Maine Teachers and School Staff Highlighted on News Center Maine as part of 2022 #LoveTeaching and #LoveSchoolStaff Campaign

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) and News Center Maine have partnered on a two-week campaign to highlight the amazing work of Maine teachers and school staff. This marks the second year in a row for the partnership, with News Center Maine airing video clips of people working in Maine schools, talking about where they work and why they love what they do.

Starting on Valentine’s Day, the first day of the national #LoveTeaching campaign, and running through February 27^th, the videos feature Maine’s education workforce in all regions of Maine working in the many different roles in Maine’s schools. Video messages from teachers will air on News Center Maine’s morning and evening news shows from February 14th – 20th and video messages from school staff videos will air the week of February 21st – 27th.

“Teachers and school staff do heroic work each and every day to teach, nurture, feed, transport, coach, and support our young people,” said Education Commissioner Pender Makin. “And they’ve overcome enormous challenges throughout the pandemic to provide the education and support students need. Teachers and school staff are our heroes and we’re thrilled to partner with News Center Maine so that teachers and school staff can talk about their schools, students, communities, and what drives their passion to work in our schools. And they can get some love from their communities in return.”

During the campaign, News Center Maine will also be soliciting videos from community members across Maine, inviting them to celebrate their local teachers and school staff members, thanking them for all their hard work. Students and their families, as well as fellow educators, are encouraged to give a video shout out to say, “Thank you!” and send along to News Center Maine. One can share a video by:

Using the Near ME tool of their mobile app
Texting them to 207-828-6622
Posting them on social media and using the hashtag # LoveTeaching or #LoveSchoolStaff

Be sure to watch News Center Maine, WCSH 6/WLBZ 2 now through February 27^th to see the faces of the amazing people working to educate young people in our state and hear from students and families who are sending in their messages of appreciation and love.

Videos will continue to be added here once they are highlighted on the air.

MEDIA RELEASE: Education Commissioner Pender Makin Applauds Governor Mills’ Directive to Expand Summer Outdoor Learning and Enrichment Opportunities for Maine Children

Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin issued the following statement following Governor Mills’ State of the State address in which she directed the Maine Department of Education to expand summer outdoor opportunities for Maine children:

“We enthusiastically accept Governor Mills’ challenge to expand summer outdoor learning and enrichment opportunities for Maine children. Our state has such an amazing bounty of natural resources for children to explore and learn from, and these experiences build a lifelong love of nature and adventure. We also know that getting outside and interacting with nature allows students to build teamwork and leadership skills, helps reduce stress and anxiety, and the new skills children learn in our vast outdoor classroom enable success inside the classroom as well.

“In response to this challenge, the Department will collaborate with natural resource organizations to provide an immersive and engaging educational experience for students from all over the state. We look forward to engaging with them and our schools to deliver Maine students new opportunities to reconnect and explore all that Maine has to offer and learn from.”

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MEDIA RELEASE: Mills Administration, MSSA Statements on COVID-19 School Health Protocols Discussion

The Maine Departments of Education and Health and Human Services and the Maine School Superintendent Association released the following statements on today’s meeting about COVID-19 school health protocols:

“As the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved, our meetings with the Department of Education and Maine school superintendents provide a valuable opportunity to discuss how to help local communities make decisions that support the best educational experience possible for Maine children,” said Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew and Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Director Nirav D. Shah. “ As our COVID-19 trends show positive signs, this meeting was a collaborative and productive discussion and we will continue to evaluate public health recommendations for schools, including testing and masking, that will help keep students safely in Maine classrooms.”

“The Maine School Superintendent Association and our members appreciate the ongoing conversations with Maine CDC,” said Maine School Superintendent Association Executive Director Eileen King. “We hope that our concerns and experiences will help to guide a plan forward that will safely reduce the need for mitigation strategies against COVID-19 in schools.”

“Today’s conversation was an excellent opportunity to continue building understanding between the community health experts and school leaders who are tasked with providing safe, in-person learning,” said Commissioner of Education Pender Makin. “We are immensely proud of the incredible leadership our school superintendents continue to demonstrate in the midst of an ongoing pandemic, and for their perspectives. We are also grateful for the continued guidance and partnership with Maine CDC as they help our schools adjust to evolving conditions and recommendations.”

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MEDIA RELEASE: Maine Department of Education and Educate Maine Launch Guest School Staff Member Campaign

The Maine Department of Education and Educate Maine have partnered to launch a Guest School Staff Member campaign with a challenge to businesses, leaders, and citizens to help fill the needs in our schools. Guest School Staff Members can serve a variety of roles in schools, filling in for or supporting bus drivers, playground monitors, food service workers, teachers, and support staff.

As part of the effort, the Department of Education unveiled a new Guest School Staff website to streamline the application process into nine easy steps and the Department will automatically reimburse applicants for the $15 application and $55 fingerprinting fees. For those employers who grant volunteer days to their employees, encouraging those staff to sign up to be a Guest School Staff Member for a day or two can make a real difference. Two days times 50 employees equals 100 days of support that helps keep students in school and engaged in learning.

“This is a call to action because our schools need you to serve as a guest school staff member,” said Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin. “Over the last few weeks, I’ve been in schools working as a substitute in classrooms, joining cafeteria staff to serve fresh and nutritious meals, helping with lunch duty and clean up, and filling in wherever necessary. There are so many ways you can fill the needs in our schools, and it’s been such a joy to experience the amazing work happening across all parts of our schools and to be with amazing students and school staff.”

Maine’s schools have been safely open for business, ensuring that students have access whenever possible to high quality, in-person learning. But the statewide surge of COVID-19 has increased school staffing shortages, and many schools have had to make emergency and disruptive pivots to remote learning, simply because they do not have enough adults to ensure that schools can operate safely and effectively. Guest School Staff Members can help fill these gaps and ensure schools remain open to serve our students.

“Recently, at an Educate Maine Board meeting, Heather Whitaker, 2020 Maine Teacher of the Year, talked about the lack of substitute teachers in the Gorham School district and across the state and the impact this shortage is having on students, teachers and parents. Our Board decided that if ever there was a time for business and education to work together, this is it,” said Clif Greim, Educate Maine Board Chair and Maine State Chamber Board Chair. “This ‘call to action’ is an opportunity for us to work with our education partners to alleviate some of the burden by having employers urge employees to serve as substitute teachers in their local schools.”

“While this may not be a long-term solution, it will help ease some of the stress and strain on the educators in our schools and we appreciate the Department of Education’s efforts,” said Maine Education Association President Grace Leavitt.

“You can make a real difference and be a hero by supporting our schools and students,” said Makin. “You can choose which districts you want to support, in many instances when and where you want to work, and it won’t cost you anything but your time, which will be well spent with our amazing young people. I promise you’ll be inspired by the energy and miracles that fill our schools each and every day.”

“Superintendents have been doing everything possible to make sure classrooms have teachers and schools have what they need to educate our students, but we simply need more people to support our schools, staff, and students,” said Eileen King, Maine School Superintendent Association Executive Director. “We welcome this creative effort to create an easy process for people interested in substituting to connect with their districts, apply, and work towards supporting our students. We need you, so apply today!”

“Our school principals continue to be tasked with patching together staffing plans and covering vacancies, trying to keep students safely learning in classrooms, despite the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 on school staff availability,” said Holly Blair, Executive Director of Maine Principals’ Association. “The efforts of Maine DOE and Educate Maine to raise awareness to the need and ease the process for substitute school staff is greatly appreciated, and we join in their call to business and community members to consider become guest school staff heroes.”

For additional details and to become a Guest School Staff Member visit: www.maine.gov/doe/substitute or download this one-pager.

MEDIA RELEASE: Application Process Open for Student Position on Maine State Board of Education

Student voice is critically important to the Maine State Board of Education, and they are seeking applications for the newest student member to join the Board. Applications are being accepted February 1, 2022 – March 1, 2022.

The Maine State Board of Education has two nonvoting student members who join the Board as high school juniors and serve for two years, one enrolled in a school in Maine’s First Congressional District; the other enrolled in a school in the Second Congressional District. At all times, the State Board has one high school junior and one senior as members, with staggered appointment.

Applications are currently being accepted from students who attend school in the Second Congressional District (includes Androscoggin, Aroostook, Franklin, Hancock, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, Waldo, Washington counties, and part of Kennebec County) and are currently a high school sophomore. Application materials are available on the State Board of Education web page. The Board has also emailed and mailed application materials to all Second Congressional District high school principals and school counselors. Completed applications should be mailed to:

Mary Becker, Maine State Board of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0023

After applications close on March 1, 2022, they will be reviewed according to the process described in Maine Education and School Statutes, Title 20-A, Chapter 5, State Board of Education. Semifinalists will be interviewed in March 2022, after which three finalists will be chosen. The names and application materials of the finalists will be sent to the Governor’s office for final selection. The selected student will be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Maine State Senate.

This is an extraordinary opportunity for Maine students to practice civic engagement while serving as both a representative of Maine students and an active education leader in our state.

For further information please visit the Maine State Board of Education web page or contact Mary Becker, Board Assistant, at 624-6616 or via email at Mary.Becker@maine.gov.

MEDIA RELEASE: Education Commissioner Pender Makin Serves Lunch, Helps Teachers and School Staff at Windham High School

Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin spent the day at Windham High School, helping educators and school staff and elevating the need for additional substitutes and volunteers in Maine schools. Makin served lunch to students, visited an art class, met with educators and administrators, and spent time with teachers and students in the Katahdin Program, which provides alternative education programming for students.

“I’m so in awe of what is happening in our schools. We’re here today to shine a light on the amazing work being done by the educators, school staff, and students in our public schools and to call attention to the need for communities to support schools by volunteering and substituting,” said Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin.

When asked why people should substitute, Makin replied, “You get to make your own hours, you have the opportunity to be with the most magnificent young people, and you get to learn so much. Education is a symbiotic process—you can’t help but grow your own brain while you’re helping children learn.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated staff shortages and created a greater need for substitutes and volunteers across the state. Last month, Makin helped fill teacher and staff shortages at Readfield Elementary School. While at Readfield, Makin helped students with their math skills, worked with 1st grade students to create glossaries for books they were working on, helped students in the Readiness Skills Program, and served on lunch duty.

Photos from the day will be posted on the Maine Department of Education’s Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts.

MEDIA RELEASE: Organizations Needed to Provide Free Meals to Children this Summer

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 income eligible children in Maine during the school year. To extend this program, Maine Department of Education (DOE) Child Nutrition is seeking organizations who would like to participate in the federally funded Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which provides children healthy free meals when school is not in session.

“For many children, their school provides the only reliable, nutritious meal that they can count on and we need to make sure those meals are there for Maine children during the summer break,” said Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin. “By participating in this program, community groups and organizations can have a tremendous impact on the health and well-being of children in their communities. The Department of Education is thankful for those organizations that continue to be a part of this vital summer program and we welcome those joining this year to extend our reach and help feed additional children in Maine.”

In July 2021, 131 sponsors participated in the program, serving meals at 861 sites throughout the state. Although there are sponsors operating in every county in Maine, there is still a long way to go towards feeding all eligible children during the summer. Community partners are working to maximize the number of sponsors utilizing the availability of funds under the SFSP.

SFSP may be offered statewide in areas or at sites where more than 50 percent of the children are eligible for free or reduced meal benefits under the National School Lunch Program or census track data supports the need. Organizations that provide services in rural communities or near migrant farm workers and tribal populations are urged to participate. Eligible sponsoring organizations include schools, nonprofit residential summer camps, government agencies, and tax-exempt organizations including faith-based organizations.

Maine DOE encourages any eligible organization to consider providing this much-needed service to Maine children. The agency will begin accepting applications to participate in February. Approved sponsors will be reimbursed for eligible meals served to children during the long summer break.

Interested organizations should begin planning now for a successful summer. Potential sponsors are required to receive training from Maine DOE. Training will occur virtually, and DOE staff will assist in the onboarding process. Maine DOE is available to consult by phone and email to answer questions regarding summer meals.

For more information about the Maine DOE’s Summer Food Service Program, contact adriane.ackroyd@maine.gov, call 592-1722 or visit https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/nutrition/programs/sfsp.

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Disclosures
Federal
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1)     mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2)      fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3)      email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

State
The Maine Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, religion, ancestry or national origin.

Complaints of discrimination must be filed at the office of the Maine Human Rights Commission, 51 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0051. If you wish to file a discrimination complaint electronically, visit the Human Rights Commission website at https://www.maine.gov/mhrc/file/instructions and complete an intake questionnaire. Maine is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Commissioner of Education Pender Makin Kicks Off Read to ME Challenge at Solon Elementary School

Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin kicked off the state’s Read to ME Challenge at Solon Elementary School today by reading Mel Fell to Mrs. Currie’s second grade class. This is the seventh year that the Maine Department of Education is collaborating with community organizations and schools on this month-long public awareness campaign to promote the importance of literacy for all of Maine’s students, regardless of age.

The Read to ME Challenge encourages adults to read to children for 15 minutes, capture that moment via a photo or a video, and then post it to social media and challenge others to do the same using the hashtag #ReadtoME. The Department of Education will be highlighting Read to ME Challenge events throughout the month, including with Deputy Commissioner Dan Chuhta and Maine Department of Inland Wildlife and Fisheries Commissioner Judy Camuso.

“Read to ME is a simple yet powerful challenge that promotes literacy and a lifelong love of reading for children—and it’s fun,” said Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin. “When you read aloud to a child it helps them build their own reading and vocabulary skills, exposes them to the world, establishes reading as an enjoyable and valuable activity, strengthens their bonds with trusted adults, and provides a foundation for future success as adults. I encourage everyone to join educators, parents and others across the state by completing the Read to ME challenge and making a difference for Maine children.”

The simple act of reading aloud to a child 15 minutes a day for five years results in 27,375 minutes of language exposure, which can put children on the path to high literacy achievement and helps them build knowledge and vocabulary. Research demonstrates a number of benefits to reading to children, from birth through their childhoods and even teenage years, including modeling reading as an enjoyable lifelong activity, stimulating brain development, reducing stress and anxiety, building knowledge of the world, and helping develop the skills necessary to succeed in their lives.

Schools and community organizations can find a toolkit and resources on the Department of Education website and the Department will be sharing videos, photos, and updates from the challenge all month long on social media. Participants in the challenge are reminded to use the hashtag #ReadtoME and to tag the Maine DOE at @mdoenews on Twitter, @MaineDepartmentofEducation1 on Facebook, and @mainedepted on Instagram.

MEDIA RELEASE: Education Commissioner Pender Makin Helps Fill Staff Shortages at Readfield Elementary School

Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin helped alleviate some of the pandemic-related staff shortages at Readfield Elementary School today by helping teachers in several classes and working lunch duty.

The heightened transmissibility of Omicron has resulted in reduced staff in schools and increased the strain on educators and school staff across Maine. Readfield Elementary was one of several schools in RSU 38 last week that moved to remote learning due to staff shortages, and schools across the state have been forced to do the same in recent weeks. Makin encouraged Maine residents to become substitutes and volunteer for what schools need to help fill the gap caused by these shortages.

“It was such a joy to be with students and staff at Readfield Elementary today and to be able to lend a helping hand when everyone is stretched so thin,” said Maine Commissioner of Education Pender Makin. “There’s a tremendous need in our schools right now for parents and members of the community to become substitutes and volunteers so that we can keep schools open and serving the needs of Maine children. We as individuals can make a real difference in this moment and I encourage Mainers to help fill the needs in our schools.”

“In all my years working in education, I’ve never had a Commissioner reach out and do what you are doing,” said Readfield Elementary School Principal Jeff Boston upon greeting Makin. “You know your roots!”

Superintendent Jay Charette was also on hand and has been filling in as high school principal in recent weeks to cover shortages. “Our motto is ‘all hands on deck’,” he said in describing their approach to handling shortages.

While at Readfield, Makin helped students with their math skills in Ms. Gordon’s Math Intervention room, worked with 1st grade students in Miss Tarrio’s class to create glossaries for books they are working on, sat with and helped students in the Readiness Skills Program eat their lunches, and also took the opportunity to play paper, rock, scissors with students while on lunch duty.

Photos from the day are available upon request and will be shared on social media by following @MDOENews.

MEDIA RELEASE: Maine Department of Education Announces 2021/2022 Student Cabinet

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) has announced that 21 Maine students have been selected to join its Student Cabinet for the 2021/2022 school year. The newest members will join 14 students serving their 2nd year as Student Cabinet members, along with the Maine State Board of Education’s two Student Representatives who also serve on the Cabinet each year.

This is the third year the Maine DOE has appointed students to a Student Cabinet with the goal of integrating student voice into decision-making on education issues that impact their journey, and those of their peers, through Maine’s education system. In past years students have helped in highlighting mental health needs at school, raised issues of racial equity, and helped brainstorm ways to individualize learning.

“I’m thrilled to welcome our newest members of our Student Cabinet and to welcome back our returning members. Student Cabinet members come from every part of our state and reflect the full diversity of our student population, bringing their ideas, voice and experiences to the table to strengthen our schools,” said Commissioner of Education Pender Makin. “Their perspectives and their power to innovate, problem solve, and bring fresh ideas are critically important to our work at the Department of Education, and I look forward to working with this group of leaders.”

The Student Cabinet convenes virtually each month starting in December to provide regular input to Maine DOE. This year is a special opportunity for Cabinet members to design pilot projects that reflect on the past two school years, and reinvent how schools think about remote and responsive learning as part of the Reinventing Responsive Education Ventures (RREV) initiative. RREV is the product of a $16.9 million award from U.S. DOE to support systemic investments which will strengthen a culture of innovation in PK-12 education and enhance learning experiences for all students. As part of this year’s program, the students are currently using design thinking processes to help identify and develop solutions to complex problems in education.

Comprised of 37 students in grades 5 – 12 and first year of college from all 16 counties in Maine, Maine DOE Student Cabinet members serve as representatives and advocates for the unique educational challenges in their region, as well as for underrepresented student groups who may face challenges in education.

To learn more about the Maine DOE Student Cabinet visit: The Maine DOE Student Cabinet Webpage.