirational story and passion for their education make them more than deserving of this award. | More

Bucksport Eighth Graders Unplug and Help Out During Camping Trip at Birch Point Beach State Park

This May, eighth graders from Bucksport Middle School left the screens behind for a weekend of learning and service at Birch Point Beach State Park in Owls Head. Miles Bisher, Bucksport Middle School’s social studies teacher and outdoor club advisor, brought his students out as part of the Teens to Trails’ Life Happens Outside® Challenge, one of the Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative’s 2024 programs. | More

TeachWithTech Grant Allows for Enthusiastic, Independent Learning with Lego Sets at Chelsea Elementary School

Students at Chelsea Elementary School were overjoyed at the sight of twenty new Lego sets as they walked into the classroom this year. Through the Maine Department of Education’s TeachWithTech grant, Chelsea Elementary School was able to receive twenty Lego SPIKE Essentials Kits. These Lego sets were accompanied by iPads, which were preloaded with the SPIKE app. | More

Maine DOE ConCEPT Pilot Spotlight: A Transformative Professional Learning Journey

This year has been transformative for Leslie Denton, the seventh-grade English Language Arts (ELA) teacher at Mt. View Middle School in Thorndike. Leslie’s professional learning journey, marked by a commitment to the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), was significantly influenced by her attendance at a ConCEPT Professional Development conference hosted by the Maine Department of Education. The conference, featuring renowned educator Katie Novak, equipped Leslie with valuable skills and strategies that she diligently implemented. | More

Maine DOE ConCEPT Pilot Spotlight: A Successful Intersection of Curiosity and Learning

The Maine Department of Education’s innovative ConCEPT Pilot program has yielded remarkable outcomes, as schools across the state have explored new ways to engage students through questioning protocols and scaffolding conceptual understandings into lessons. | More

Professional Development, Training, and Events

Registration Now Open for Maine Department of Education 2024 Annual Summit

2024 Annual Summit Theme: Supporting the Whole Student and School Community. Registration is now open for the 2024 Maine Department of Education (DOE) Annual Summit held August 6th – 8th at the Augusta Civic Center. Sessions take place from 7 am to 5 pm each day. Breakfast and lunch are included in the registration fee of $150 for all three days. This year’s event features an all-in-one events app, over 150 session options with contact hours, four engaging keynote speakers, in addition to several mini-summits and other training options available during the event – Register today! | More

Professional Development Conference For Rural Maine Educators

Island Readers & Writers (IRW) will host the Dear Teacher Conference in Bangor on October 10 and 11, 2024, for educators and librarians working with students in grades Pre–K through 8. | More

Be a Part of Family Math Community of Practice

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is seeking a total of 24 Elementary School educators to participate in a Family Math Community of Practice. This opportunity will provide valuable information and resources to bolster educators’ participation in the growing movement known as Family Math.| More

View current Maine Department of Education employment opportunities here

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities:

Seeking Applicants for Maine DOE Mobile Learning Program Director

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) seeks a passionate Educator and Curriculum Developer to join our dedicated educational team in the Office of Teaching and Learning. This one-year contracted position will be instrumental in advancing the state’s commitment to fostering an inclusive, well-rounded educational experience that supports every student’s academic, social, emotional, and physical development. This position will lead the Maine DOE’s mobile learning program that will work with teams within the Maine DOE and Maine educators to develop career-focused, interdisciplinary, project-based, and experiential learning experiences to share with classroom teachers. | More

Maine DOE Update – June 7, 2024

From the Maine Department of Education

Reporting Items

Due Soon: ESEA Demographics Report

The ESEA Demographics Report is an aggregation of students enrolled on 5/31* for participation in state assessments during the current assessment administration. This report includes student demographic categories for assessment and accountability purposes. | More

Due Dates & Resources for Quarter End-of-Year Reports

Four end-of-year reports require certification in June and July. These reports aggregate data from the entire school year’s reporting timeframe. | More

State Reporting Summer Training

Mark your calendars! Registration for the Data Summer Training is currently open! Trainings are scheduled at varying locations across the state from July 29th to August 1st and August 12th to August 15th. This year’s training will focus on reporting resource updates, guidance for data reporting best practices, and assistance with student enrollment. We look forward to providing this opportunity to meet with school administrative units to network and collaborate. | More

News & Updates

Maine DOE Introduces 7 Interns this Summer

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is welcoming seven new interns for the summer. The student interns, who will be working on a variety of teams at the Maine DOE, were selected for the Maine Government Summer Internship Program by the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center at the University of Maine. Maine DOE’s interns will spend the summer assisting with daily operations, projects, events, and other meaningful work while gaining knowledge, connections, and professional experience at the Maine DOE this summer. | More

Maine Students Explore Postsecondary Life at the First Annual Transition Maine Youth Summit

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.| More

Maine DOE Seeking Members for SEL4ME State Advisory Team

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. | More

100 Child and Adult Care Food Program Sponsors and Providers Attend Maine DOE Annual Training

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. | More

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

MADSEC Names 2024 Special Education Honorees of the Year

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. | More

Turner Elementary School Principal Shares How She Increased the Feeling of Safety at School

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. | More

Bon Voyage! Bath Students Headed to 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. | More

Maine Employer Summit Engages Youth to Tackle Workforce Challenges

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. | More

Professional Development, Training, and Events

Registration Now Open for Maine Department of Education 2024 Annual Summit

Leveling Up Literacy in Maine: Free Self-Paced Modules for Maine Educators this Summer

The Mane DOE is pleased to announce a free professional development opportunity for Maine educators working in Kindergarten–Grade 5 regular and special education settings. These self-paced, asynchronous, evidence-based literacy modules will be available to educators from June 12, 2024 to June 11, 2025. *Limited Time – Educator Stipends Available for Modules Completed Prior to August 23, 2024. | More

Asynchronous Course: Introduction to the Question Formulation Technique

The Maine Department of Education (DOE)  Interdisciplinary Instruction Team is hosting two summer courses called Question, Reflect, Repeat: Introduction to the Question Formulation Technique. The Question Formulation Technique is a powerful strategy to help students and adults ask their own questions, advocate for themselves, and participate in decision-making processes. | More

Celebrate Success, Foster Sustainability at the 2024 Maine ELO Summit!

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). | More

Leading Early Learning Fellowship—A Professional Learning Series for Elementary School Administrators

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. | More

No Cost Professional Learning Course: Visual Access to Mathematics Focused on Multilingual Learners

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 the Education Development Center. | More

View current Maine Department of Education employment opportunities here

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities:

Maine DOE Update May 10, 2024

From the Maine Department of Education

Reporting Items

Maine DOE Data Management Reports Opening Soon: Maine School Approval & ESEA Demographics Report

The following two Maine DOE Data Management Reports will open soon. Maine School Approval opens 5/15, and ESEA Demographics opens 5/15. | More

News & Updates

Maine’s 2024 County Teachers of the Year Announced

Sixteen Maine teachers were announced as 2024 County Teachers of the Year at a ceremony in the Hall of Flags at the Maine State Capitol during Teacher Appreciation Week. Governor Janet Mills joined Maine Department of Education Commissioner Pender Makin, Educate Maine Executive Director Jason Judd, State Board of Education Chair Fern Desjardins, 2024 Maine Teacher of the Year Joshua Chard, and Maine County and State Teachers of the Year Association Co-President Hillary Bellefleur to announce and honor the new class of County Teachers of the Year. | More

Maine DOE and Live and Work in Maine Launch New Phase of Nationwide “Live and Teach in Maine” Campaign

To kick off Teacher Appreciation Week, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) and Live and Work in Maine joined teachers and education supporters to launch the second year of their Live and Teach in Maine campaign. At an event at Portland International Jetport, Live and Work and the Maine DOE unveiled new Jetport ads that highlight the unique benefits of teaching and schools in Maine. | More

Maine Solutionaries: How Maine Educators are Learning to Support the Leaders of Tomorrow

More than 40 Maine educators came together recently for the first of four Maine Solutionaries project kick-offs. Guided by the Institute for Humane Education, these educators learned how to use the curriculum to empower students to solve the real-life problems they care about in their schools and communities.| More

Maine DOE Seeking Public Comments for a Tydings Amendment Waiver of FY22 American Rescue Plan (ARP) Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Administrative Funds

Pursuant to the authority granted under section 8401(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the Maine Department of Education (DOE) intends to apply for a Tydings Amendment waiver from the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE). As required, the Maine DOE is seeking 15 days of public comment from May 8, 2024 – May 23, 2024, on the request to waive the period of availability for ARP ESSER state administrative funds. | More

Application Deadline Extended to May 15 for the ‘Maine Out-of-School-Time’ Career Exploration Grants

Apply Now! Schools, community-based organizations, and childcare providers can apply for the 2024 Maine Out-of-School Time Career Exploration grants through the Maine Department of Education (DOE). These grants support meaningful career exploration opportunities for students in grades 4 – 6 that connect students with Maine businesses and career opportunities, which may include experiential learning trips, guest speakers, job shadows, and more! Underlying these experiences is critical to helping students build and strengthen relationships with caring adults and peers in their schools, childcare centers, and communities. | More

Highlighting the Role of School Nurses Through the School Health Annual Report

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is highlighting the important work of school nurses this week in celebration of School Nurse Day on May 8. For over 120 years, school nurses have been critical to all aspects of student health, including improving public health. Each year, school nurses statewide complete the School Health Annual Report. It is used to satisfy the requirements for health-related data collection, which includes emergency medication administration, vision and hearing screening data, and other points. | More

RSU 75 School Team Crowned the 2024 Maine DOE Farm to School Cook-off Champion

Teams representing RSU 75, Lewiston Public Schools and Auburn Public Schools, and consisting of one school nutrition employee and one student, sharpened their knives and skills for a fun day of cooking. They whipped up vegetarian and meat-based dishes using local tofu donated from Heiwa Tofu in Rockport and local chicken donated from Maine Family Farms in Portland; both of which were challenge ingredients for the competition. The dishes were scored based on presentation, taste, creative use of challenge ingredients, and feasibility to be used in a school kitchen. | More

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

Mt. Blue Nurse Team Boosts School Health and Safety with CPR/AED Training for Educators

As the state of emergency brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic gradually quelled, the Mt Blue Regional School District nurse team could finally catch their breath and refocus on the projects they had put on hold amidst the crisis. | More

Mt. Ararat ELO Coordinator Partners with Local Credit Unions to Empower Tomorrow’s Financially Savvy Generation

During financial literacy month in April, Doug Ware, the Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO) Coordinator at Mount Ararat High School, hosted a Financial Fitness Fair for the junior class. | More

Lincoln Academy Hosts 30 Businesses at 3rd Annual Peter J. Benner Job Fair for Students in the Region

This spring, Lincoln Academy hosted its third annual Peter J. Benner ‘92 Job Fair in Nelson Bailey Gym. Lincoln Academy students, as well as students from Wiscasset Middle High School and AOS 93, were invited to meet local employers. | More

Game Night at Beech Hill School Brings Together Families, Community, and Alum in Otis

Beech Hill School in Otis, Maine, hosted its first-ever Game On! The “Family Gala” event brought together students, staff, and families for a fun-filled community event, with attendees enjoying an evening of classic games and good company. From Checkers to Connect 4, LCR to Battleship, giant versions of Sorry, Candy Land, and Jenga to an UNO tournament, the event had something for everyone. The Beech Hill School gymnasium was transformed into a game room with board games, card games, and other fun activities. | More

Two Maine Students Named 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars – Congratulations to these students!

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona today announced the 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars, recognizing 161 high school seniors for their accomplishments in academics, the arts, and career and technical education fields. The Maine scholars include Isaac N. Kahn, Kennebunk High School, Kennebunk, Maine, and Kylie Jade Thibodeau, Gray New Gloucester High School, Gray, Maine. | More

Professional Development, Training, and Events

Webinar: Fabulous Field Trips in Maine

Some of the most memorable experiences students have occur outside the classroom on field trips. This webinar hosted by Civics Teacher Leader Fellow Jessica Graham and Humanities Teacher Leader Fellows Dorie Tripp and Jim St. Pierre, will cover an array of beneficial field trips around Maine. This webinar will cover not only the field trips, but how to organize them and how to find grants that will pay for them. We hope you will attend and offer your own ideas for meaningful field trips. | More

Inclusive Education Webinar Series: The Way to Inclusion on May 22

The Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education invites you to join us in the first two webinars in our “Inclusive Education Webinar Series” presented by Dr. Kate Macleod, an innovative inclusive educator, researcher, author, and assistant professor of special education at the University of Maine Farmington. | More

(Registration Deadline Extended) Maine DOE and DHHS to Offer Early Childhood Summer Regional Summit Events With Mini Grant Opportunity

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) are offering the opportunity for a summer summit series in 2024 and 2025 to support communities in their local system alignment and coordination for early childhood care and education programming from birth through the early elementary years. Teams accepted to participate in the summit will also be awarded $800 mini grants to support their efforts in developing and implementing action plans to address an identified early care and education need in their communities. | More

The Well-Being for Educators Summer Institute Offered by St. Joseph College

Members of the Maine Department of Education Office of School and Student Supports serve on St. Joseph College’s advisory board for the Well-Being for Educators Summer Institute and will be present at the Summit to offer information and professional learning. | More