Top Maine science, math teachers honored

Maine's four finalists for the 2012 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching: Karen Jagolinzer, Elizabeth Vickery, Sally Plourde and Lauree Gott.
Maine’s four finalists for the 2012 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching: (from left) Karen Jagolinzer, Elizabeth Vickery, Sally Plourde and Lauree Gott.
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AUGUSTA – Today, the LePage Administration honored three science teachers and one math teacher from Maine as finalists for the 2012 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen recognized the educators at the Maine Science Teachers Association conference in Gardiner, which focused on rigorous new science standards.

The National Science Foundation, which is known for its rigorous selection process, will select up to one mathematics and one science winner per state to be recognized next spring in Washington, D.C.

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Maine names career-technical teacher of the year

Peter Barlow accepts Maine’s 2012 Career and Technical Educator of the Year award for his excellence as a metal trades instructor in Mexico.
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LEWISTON – Peter Barlow, a metal trades instructor at the Region 9 School of Applied Technology in Mexico, was named Maine’s newest Career and Technical Educator of the Year Friday in front of more than 400 of his colleagues. Barlow has taught precision machining and welding programs at Region 9 since 1991.

Educators gathered Friday to share best practices from around Maine at the third annual CTE conference at the Lewiston Regional Technical Center.

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First Lady reads to Farrington Elementary students to help break world record

The following is a news release from the Governor’s Office.

AUGUSTA – Today, First Lady Ann LePage traveled to the Farrington Elementary School in Augusta to celebrate literacy and participate in this year’s Read for the Record® day.

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Maine’s first two charter schools open doors

Olivia Broadrick, senior at the Maine Academy of Natural Sciences, chose to attend the public charter school because she plans to work in the sciences.
Olivia Broadrick, senior at the Maine Academy of Natural Sciences, chose to attend the public charter school because she plans to work in the sciences.

AUGUSTA – The Maine Academy of Natural Sciences (MeANS) and Cornville Regional Charter School opened as Maine’s first two public charter schools Monday, providing new choices for Maine students.

Charter schools are public schools of choice that have more flexibility than traditional public schools over decisions concerning curriculum and instruction, scheduling, staffing and finance. The opening of the charter schools directly aligns with the LePage administration’s ABC plan, which aims to improve achievement growth in Maine by prioritizing three core areas: accountability, best practices, and choice.

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Grant to help Maine schools develop teacher, leader evaluation systems

AUGUSTA – Seventeen Maine schools will share a nearly $25 million grant to build systems that recognize and reward great teachers and school leaders. The federal grant will be used to improve educator evaluation systems, reward effective teachers and principals, and provide greater professional opportunities.

The 17 schools are in six districts: RSU 16 (Poland area); RSU 19 (Newport); Millinocket; Bangor; MSAD 11 (Gardiner); and RSU 86 (Fort Fairfield).

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Maine students recognized as College Board state AP® scholars

The following is a news release from the Governor’s Office:

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul LePage announced today that two Maine high school students received the College Board State AP® Scholar awards based on their outstanding performance on the 2012 Advanced Placement® exams. Continue reading “Maine students recognized as College Board state AP® scholars”