AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Education (DOE) has been awarded $16.9 million from the U.S. Department of Education’s Rethink K-12 Education Models Funding. Maine is one of 11 States to receive funding. Maine’s project, Rethinking Remote Education Ventures (RREV) offers a multi-pronged solution with a primary goal of generating innovative remote learning models to provide equitable access to high quality remote learning opportunities for all students.

RREV will provide statewide resources and supports through professional development, coursework, and guided engagement in effective use of design processes to empower educators and school leaders as authentic research and development professionals. As new remote learning models are designed and piloted, they will be made widely available through an open-source community of practice platform to support collegial sharing, ongoing critical feedback, and continual revision and improvement to sustain a culture of innovation and to foster statewide access to exciting remote learning models.

“This has been a team effort on the part of our staff and our partners throughout the state,” said Maine DOE Commissioner Pender Makin. “I believe this project will place Maine at the forefront of innovation nationwide.”

The project design centers around the belief that by both building capacity for innovative mindsets in education and supporting the design and implementation of the innovative ideas that are generated, we can develop and support agile, effective, and resilient learning experiences that are responsive to local priorities and improve learning outcomes for all students.

In partnership with the University of Maine and other higher education organizations in Maine, courses in research and development, innovation engineering and design, and others will be made widely available to educators and school leaders. This project involves statewide professional development in innovation and innovative project design, financial support for school units to pilot and collect data on innovative projects designed, coaching and technical support for pilot districts, and an online hub that unites educators statewide as a community of practice to share innovative models, recommendations, tools, and resources.

“We think this project will further empower our educators to become designers, researchers and entrepreneurs,” said Page Nichols, DOE Chief Innovation Officer.

In the coming weeks, the DOE will be reaching out with opportunities to participate in this exciting work. We will invite those with experience in innovative project design to partner with us to design and deliver workshops.  There will be opportunities to enroll in coursework or trainings to build your own capacity in innovative project design, and there will be the chance for districts to receive funding to pilot one of the new models that are developed.  Educators who have taken courses or workshops in innovative project design can apply to become coaches, and we hope that everyone will participate in our online community of practice.

For more information contact Page Nichols at page.nichols@maine.gov.

The Maine Department of Education today announced five student interns have joined the team for the summer. Throughout the summer, the students will assist in the daily operations of the Maine DOE while working remotely due to COVID-19. The interns will be working for a variety of Department of Education teams including the Department of Assessments, the Volunteer Maine Commission, the Commissioner’s Office, and the Office of Special Services.

“Maine DOE offers an enthusiastic welcome to our summer interns! Our work is always enriched by fresh perspectives, creativity, and energy – and we hope that the interns will gain valuable skills and new insights during their time with us!” said Pender Makin, Maine Department of Education Commissioner.

 

Louisa Goldman is a recent graduate from Colby College where she majored in American Studies while also on the pre-med track. She is currently applying to medical schools with hopes of going into primary care. Louisa would also like to pursue an MPH, which would allow her to join the field of public health policy. This summer, Louisa will be working with the Maine DOE’s Department of Assessments team as the Assessment Webmaster. She will be redesigning the Assessments webpage and producing test-specific infographics in an effort to increase accessibility for interested families. She hopes to gain a better understanding of how accessibility can be used to make for more effective communication and is excited to create materials that will be consumed by a wide audience. In her free time, Louisa enjoys writing, going for runs, and sailing and is incredibly passionate about journalism, and local reporting. Louisa is from St. Louis, Missouri.

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Anthony Inhorn is a rising junior at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He is a Political Science and American History double major, and Environmental Policy and Culture minor. This summer, he will be interning as a Research Associate with Volunteer Maine, Maine’s Service Commission. Anthony will be responsible for researching the biggest issues that Maine will be facing in the coming years and analyzing the reports of various governmental and nonprofit organizations to better understand where support exists for volunteer programs to make an impact surrounding those issues. This work will culminate in a report for the Volunteer Maine commission with his findings and recommendations of where local and national Americorps volunteers can be best utilized. He will also be working to create a database of all of the operational nonprofits in Maine. Anthony hopes to gain a deep understanding of the workings of the Maine government and volunteer programs in the state, and will be working to take his research and writing skills to the next level. He is looking forward to gaining valuable experience in government work while having the opportunity to serve his home state. In his free time, Anthony enjoys watching cartoons, reading on the beach, hiking, playing Spikeball, and getting into debates about history and politics. Anthony is passionate about protecting the environment, learning about history, and competing on his school’s model U.N. team. Anthony is from Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

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Nathan McIvor is a rising senior studying English and Philosophy at the University of Maine Farmington. This summer, he will serve as the Public Affairs Intern at Volunteer Maine, Maine’s Service Commission. Nathan will be supporting the department’s communications officer, creating press materials, and assisting with several website projects. He looks forward to learning more about government and communications work. Nathan says that the best part about this internship is that it will provide him a wide variety of opportunities, such as social media outreach, producing videos, graphic design, participating in the department’s Communications and Public Policy task force, and writing press materials. Looking forward, Nathan is drawn to careers that involve writing editing, and creativity. He is interested in communications work, preferably for a government agency, school, or nonprofit whose mission he supports. In his free time, Nathan enjoys reading, hiking, kayaking, and traveling. He is passionate about helping others, a sustainable future, a fair and equitable society, and art. Nathan is from Jefferson, Maine.

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Aidan Sachs is a rising senior at Connecticut College where she is a Human Development major and Psychology minor. Aidan is also a member of her college’s Elementary Education Teacher Certificate Program and is a selected scholar through Connecticut College’s Holleran Center for Community Action and Public Policy. This summer, she will serve as the Education Commissioner’s Office Intern where she will be working with the Communications and Legislative teams. Over the course of the summer, Aidan will be working on a variety of projects, including writing Good News Stories for the DOE’s website, helping to redesign the Professional Development Calendar, assisting the legislative team with the 129th Legislative Second Session Publication for K-12 Educational Leaders, as well as working with the Commissioner’s Student Cabinet. This summer, Aidan hopes to expand on her writing skills, and to learn about roles within the department to further her career interest in education. Aidan is looking forward to connecting with DOE staff across departments and to taking advantage of opportunities to sit in on meetings and learn more about the innerworkings of the department. In the future, she hopes to become an elementary school teacher here in Maine and to pursue a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education. In her free time, Aidan enjoys skiing, hiking, paddle boarding, and kayaking. She is passionate about working with children in many different settings, and loves watching them learn and construct knowledge. Aidan is from Brunswick, Maine.

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Olivia Wilson is a rising senior at Husson University majoring in Web Design. This summer, Olivia will be interning with the Maine DOE’s Office of Special Services, where she will serve as their Website Development and Content Specialist. Over the course of the summer, Olivia will work to create an interactive experience for teachers and students, as well as maintain and frame content into the Special Services website. She hopes to expand her skill set in web design and gain more experience that can be applied to her future career. Olivia is looking forward to seeing what she can achieve and to working on projects that she finds enjoyment in. In the future, Olivia plans to become a Front-End Web Developer for a big company, and to start her own company to help local businesses. Olivia enjoys photography, singing, hanging out with her cat, and going on road trips. She is extremely passionate about music and art and looks forward to incorporating this into her career. Olivia is from Bangor, Maine.

On Wednesday, the Maine Department of Education issued guidance to Maine’s education leaders regarding high school graduation ceremonies amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance was issued at the request of superintendents and other school leaders who are making extremely difficult decisions about graduation ceremonies, as the 2019-2020 school year comes to a close.

Maine Department of Education assembled a group to explore and make recommendations on ways that schools can celebrate the class of 2020, while taking into consideration public health concerns, social distancing recommendations, and government-issued restrictions on social gatherings. The group complied the best available advice and information, which was then reviewed by health and education experts.

“School and district leaders have requested guidance, and unfortunately there is no one right way to approach this,” said Commissioner Pender Makin.  “Local school communities must assess their unique needs and capacities, and many variables will impact decisions around graduation celebrations. Many schools are hosting virtual events or postponing the ceremonies, but for those who are planning an in-person event, this guidance addresses important safeguards and considerations.“

Decisions around whether to host graduation ceremonies will remain at the discretion of local school boards and superintendents and must be conducted in accordance with Governor Mills’ “Stay Safer at Home Orders.” As we remain in a state of civil emergency, planners of important events are urged to consider the fact that regulations and recommendations are subject to change, due to the dynamic nature of this situation.

The following guidelines must be taken into consideration when planning events:

• June-August, 2020, social gatherings will be limited to no more than 50 people. (In May, the limit is no more than 10 people).Physical (social) distancing of at least 6 feet must be maintained at all times.
• Cloth face coverings must be used in all public settings. (Exceptions: Cloth face coverings are not required for children under age 2, a child in a child care setting, or for anyone who has trouble breathing or related medical conditions, or who is otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance).
• A 14-Day Quarantine is required for all individuals entering or returning to Maine prior to going out in public.
• Some municipalities have additional requirements and guidelines that must be followed.

In-Person Outdoor or Indoor Ceremonies:

Beginning in June, when group sizes of up to 50 will be permitted, there are some options available for very small graduating classes (or for larger classes, broken into smaller groups through multiple ceremonies) while maintaining social distancing. The following guidelines should be followed to ensure a safe event:

• Limit the number of participants, staff, and guests to fewer than 50 people, in total.
• Seat graduates 6 feet apart in all directions.
• Seat guests 6 feet apart in all directions.
• Require use of cloth face masks.
• Develop accommodations, with increased distancing and precautions, for those with underlying health issues.
• Mark the standing locations of graduates waiting in line and during processional at 6 foot intervals.
• Ensure additional staff support to monitor and maintain acceptable distance.
• Utilize one-way direction of movements and use separate entrances and exits if possible.
• Consider how diplomas will be collected when a student’s name is called. Staff may consider placing the diploma on a table for the student to collect. Students may walk across the stage, collect the diploma from the table, and pose for a picture individually or appropriately distanced from a school/district official.
• Communicate expectations and guidelines in advance to ensure understanding and compliance.
• Develop plans for use of restrooms and access to soap and water for hand washing with marked waiting spaces at 6 foot intervals to avoid crowding at bathroom stalls or sinks. Arrange for a custodian to monitor and replenish soap/paper towels.
• Provide hand sanitizer in multiple areas.
• Contact your local law enforcement to help with planning and crowd control.
• Consider designating a single person to take an official photo/video of each graduate receiving their diploma and prohibit others from approaching the area to take their own pictures or video.

Drive-In Options:

• Before planning a drive-in ceremony, please consider the needs and rights of families who do not have access to a vehicle and make equitable arrangements.
• Maine drive-in movie theaters have been granted permission to open, as long as they meet a set of criteria and follow certain guidelines. Schools may contract with a drive-in movie theater operating within those regulations.
• If a school wishes to plan a “drive in” ceremony outside of an approved, open, theater, there are many precautions that should be taken:
  • Work with local law enforcement to get approval for use of a field or parking lot, and to support traffic flow and crowd control.
  • Measure out parking spots that are spaced a minimum of 6’ apart.
  • Communicate rules ahead of time regarding the need for all participants to stay inside the cars with the doors closed and to wear cloth masks if windows are down.
  • Allow one student at a time to leave the family’s vehicle to pick up a diploma, using the guidelines above for in-person ceremonies.

Other options for honoring graduates:

• Virtual Ceremonies or video tributes:  Ask seniors to send individual videos with short messages to their graduating classmates. This can be compiled with more traditional speeches that can be done by video or livestream to create a keepsake video.
• Hashtag Campaigns:  Highlight seniors on social media each day with special hashtags that allow for family, friends, and community members to congratulate individual students (who agree to participate) with photos and messages.
• Postpone the graduation ceremonies until it is safe to gather in large groups once again, or host them in one year as an “early reunion.”