Category: Media Releases

MEDIA RELEASE: Maine DOE Joins MACTE in Honoring 2020/2021 CTE Students of the Year 

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) and the Maine Administrators of Career and Technical Education (MACTE) would like to congratulate the recently announced 2020/2021 Career and Technical Education (CTE) Students of the Year.

Maine’s CTE Sites and Centers recognize an outstanding graduating senior annually. Students who are recognized participate in one of a multitude of CTE programs in regions across Maine including electrical, culinary arts, multimedia, heavy equipment operations, advanced communications, certified nursing programs, early childhood education, law enforcement, building trades, agriculture, and plumbing and heating, to name a few. Many of these students are graduating high school with college credits and/or certifications that will allow them to begin working on the frontlines immediately while others have obtained advanced training and experience that will enable them to make informed choices about their future career path and education journey.

“Maine’s Career and Technical Education programs provide some of the most innovative, project-based learning opportunities available in our state,” said Education Commissioner Pender Makin. “I commend these distinguished seniors on their dedication and determination in following their passions through experiential learning. I wish each and every one of them the very the best as they write the next chapter of their future!”

To honor these students individually, Maine DOE will be highlighting each of the CTE Students of the Year with an individual profile in the Maine DOE Newsroom and on its social media sites (Facebook and Twitter) showcasing their work as CTE students and future plans as graduating seniors, including positive words from the educators who guided them on their journey.

“The Maine Administrators of Career and Technical Education are incredibly proud to honor these exceptional students,” said MACTE President Rob Callahan.  “Their hard work, professionalism and personal character have distinguished them in rigorous programs of study.  They are surely the leaders of tomorrow both in their chosen professional area and in Maine. Congratulations all!”

2021 CTE Students of the Year:

Students are listed in alphabetical order by CTE Site/Center

Nathan Crossley
Electricity Program
Bath Regional Career and Technical Center, Bath
Matthew Laflamme
Business Leadership Program
Biddeford Regional Center of Technology, Biddeford
Everett Blair
Law Enforcement Program
Capital Area Technical Center, Augusta
Brendan Blackstone
Agriculture & Welding Programs
Caribou Regional Technology Center, Caribou
Dymond Dake
Welding Program
Coastal Washington County Institute of Technology, Machias
Elaine Perkins
Early Childhood Education
Croix Regional Technical Center, Calais
Haley Walsh
CNA & Biotechnology
Foster Technology Center, Farmington
Bryce Carter
Biomedical Science Program
Hancock County Technical Center, Ellsworth
Omar Elalam
Advanced Computer Technologies II program
Lake Region Vocational Center, Naples
Colin Merritt
Plumbing & Heating
Lewiston Regional Technical Center, Lewiston
Wyatt Shepard
Building Trades program
Maine Region Ten Technical High School, Brunswick
Emily Miller
Design/Technology Program
Mid-Coast School of Technology, Rockland
Paige Dudley
Outdoor Leadership program
Mid-Maine Technical Center, Waterville
Alexis Violette
Machine Tool and Business Programs
MSAD #24, Van Buren
Katahdin Javner
Construction Technology, Information Technology, and Automotive Technology
Northern Penobscot Tech, Lincoln
Culiandra Nero
Graphic Design
Oxford Hills Technical School, Norway
Christiana Rae Gannon (Anna)
Carpentry Program
Portland Arts and Technology High School, Portland
Brandon Dubie
Agriscience Program
Presque Isle Regional Technology Center, Presque Isle
Mary T Lombardi
Engineering & Architectural Design
Sanford Regional Technical Center, Sanford
Jasmine Dixon
Building Construction
School of Applied Technology, Mexico
Emma Huntley
Early Childhood Education Program
Somerset Career and Technical Center, Skowhegan
Alyssa Drake
Nursing Program
Southern Aroostook County, Houlton
Anthony Pelletier
Allied Health Pathway
St. John Valley Technology Center, Frenchville
Ann Gerardi
Criminal Justice Program
Tri-County Technical Center, Dexter
Mackenzie Stepp
Medical Assisting Program
United Technologies Center, Bangor
Daisy Bradney
Culinary Arts Program
Waldo County Technical Center, Waldo

MEDIA RELEASE: Two Maine Students Named 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholars

U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona today announced the 57th class of 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 (hometown, scholar, school, location):

  • ME – Orrington – Devon Michael Hunter, John Bapst Memorial High School, Veazie, Maine.
  • ME – Springvale – Aislynn K Worden, Sanford High School, Sanford, Maine.

“The 2021 Presidential Scholars represent extraordinary achievements for our extraordinary times,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “I am delighted to join President Biden in saluting these outstanding young people for their achievements, service, character and continued pursuit of excellence. Their examples make me proud and hopeful about the future. Honoring them can remind us all of the great potential in each new generation and renew our commitment to helping them achieve their dreams.”

The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects scholars annually based on their academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership and demonstrated commitment to high ideals.

Of the 3.6 million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 6,000 candidates qualified for the 2021 awards determined by outstanding performance on the College Board SAT or ACT exams or through nominations made by Chief State School Officers, other partner recognition organizations and the National YoungArts Foundation’s nationwide YoungArts™ program.

As directed by Presidential Executive Order, the 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholars are comprised of one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large, 20 Scholars in the arts and 20 Scholars in career and technical education.

Created in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program has honored over 7,600 of the nation’s top-performing students. The program was expanded in 1979 to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, literary and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.

The Presidential Scholars Class of 2021 will be recognized for their outstanding achievement this summer.

A complete list of 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholars is also available at http://www.ed.gov/psp.

MEDIA RELEASE: 2021 County Teachers of the Year Announced in Virtual Ceremony  

Teachers from all 16 of Maine’s counties were honored today in a virtual announcement that was broadcast live on the Maine Department of Education’s YouTube page.

As part of the Maine Teacher of the Year Program, hundreds of teachers across Maine are nominated by a member of their school community. Through a rigorous application process, one teacher from each county is selected as the County Teacher of the Year by a panel of teachers, principals, and business community members within the county.

During the ceremony, teachers were honored by Maine Department of Education Commissioner, Pender Makin; Educate Maine Executive Director, Jason Judd; State Board of Education member, Peter Geiger; 2021 Maine Teacher of the Year, Cindy Soule; Maine County, State Teachers of the Year Association Co-President Shana Goodall; and Maine’s 2021 Poetry Out Loud Champion, Emily Paruk, a senior from Gorham High School.

2021 County Teachers of the Year:

After being named, Maine County Teachers of the Year serve as ambassadors for teachers, students, and quality education state-wide throughout the year, and continue to participate in an intensive Maine State Teacher of the Year selection process.

The Maine County Teachers of the Year are available to make presentations to local and regional organizations.

The Maine Department of Education’s Teacher of the Year Program is administered through a collaborative partnership with Educate Maine. To learn more about the Teacher of the Year Program visit: https://www.mainetoy.org/

For more information about the 2021 Maine County Teachers of the year contact Rachel Paling (Maine DOE) at rachel.paling@maine.gov or Dolly Sullivan (Educate Maine) at dolly@educatemaine.org.

MEDIA RELEASE: All Maine School Nurses Named 2020/2021 School Nurses of the Year

Since 1972, National School Nurses Day has been set aside to celebrate this unique and specialized division of nursing.  This year Governor Janet Mills and the Maine Department of Education join the Maine Association of School Nurses (MASN) to celebrate and honor school nurses on May 12th, recognizing ALL Maine school nurses as the 2020-2021 “School Nurses of the Year.”

“This past year, unlike any other, school nurses in particular across the State of Maine have helped adapt with grace and grit to protect the health of our children,” said Governor Mills in her video message to Maine school nurses.

Traditionally, school nurses have been charged with ensuring students are safe, healthy, and ready to learn. They are responsible for bridging the gap between healthcare and education.  However, since last March, the COVID-19 pandemic has exhausted school district resources and launched school nurses into new and uncharted territory.  It has redefined the role both in school buildings and communities.   

School nurses serve as a critical health hub for students, ensuring that students are ready for learning by managing complex chronic conditions; identifying and addressing mental health issues; leveling the field on health disparities and promoting healthy behaviors; enrolling children in health insurance and connecting families to healthcare providers; handling medical emergencies and now, navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic by testing, tracking and educating students and school personnel. 

In a pandemic, nursing requires a focus on individual patient care, as well as a larger perspective of public health.  Nursing skill, knowledge, intuition, and practice does not stop at the four walls of a school, but must encompass the community at large.  There is a constant awareness of how decisions affect others inside and outside of school. Students’ lives don’t end when the last bell rings and they board the bus home. These same students go to work, volunteer, visit family, and play sports.  School nurses shoulder a responsibility to keep children healthy so that the community remains healthy. 

Generally (in a non-pandemic year) school nurses operate behind the scenes in “stealth mode”, providing care, comfort and pain relief. This year however, school nurses have navigated insurmountable pressure to explain and defend community health measures and promote health and safety for all school community members. This year, school nurses have been working especially hard to facilitate students’ return to in-person learning. This means putting all the recommended mitigation measures in place while supporting teaching staff as they meet educational needs of all students. 

And so, as we approach May 12th, please remember to thank your school nurse with an elbow bump and congratulate them on being named Maine School Nurse of the Year 2021.  

 

MEDIA ADVISORY: Maine DOE to Announce the 2021 Maine County Teachers of the Year in Live Virtual Announcement on May 12 at 2pm 

What: 16 Maine teachers will be announced and honored as part of the Maine Department of Education’s Maine Teacher of the Year Program, which includes annual County Teachers of the Year awards and honors.

Who: 16 Maine teachers, representing each county in Maine; Maine Department of Education Commissioner Pender Makin; Educate Maine Executive Director Jason Judd; State Board of Education Peter Geiger; and 2021 Maine Teacher of the Year Cindy Soule.

Where: The announcement will take place on a virtual platform and be streamed live on the Maine Department of Education’s YouTube Channel at: https://youtu.be/pmqxe5LL6zk. A recording of the video will be available at this link after the announcement.

When: Wednesday, May 12, 2021 from 2:00pm – 3:30pm

Background Information:
As part of the Maine Teacher of the Year Program, hundreds of teachers across Maine are nominated by a member of their school community. Through a rigorous application process, one teacher from each county is selected as the County Teacher of the Year by a panel of teachers, principals, and business community members within the county.

After being named, Maine County Teachers of the Year serve as ambassadors for teachers, students, and quality education state-wide throughout the year. The Maine County Teachers of the Year are available to make presentations to local and regional organizations. Throughout the summer, they will continue to participate in an intensive Maine State Teacher of the Year selection process.

The Maine Department of Education’s Teacher of the Year Program is administered through a collaborative partnership with Educate Maine. To learn more about the Teacher of the Year Program visit: https://www.mainetoy.org/

For more information contact Rachel Paling (Maine DOE) at rachel.paling@maine.gov or Dolly Sullivan (Educate Maine) at dolly@educatemaine.org.

MEDIA RELEASE: Commissioner Makin Thanks Education Workforce for Teacher Appreciation Week

Today Commissioner Makin released a special video acknowledging the courage, selflessness, and dedication, especially over the past year, of educators and school staff across Maine. Her message was created in recognition of  National Teacher Appreciation Week,

“Unlike in many states across the nation, Maine schools opened their doors to students at the beginning of the school year and have continued to provide high quality education through multiple modalities thanks to the hard work, courage, resilience, and creativity of Maine teachers.”  

The Maine Department of Education has been celebrating Maine’s education workforce all week through a number of activities:

  • Gorham High School Senior and Maine’s 2021 Poetry Out Loud State Champion, Emily Paruk released an original poem capturing the magnitude of impact educators have on students
  • Maine DOE staff are sharing shout-outs to Maine educators on our social media pages, Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #Thanks4TeachingME and #TeacherAppreciationWeek.
  • Maine’s 2020 County Teachers of the Year have shared an important message welcoming pre-service educators to their team!

Check it out on our Teacher Appreciation Week Website for ideas to celebrate all school staff this week and find discounts and deals from companies who offer educator discounts during Teacher Appreciation Week and some who provide discounts year-round.

MEDIA RELEASE: Maine Celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week; 2021 Maine Poetry Out Loud Champion Releases Original Poem for Teachers

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is excited to celebrate Maine’s outstanding educators this week, May 3 – 7, 2021 and we have already begun celebrating our rockstar educators and school staff!

“Honoring our educator workforce is always important, but given the heroic effort of our schools this year to meet the needs of learners during the pandemic, teacher appreciation has moved to a whole new level of gratitude,” said Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin.

We are hoping to make certain that all of the 50,000+ Mainers who work in our schools, making sure that the nutritional, educational, and social/emotional needs of students are met, know they are appreciated for everything that they do.

Along with all of the creative and generous local “Teacher Appreciation Week” efforts happening in schools all over Maine this week, the Maine DOE is excited to share our gratitude in multiple ways throughout the week:

An Original Poem Dedicated to Maine Teachers:
Gorham High School Senior and Maine’s 2021 Poetry Out Loud State Champion, Emily Paruk shares an original poem capturing the magnitude of impact educators have on students. Grab your tissues, it’s an amazing poem and performance!

Special Thanks from DOE Staff:
We have already begun posting shout-outs to Maine educators from our staff on our social media pages, Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #Thanks4TeachingME and #TeacherAppreciationWeek. We invite everyone to join us by posting your own shout-out to a Maine educator or staff member currently working in a school or retired, using the same hashtags. Tag us on social media if you want us to share it too!

  • Facebook: @MaineDepartmentofEducation1
  • Twitter: @mdoenews

A Message to Pre-Service Educators:
Maine’s 2020 County Teachers of the Year have shared an important message welcoming pre-service educators to their team! Congratulations to the Class of 2021; thank you for choosing this profession!

Ideas to Celebrate:
For ideas on how to celebrate, take it from some of the experts who are organizing efforts all over Maine! We have compiled a list of ideas that communities throughout Maine are doing for their educators/school staff members. Check it out on our Teacher Appreciation Week Website.

Deals and Discounts:
As a special treat for our educators this week, Maine DOE compiled a list of discounts and deals from companies who offer educator discounts during Teacher Appreciation Week and some who provide discounts year-round.  This year, local Maine businesses have also provided generous offers to the educator workforce. Check out the list on our Teacher Appreciation Week Website. Local businesses that want to have an offer listed can fill out our form.

In the spirit of elevating and celebrating our workforce throughout the year, the Maine DOE in partnership with Educate Maine will be announcing the 2021 County Teachers of the Year in a live virtual announcement on May 12th on Maine DOE’s YouTube Channel. More information will be available soon!

For more information about Teacher Appreciation Week, visit our Teacher Appreciation Week Website.

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MEDIA RELEASE: 2020 Maine County Teachers of the Year Release Special Message to Pre-Service Teachers 

As we head into National Teacher Appreciation Week this week and as college students across Maine celebrate their education accomplishments with graduations and plans for the future, the 2020 Maine County Teachers of the Year (CTOY) have created a very special message for those completing teacher-preparation programs and transitioning into their very first teaching job.

“We, the 2020 County Teachers of the Year, strongly feel that the current teacher shortage and the plethora of reasons that people are leaving our profession is a very serious issue and concern in our state. We collectively believe as teacher leaders, it is our duty to promote the success of our profession. In an attempt to address our concerns, it became our goal to support, encourage, and endorse the committed students/pre-service teachers in our teacher preparation programs across the state. Pre-service teachers, new teachers, and veteran teachers could all use a positive reminder that teaching is joyous and collaborative. Together we lift each other up and celebrate our triumphs! This video message was created to promote the profession, have a little fun and welcome valuable new team members to this amazing career, and our team!

Professional baseball player and hall of famer, Babe Ruth once said, ‘The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don’t play together, the club won’t be worth a dime.’”

Maine County Teachers of the Year are nominated by a member of their community and selected through a selection process each year as part of the Maine Teacher of the Year Program. They serve as ambassadors for teachers, students, and quality education state-wide through speaking engagements and collaborative work with education stakeholders and decision makers throughout Maine.

The Maine Department of Education’s Teacher of the Year Program is administered through a collaborative partnership with Educate Maine. To learn more about the Teacher of the Year program visit: https://www.mainetoy.org/

MEDIA ADVISORY: School Nutrition Teams to Compete in 2021 Farm to School Cook-off Finals Competition

The Maine Department of Education Child Nutrition Team is hosting the 6th annual Farm to School finals competition in which a panel of judges including a chef, school nutrition director, and farmer will score dishes made by school nutrition teams based on presentation, taste, creativity, and feasibility to be used in a school breakfast or lunch program. Other criteria will include food safety and time management. In the competition, local “challenge” ingredients will be incorporated into the meals, including eggs donated from Weston’s Meat and Poultry in Gardiner, and parsnips donated from Goranson Farm in Dresden.

Who: RSU 12 (which includes the town of Whitefield) and South Portland

When: May 5, 2021 at 1:00pm

Where:
Child Nutrition Culinary Classroom
90 Blossom Lane, Deering Building, 1st Floor, Augusta, ME 04333

Detailed Agenda: 2021 Culinary Classroom final cook-off agenda

Members of the media are welcome to attend the final cook-off in-person but need to confirm prior to the day of the event. For more information and to confirm coverage, contact: Kelli Deveaux at kelli.deveaux@maine.gov.

The event will also be live streamed and recorded on the Maine DOE’s YouTube Channel. View the Cook-off here on May 5th at 1pm. 

Background Information: Maine DOE kicked off their 6th annual Farm to School Cook-off this spring; however, it took on a different form. Cook-off teams representing four school districts from Maine participated in a virtual cook-off event where voting took place and determined the top two teams who advance to the finals round. The teams, consisting of a student and school nutrition professional, created tasty and nutritious breakfast and lunch meals that showcased Maine grown ingredients and followed recipe guidelines of the competition. This criteria included producing meals that meet the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) meal pattern and include at least three local ingredients and one USDA food.

The team that wins the over-all competition will be awarded a plaque and have the opportunity to be spokespeople and participate on the judging panel for the cook off in School Year 2022.  Recipes used in the cook-off will later be shared with all schools in a Maine farm to school cook-book.

 

 

MEDIA RELEASE: Seven Maine Seniors Named U.S. Presidential Scholar Semifinalists

U.S. Department of Education has named seven Maine students as semifinalists in the 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The national program recognizes seniors across the country as being among our nation’s most distinguished graduating seniors.

“I am incredibly proud of the continued academic accomplishments of Maine students through the inevitable disruptions over the past year,” said Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin. “I applaud these talented students on their well-deserved recognition and wish them the very best as they transition into the next exciting chapter of their lives.”

The semifinalist scholars are chosen on the basis of their accomplishments in many areas including academic and artistic success, career and technical fields, leadership, and involvement in school and the community.  They represent excellence in education and are among the most accomplished youth in our country.

From nearly 3.6 million graduating high school seniors from across the country, over 6,500 students were identified as candidates in this program. 625 semifinalists were selected, 7 of whom are from Maine.

Maine U.S. Presidential Scholar Semifinalists:

Harshini K. Chaganti
Scarborough High School

Devon Michael Hunter
John Bapst Memorial High School

Pedro Santiago Little-Siebold
Ellsworth High School

**Culiandra Rose Nero
Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School

Swetha Palaniappan
Cape Elizabeth High School

Wade F. Wahlig
Falmouth High School

Aislynn K Worden
Sanford High School

** Semifinalist for U.S. Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education

The semifinalists form the pool from which the 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholars will be chosen in May. Visit http://www.ed.gov/psp for the complete list of semifinalists across the country.