Category: Media Releases

Media Release: Maine DOE Launches ‘Hot Lunch Summer’ to Provide Children With Nutritious Meals Beyond the School Year 

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) announced the return of Hot Lunch Summer, the state’s summer food service program which provides free meals to children beyond the school year. These meals are available at hundreds of sites across Maine and families can locate nearby meal opportunities on the Hot Lunch Summer website HotLunchSummer.com or by texting ‘Summer Meals’ to 914-342-7744.

“Hot Lunch Summer ensures that Maine children can continue to access the healthy and nutritious meals they rely on during the school year,” said Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin. “No child should worry about going hungry when the school year ends, and we thank the schools and organizations that have stepped up to make the distribution of these meals possible.”

Maine’s Summer Food Service Program is a U.S. Department of Agriculture program 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 where census track data supports the need. Free meals are provided to children 18 and younger at open meal sites. Eligible sponsoring organizations include schools, nonprofit residential summer camps, government agencies, and tax-exempt organizations including faith-based organizations. This year, rural meal sponsors may offer free meals offsite to further assist in reaching children who are unable to access congregate meal programs.

The Maine DOE launched Hot Lunch Summer last year as a statewide ad campaign to raise awareness of summer meal options and clearly explain the logistics of where, when, and how Maine children and adolescents can access complementary meals. This year, the campaign focuses on reaching households through social media networks and includes an animated video to promote summer meal opportunities which you can view here.

To find nearby summer meal sites, please visit www.HotLunchSummer.com or text “Summer Meals” to 914-342-7744.

###

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English.  Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible State or local Agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted 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; or

(2)       fax:

(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

(3)       email:
program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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.

 

Media Release: Maine DOE Awards Additional $800,000 in ‘Strengthening Maine’s Workforce’ Education and Training Grants 

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) announced funding for six additional Strengthening Maine Workforce grants to develop workforce training initiatives, build employer partnerships to address workforce shortages, and expand English language acquisition services.

In total, grants for Strengthening Maine Workforce Projects now totals $4 million invested in 14 projects. Funding for these initiatives is through Governor Mills’ Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, her plan, approved by the Legislature, to invest nearly $1 billion in Federal funds to improve the lives of Maine people and families, help businesses, create good-paying jobs, and build an economy poised for future prosperity.

Through these grants, Bangor Adult & Community Education will expand English language acquisition programs in the Bangor area, Augusta Adult & Community Education will offer an English as a second Language classes for Maine General Health employees and reduce barriers to employment, OOB/Saco Adult & Community Education will increase career pathways and allow students to earn industry-recognized credentials, Lewiston Adult Education will expand workforce training in healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing, Mid Maine Regional Adult & Community Education will create a Medical Assistant certification program, and Merrymeeting Adult Education will prepare new Mainers with language acquisition, healthcare certification courses, and partnerships with employers.

“These grants will provide Maine workers with the skills, knowledge, and pathways they need while helping employers address critical workforce shortages. Adult Education programs serve as a hub connecting learners and employers and strengthening Maine’s workforce,” said Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin.   

“We are excited to be awarded this grant and are proud to serve our community. Our goal as the local adult education program is to strengthen the community and economy through workforce training opportunities,” said Kayla Sikora, Director of Augusta Adult and Community Education. 

“We are thrilled to be a recipient of the MJRP grant, which will directly benefit the growing multilingual learner population in our region. This funding will allow us to provide augmented academic and advising services, and most importantly, enable us to better assist our learners with workforce training and employment opportunities,” said Dave Durkee, Director of OOB/Saco Adult and Community Education. 

Strengthening Maine Workforce Project Grant Recipients: 

Bangor Adult & Community Education: Increasing ELL Opportunities in Greater Bangor 
Total award amount: $93,396 
Bangor Adult & Community Education will partner with Las Palapas and other area restaurants to provide intake, assessment, advising, and instructional time with a national standards-based curriculum to English Language Learners. This project will more than double the access to Multilingual learner services for adult learners in the Greater Bangor Area.

Augusta Adult & Community Education: Maine General Health ELL Programming 
Total award amount: $91,602 
Augusta Adult and Community Education will partner with Maine General Health to provide English as a second Language classes to Maine General Health multilingual employees as well as the addition of a new pre-health class. The program will reduce barriers that may affect their employees from participating in programming by funding transportation, childcare, and technology costs for employees in environmental services and groundskeeping for career advancement and life skills.

OOB/Saco Adult & Community Education: Healthcare and Retail Career Pathways for New Mainers 
Total award amount: $200,000 
OOB/Saco Adult & Community Education will expand career and retail opportunities for Multilingual Learners through existing employer partnerships, and by increasing the capacity of urban programs. Participants will earn industry-recognized credentials of value in Healthcare and Retail Management.

Lewiston Adult Education: Integrated Skills-Based Pipeline Pathways to Employment 
Total award amount: $200,000 
Lewiston Adult Education will partner across Androscoggin and Oxford counties to expand workforce training to the healthcare, hospitality (restaurants and lodging), and manufacturing industries. Lewiston Adult Education will develop and expand adult programs for workforce training and pipeline pathways that can more effectively meet the needs of employers throughout the region. These workforce programs will prioritize the development of the foundational skills that lead to industry-recognized credentials of value, employment, and may also allow for renewal of certifications. The creation of these programs will both expand the HUB’s capacity to provide more training in these identified areas, and it will allow for the creation of new programs that are not currently part of the adult education offerings.

Mid Maine Regional Adult & Community Education: Clinical Medical Assistant Program Expansion 
Total award amount: $82,650 
Mid Maine Regional Adult Community Education will partner with Maine General Health to create a comprehensive, earn-to-learn Medical Assistant certification program to fill one of their largest employment gaps.

Merrymeeting Adult Education: Healthcare Certification Courses for New Mainers 
Total award amount: $129,126 
Merrymeeting Adult Education will prepare new Mainers with language acquisition, healthcare certification courses (CNA), and practical experiences to help learners connect with healthcare community partners and help fill the healthcare worker shortage in Lincoln and Sagadahoc counties.

The Maine DOE’s Adult Education Team funded 8 projects in the first round of funding last October.

Since the  Jobs Plan took effect in October 2021, the Mills Administration has delivered direct economic relief to nearly 1,000 Maine small businesses, supported more than 100 infrastructure projects around the state to create jobs and revitalize communities, and invested in workforce programs estimated to offer apprenticeship, career and education advancement, and job training opportunities to 22,000 Maine people.

For more about Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, visit maine.gov/jobsplan.

###

New Members Appointed by Governor Mills to the Maine State Board of Education

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) and the Maine State Board of Education today announced the new members of the Board and member reappointments.

The Board consists of nine voting members and two nonvoting student members appointed by the Governor. Board members serve staggered, five-year terms and nonvoting student members serve staggered, two-year terms.

New Maine State Board of Education Student Member:

Phat Gia Thai

Phat Gia Thai of Portland will begin serving his appointment to the State Board of Education as a student member on July 22, 2023. Thai will be a Junior at Deering High School where he is currently an honors and AP student. He is an active member of his school community and a member of many extracurricular activities including Deering High School Student Council, President and Founder of Deering Asian Student Union, Class of 2025 Student Senate, Natural Helpers Club, and the Varsity Tennis Team. Thai has been involved in the organization Seeds of Peace and has led a school mural project in collaboration with the nonprofit organization Painting For A Purpose. He stated, “My main goal in creating this mural was to celebrate the importance of diversity in our community.”

New Maine State Board of Education Member:

Denham Ward, MD, PhD of Bowdoinham was appointed to the State Board of Education on March 20, 2023. Dr. Ward received his BS(EE) at the University of Maine and went on to get his PhD in Systems Science at UCLA. Becoming interested in physiology, he then went to the University of Miami to obtain his MD. Following his residency in Anesthesiology, he started his career in academic medicine at UCLA. Besides his clinical and research interests, he has been heavily involved in medical education, serving as residency program director at UCLA and then as the chair of Anesthesiology at the University of Rochester. While at the University of Rochester, Dr. Ward was President of the Association of Anesthesiology Program Directors. With a major interest in how medical school faculty teach, he became the Associate Dean for Faculty Development at Rochester and was instrumental in developing a Master’s Degree in Health Professions Education. After retiring clinically, Dr. Ward returned to Maine. He was President and CEO of the Foundation for Anesthesiology Education and Research, which gave grants to improve clinical teaching in Anesthesiology. Dr. Ward has been involved with education at Maine Medical Center, helping to start the Academy at the Maine Health Institute for Teaching Excellence and has continued his association with the University of Maine, currently serving on the Honors College Board of Advocates.

Maine State Board of Education Member Reappointments:

Fern Desjardins of St. Agatha was recently reappointed to a second five-year term on the State Board of Education. She has served on the School Construction Committee (currently Chair), Certification & Higher Education Committee, Legislative Action Committee, Maine Charter School Commission, Board Effectiveness Committee, and several other committees of the State Board. She represents the State Board on the Maine Education Policy Research Institute Steering Committee and on other education committees. Desjardins was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Association of State Boards of Education in June 2019 and has served on a number of their committees. She was elected secretary-treasurer of the organization in October 2021. Desjardins worked for 43 years in RSU 33/MSAD 33 as a teacher, elementary school principal, and superintendent of schools before retiring in 2017. She has taught graduate level courses for UMaine as an adjunct faculty member, worked as a facilitator for school systems, and served on various committees and special projects of the Maine DOE. She holds a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership and a Master’s Degree in Language Arts from UMaine, a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Educational Leadership from USM, and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from UMFK.

Wendy L. Ault of Wayne was recently reappointed to a second five-year term on the State Board of Education. Ault serves on the Certification & Higher Education Committee (currently Chair), Career & Technical Education Committee, Legislative Action Committee, Student Voices Committee (Co-Chair), and Board Effectiveness Committee. Ault is a graduate of Bates College in Lewiston. She served as the Associate Director of Admissions at the University of Maine at Farmington for 17 years. During her tenure at UMF, she was elected to four terms in the Maine House of Representatives representing part of Kennebec County from 1988 through 1996. She served all eight years as a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, serving as its House Chair during her final term. Ault is the Executive Director of the MELMAC Education Foundation.

Fern Desjardins, Chair of the Maine State Board of Education, stated: “The board will benefit from the reappointment of the most senior member of the board, Wendy Ault, who joined the board in October 2017; and the recent addition of Denham Ward, whose vast knowledge and experiences, especially in higher education, greatly supports the board’s efforts in carrying out its duties and responsibilities. I was very impressed with Phat Gia Thai’s testimony at his recent confirmation hearing in front of the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs and look forward to welcoming him to the State Board in July. I am blessed and deeply humbled by my reappointment to the board and for having had the honor of serving as chair of the board for almost two years. Leading a board of dedicated individuals committed to the board’s mission ‘to provide leadership and to support policy development that promotes equitable access to high-quality educational opportunities for all students in safe, healthy, and inclusive school environments’ is energizing and highly rewarding. As a board, we continue to make great strides toward our vision that all students will receive a high-quality education.”

For more information about the State Board of Education, visit their website https://www.maine.gov/doe/about/leadership/stateboard

Maine DOE Welcomes 10 Interns This Summer

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) welcomed ten new student interns for the summer who will bring their ideas, energy, voice, and skills to strengthen education in Maine. These students, who will be working on a variety of Maine DOE teams, were selected for the Maine Government Summer Internship Program by the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Institute at the University of Maine. The interns will spend the summer assisting with daily operations and projects at the Maine DOE while gaining professional experience and knowledge and building connection.

Maine Department of Education Interns

Charlotte Buswick is a rising senior at Colby College from Boxford, Massachusetts. She is majoring in History with a minor in Science, Technology, and Society. As an Innovative Education Assistant this summer, she will be working with the MOOSE team to develop online learning modules for students across all grade levels. She is very excited to work with and learn from everyone on the MOOSE team. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outside, listening to music, reading, and playing guitar.

Nhan Chau is a recent graduate of the University of Maine where she majored in New Media and minored in Graphic Design. She is originally from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and has been living in Maine for the last five years. As a Learning Through Technology Data and Media assistant, she will be working on a multimedia database of the social media presence of MLTI schools, cataloging computer science happenings, and organizing social media content. She is excited to work with her team and help with creating meaningful and impactful social media campaigns. During her free time, she enjoys drawing and creating animations.

Hannah Craig is a recent graduate of Boston University where she earned her degree in International Relations with a focus on International Systems and a minor in Economics. She is originally from Cumberland, Maine and now lives in South Portland. This summer, she will be interning for the Maine Opportunities for Online Sustained Education (MOOSE) team. She is looking forward to learning about curriculum content creation and the process of creating accessible and equitable learning resources for students. In her free time, she enjoys taking care of her plants, watching history documentaries, and spending time with her niece and nephew.

Jilleon Farrell is a graduate of the University of Maine at Orono where she earned her degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition. She is now in graduate school, also at UMaine, and hopes to become a Registered Dietician. She is from Manchester, Maine. As the Resource Administrator Intern, she will be assisting the operation team and updating, maintaining, and organizing operations data to gain exposure to all the opportunities the DOE has to offer this summer.

Natalie Grandahl is a rising senior studying political science at the University of Connecticut. She is from North Monmouth, Maine. As the Communications Intern, she will be creating content, writing for the newsroom, and assisting with the website. She is excited to meet a wide variety of people and to gain knowledge and experience working in government. She enjoys running, reading, and traveling in her free time.

Ryan Hafener is from Hampden, Maine and attends Hampden Academy. After graduating high school, he plans on attending college to pursue a degree in international relations or philosophy. This summer he will be interning in the Commissioner’s Office and working on both the legislative and communications teams. He is excited to get to work with education legislation and to work on media promoting public education. In his free time, he enjoys rock climbing, traveling, reading, and getting outdoors.

Joseph Koenig is a rising senior from Gray, Maine studying at Husson University. He is majoring in Marketing Communications with a minor in Integrated Technology and certificates in Photography, Graphic Design, Web Media, and Digital and Social Media Marketing. This summer, he will be working as the School and Student Supports Communications Assistant where he will be doing outreach to Maine educators, parents, and community members about various educational opportunities. He is most excited about working on projects that have the potential to shape the DOE in years to come.

Madeline Levesque is a rising junior at Husson University studying Graphic/Visual Design with a certificate in Marketing Communications and Photography, and she is from Augusta, Maine. This summer she will be working as the DOE’s Maine Learning Through Technology Digital Design Assistant. She will be updating and designing media forMLTI’s website while also helping to improve outreach about their current programs and events. She enjoys portrait photography, spending time outdoors, and being a member of the Husson Dance Team.

Cora Saddler is a first-year graduate student at the University of Maine at Orono pursuing a degree in English Studies with a concentration in creative writing. After graduate school, she plans on pursuing a career teaching English abroad. She is originally from Cabot, Arkansas but currently lives in Maine. As the Adult Multilingual Education Professional Development Assistant for the Maine DOE, she will be working on providing professional education resources for adult educators throughout the state. In this role, she is most excited about assisting with planning for the Adult Multilingual Learner’s Summer Institute – also known as Camp Sugarloaf. In her free time, she enjoys writing, photography, ice skating, and baking.

Annabelle Williams is a rising junior at the University of Vermont and is from Camden, Maine. She is double majoring in Psychology and Business Administration with a focus on marketing and entrepreneurship. This summer she will be working on the RREV Team in the Office of Innovation as their Communications Strategy Coach. She will be helping the team and their awardee schools effectively communicate their experiences with the program, developing RREV’s social media presence, and creating a user-guide for ENGINE which is their online collaborative platform for Maine educators.

 

Maine DOE, UMS Expand Whole-Student Supports for Maine Schools

More K–12 students and educators in Maine are set to benefit from stronger social, emotional and behavioral supports thanks to Maine PBIS, a collaboration between the University of Maine System and the Maine Department Education (DOE), which is adding 21 new schools to its professional development cohort.

The schools, which will participate in the initiative over the next three years, are located in communities throughout the state, including Berwick, Boothbay Harbor, Brooksville, Bucksport, Damariscotta, Edgecomb, Litchfield, Madawaska, North Berwick, Sabattus, South Portland and Westbrook.

“Teams of educators from these schools will learn and practice together for the next three years, joining more than 30 schools that are currently part of our professional development model and more than 75 schools statewide that have already implemented sustainable supports for Maine students,” says Courtney Angelosante, Maine PBIS coordinator at the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development.

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, or PBIS, is a nationally recognized framework providing a multi-tiered continuum of supports in K-12 schools, promoting positive social and behavioral outcomes for all students. It is based on a community health promotion model. In schools that have implemented PBIS, it is expected that 95% of students will have most of their social, emotional and behavioral needs met before schools have to implement the third, or most targeted tier of interventions.

Maine DOE, in collaboration with UMS, supports schools and districts to implement PBIS through a cohort model that matches Maine-endorsed PBIS trainers and coaches with district and school-level teams. Maine PBIS’s professional development efforts have received national and international attention as a particularly effective example for rural schools and communities.

“Being able to work with our PBIS coaches multiple times a year made our school’s efforts towards Tier 1 implementation much smoother,” says Sierra Bloom, a first-grade teacher at Surry Elementary School, which has already taken part in the UMS-Maine DOE initiative. “Our coaches were always there to support our work directly and led us to a solid foundation for our work in PBIS.”

Bloom adds that being able to work with other schools in the cohort model was beneficial.

“We were able to collaborate and share ideas for success, while also gaining support towards common struggles,” she says.

This summer, Maine PBIS will host a five-day training institute for educators who are part of its professional development cohort. The training, which is limited to 50 participants and will take place at Husson University from July 10–14, will be designed to help teachers identify why a behavior is happening through a variety of assessment tools and procedures, leading to the development of a positive behavior support plan individualized to a student’s strengths and needs. More information about the Maine PBIS Advanced Tiers Summer Institute is online.

“The supportive and inclusive practices of PBIS have elicited overwhelmingly positive responses by administrators, educators, students and families. Our office looks forward to supporting and sustaining schools and districts in this work,” says Tracy Whitlock, Special Projects Coordinator in the Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education at the Maine Department of Education.

The Maine DOE provides funding for the Maine PBIS initiative through a federal State Personnel Development Grant. The funding is helping scale up capacity for PBIS in the state through a UMS Microcredential for PBIS Coaching and Training. The second cohort of educators seeking the micro-credential endorsement will begin in fall 2023. Applications, which are available online, are due June 15.

Press Release: Maine’s 2023 County Teachers of the Year Announced

Sixteen Maine teachers were announced as 2023 County Teachers of the Year today 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 Deputy Commissioner Dan Chuhta, Educate Maine Executive Director Jason Judd, State Board of Education Chair Fern Desjardins, 2023 Maine Teacher of the Year Matthew Bernstein, and Maine County and State Teachers of the Year Association Co-President Heather Whitaker to announce and honor the new class of County Teachers of the Year.

More than 500 teachers across Maine were nominated by a member of their school community and these 16 outstanding educators were selected as County Teachers of the Year by a panel of teachers, principals, and business community members within their county. They range from having taught six years to 30, include elementary, middle, high school, and adult education teachers, and teach subjects ranging from science, reading, and social studies to graphic communications, health, and physical education.

Maine County Teachers of the Year serve as ambassadors for teachers, students, and schools throughout their year of service. Throughout the summer, they will continue to participate in an intensive Maine State Teacher of the Year selection process and Maine’s Teacher of the Year will be announced in the fall.

“As the daughter of a longtime public school teacher, I have the deepest respect and admiration for the Maine educators who work tirelessly to equip our students with the knowledge and skills they need to have bright futures,” said Governor Janet Mills. “I congratulate this year’s County Teacher of the Year honorees for their commitment to excellence in education, and most importantly, for their outstanding work in teaching our children.”

“These 16 extraordinary teachers were nominated by colleagues, parents, and students for their passion, leadership, dedication, and the difference they make in the lives of their students and school community. They make each student feel seen and valued, inspire everyone around them, and engage their students in rich, meaningful learning. I want to offer my sincere appreciation for everything that you do and it’s such an honor to celebrate you as Maine’s County Teachers of the Year,” said Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin.

“We’re excited to announce the tenth County Teacher of the Year cohort in 2023 – a group of outstanding educators who will serve as ambassadors for students, teachers, and quality education in Maine. We’re honored to work alongside them during this year of recognition and are confident that they will continue to inspire and make a positive impact on their students, schools, and communities,” said Educate Maine Executive Director Jason, Judd.

2023 County Teachers of the Year:

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/. The event was also broadcast live on the Maine Department of Education’s YouTube page.

MEDIA RELEASE: Maine DOE Invests $9 Million to Increase School-Based Mental Health Staff and Services

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) announced a $9 million investment, funded through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, to increase school-based mental health staff and services in Maine. Expanding Access in School Environments (EASE) Maine will provide grants to nine high-need school administrative units (SAUs) to support efforts to recruit and retain mental health providers and expand services to students.

Eastport Public Schools, Jefferson Public Schools, Lewiston Public Schools, RSU 12, RSU 24, RSU 54, RSU 73, RSU 79, and RSU 85 will receive funding over the duration of this 5-year grant. These SAUs were identified as high need because they had low student to mental health provider ratios relative to the rest of the state and nation. Through the EASE Maine grants, the Maine DOE will partner with these SAUs to develop and implement whole student-focused strategies to meet the unique needs of each community, increase student access to much-needed mental health services, and recruit, retain, and re-specialize staff to support the mental health and wellbeing of students, staff, and families. The funding will enable SAUs to collaborate with one another and with community organizations, state agencies, and other partners to confront growing mental health needs following the pandemic by increasing the number of highly qualified mental health services providers in schools.

“Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our students is essential to making sure they thrive in the classroom and in their lives. Thanks to the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, these grants will help schools hire and retain the social workers, counselors, and mental health providers they need to address student mental health needs, which have only grown during the pandemic,” said Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin.  

“We at RSU 12 are pleased to partner with the Maine Department of Education through the Expanding Access to Supportive Environments in Maine Schools (EASE) grant. This grant will allow us to build our capacity to hire, retain, and develop professionally qualified school-based mental health teams that reflect our community and provide us with much-needed professional development opportunities and technical assistance. Given the mental health challenges many of our students face, this grant couldn’t have come at a more crucial time. We are truly excited about the possibilities and the positive impact this grant will have on our students and community,” said RSU 12 Superintendent Howard Tuttle. 

“We appreciate the conversation and opportunity to help support our students’ social and emotional wellbeing and look forward to making the most of this opportunity,” said RSU 54 Superintendent Jon Moody. 

EASE Maine SAU Allocations (Annually for 5 Years): 
Eastport Public Schools – $65, 541/year
Jefferson Public Schools – $67,947/year
Lewiston Public Schools – $248,644/year
RSU 12 – $92,698/year
RSU 24 – $88,251/year
RSU 54 – $141,655/year
RSU 73 – $110,560/year
RSU 79 – $121,496/year
RSU 85 – $63,208/year

The Maine DOE’s Office of School and Student Supports provides support and resources for all schools in Maine related to student and staff mental health and wellbeing. Learn more here.

MEDIA RELEASE: Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin Recognizes Southern Aroostook Community School Employee as State’s RISE Award Honoree

Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin joined Southern Aroostook Community School leaders and staff to honor Administrative Assistant Elaine Small with the Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award for the extraordinary contributions she has made to students, educators, and the community. Whether it’s spearheading fundraisers to support students’ post-secondary aspirations, participating in community events, providing support to a variety of staff, or working alongside colleagues to coordinate bus routes, Small makes a huge impact each day on the students and staff around her.

Created by Congress in 2019 and overseen by the U.S. Department of Education, the prestigious RISE Award honors non-teaching school employees who provide exemplary service. Small is one of 10 state-level finalists chosen by the Maine Department of Education (DOE) and Governor’s Office out of nearly 90 exceptional nominations submitted to the DOE by school colleagues and community members. She has been selected to represent Maine for consideration as the national RISE Award recipient. The U.S. Department of Education will announce one national honoree this spring.

“The RISE Awards are a moment when we can hold up the unsung heroes who are doing the most intense, personal work of our schools and who are very rarely recognized,” said Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin while presenting the award. “We are here to celebrate and honor Elaine for her years and years of service to this school community. As I read Elaine’s accolades in her nomination, you could hear the people who she has helped, who she has inspired, and who she has supported with love, care, and dedication. I am in awe of what Elaine has achieved for this school community.”

“Elaine values kids and everything she does is about kids. The number of lives she has touched through her work is inspiring,” said RSU 50 Superintendent Jon Porter while honoring Small. “Elaine really is the glue that keeps everything together, the frontline for what happens here, and the first face people see. She has also been the president of our scholarship program for the last 35 years and has organized support and community events to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for graduates going on to higher education. Thank you for everything you do.”

“I am deeply honored and completely surprised to be nominated for a RISE Award by my school colleagues. My position here in RSU 50 evolves every single day and that is one of the things I love about it – I am about growth and change in my life and the lives of our students,” said RISE State Honoree Elaine Small. “My hope is to continue the work we do here in our school and our community and to always keep a positive place in our minds and in our hearts, for every student to be successful, while they are with us and as they go forward in their lives.”

RISE nominees demonstrate excellence in the following areas: (A) Work performance; (B) School and community involvement; (C) Leadership and commitment; (D) Local support (from co-workers, school administrators, community members, etc., who speak to the nominee’s exemplary work); (E) Enhancement of classified school employees’ image in the community and schools.

You can read more about Small and all of Maine’s state finalists here and below. Photos available on request.

Maine’s RISE State Honoree
 
Elaine Small
Administrative Assistant
RSU 50Elaine Small has been serving generations of young people in rural Maine, where she maintains the perfect balance of professionalism and love in her work. She can often be found pitching in to lend a helping hand in all areas within the district and school, all while managing the school administrative unit’s (SAU’s) bussing staff, which is a huge feat. Elaine ensures kids can get to school and have access to extracurricular programming, and often times she juggles all of this without a full fleet.

Elaine leads by example, forging a strong relationship between the school and the community and she is a constant presence at community events. She can be found in the auditorium during drama productions, in the stands showing her support to student-athletes, serving as a senior class advisor, and volunteering hundreds of hours to ensure students have access to post-secondary career opportunities. Through her modeling, students are encouraged to get involved in senior citizen luncheons, spaghetti suppers, and local craft fairs. She organizes fundraisers and works tirelessly to get the community involved in the continuing education of Maine students. The success of the So. Aroostook Scholarship Fund and ultimately the workforce in Aroostook County is largely due to her continued efforts for many years.

Maine’s RISE Finalists

Larry Alley
Head Bus Driver/Custodial Staff
Pemetic Elementary School, Southwest Harbor School Department

Kevin Bailey
Facilities-Custodial/Maintenance,
Mid-Coast School of Technology, Region 8

Nichole Bryant
Pre-K Educational Technician
Elm Street School, RSU 16

James Fahey
Outside Security Officer
Bangor High School, Bangor School Department

Ann Heald
Title 1 Education Technician
Madison Elementary School, MSAD 59

Anne Lee
Assistant Cook/Custodial Staff
Tremont Consolidated School, Mount Desert Island Regional School System – at the time of nomination

James Mendoza
Migrant Education Regional Coordinator (Eastern Washington County), Mano En Mano – at the time of nomination

Linda Oster
Transportation/Bus Driver
MSAD 17

Shawn Russell
IT/Communications Director
Rangeley, RSU 78

Media Release: Maine DOE Announces Availability of Maine Learning Through Technology Initiative (MLTI) #TeachWithTech Grants for Schools

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) announced the availability of new Maine Learning Through Technology Initiative (MLTI) #TeachWithTech grants to support school administrative unit (SAU) efforts to meaningfully integrate technology into teaching and learning. The grants provide funding to MLTI educators who want to bring technology into their MLTI schools in a way that is innovative, impactful, and intriguing and will be used to provide supplemental technology to schools.

The supplemental technology available to schools through these grants includes, but is not limited to, 3D printers, laser cutters, video production equipment, specialized cameras, drones, robotics & coding kits, digital microscopes & doc cameras, and audio/podcasting equipment.

“Meaningfully integrating technology into teaching and learning allows teachers to harness the power of technology in a way that deeply engages students, and these tools and resources can be used across content areas and for all grade levels,” said Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin. “Through these grants, Maine students will be able to access cutting-edge technology tools and build the skills they need to lead and thrive in a high-tech, digital world.”

Maine continues to lead the way with technology learning through innovation and meaningful integration. By focusing on ensuring that students have access to high quality technology-infused learning experiences and incorporating real-world topics and skills, Maine students are better prepared for post-secondary education, their careers, and beyond. From providing ongoing professional learning in technology integration, increasing student leadership opportunities in technology, and providing mobile computer science labs to all Maine public schools, these are just a few of the many ways that Maine is building capacity for and expanding critical access to technology learning for all students.

This grant is designed to offer supplemental technology that is not already provided through the MLTI program; device applications will not be considered. Instead, SAUs are encouraged to think about innovative learning through technology and to submit an application to invest in technology that will create transformative learning experiences for students and supplement the devices already provided. Eligible districts can submit an application for technology supplies and associated professional learning. This will include a plan and narrative that describes and clearly outlines the relationship between the technology and the teaching and learning that it’s being integrated into.

Priority will be given to applicants who:

  • Focus on greatest student impact
  • Serve socioeconomically disadvantaged school districts
  • Prioritize student populations traditionally underrepresented in technology
  • Demonstrate a commitment to pursuing high-quality teaching and learning through technology.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and in the order in which they are received. Click here to access the application.

For more information about this and other MLTI initiatives, go to https://maine.gov/doe/learning/ltt/mlti/twt

###

Media Release: Maine DOE Announces Inaugural Class of Teacher Leader Fellows

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) launched Maine’s Teacher Leader Fellows today with an inaugural class of five extraordinary educators from across the state. Waterville Senior High School social studies teacher Jessica Graham, Fryeburg Academy national-board certified teacher James St. Pierre, Nokomis Regional Middle School Integrated Technology teacher Keith Kelley, Mattanawcook Academy mathematics teacher Sarah Krause, and national-board certified music teacher Dorie Tripp will work with Maine DOE staff to support Maine’s educators in cross-cutting, interdisciplinary concepts of civics, STEAM, and humanities.

The Teacher Leader Fellows will provide educators across Maine with weekly updates on resources and materials, host monthly professional learning opportunities, and maintain webpages with rich and informative content. To receive weekly communications and monthly professional learning around civics, STEAM, and/or humanities concepts, click here.

“Taking on this new position offers so many opportunities to engage with exactly what I love about teaching—meeting other educators, making connections with community partners, and celebrating community centered student learning. I truly believe that building strong communities and educating engaged citizens is the core mission of schools, and that civic learning happens in every grade and every content area. I am so excited to help connect, celebrate, and create with educators and learners around Maine,” said Waterville Senior High School social studies teacher Jessica Graham.

“Being a teacher leader means connecting and helping others connect. It means gathering the ideas and experiences of the teachers in the state and sharing them in manageable, practical, and efficient ways. We have such a great array of professionals whose knowledge can elevate all students, so to be one of the leaders bringing them together is a privilege,” said Fryeburg Academy national-board certified teacher James St. Pierre.

“To be a teacher you need to know the material and your students. A great teacher never stops learning and the best learning is done by teaching others. I hope, with the other Teacher Leader Fellows, to help educate others and myself until STEAM pours out of all of our classrooms,” said Nokomis Regional Middle School Integrated Technology teacher Keith Kelley.

“As a STEAM Teacher Leader Fellow, I hope to help spread important information and opportunities to the other STEAM educators in Maine. I plan to regularly provide teachers with some meaningful STEAM lessons and activities that can be incorporated into their classrooms. Additionally, as a teacher of mathematics and a fan of the arts, I would like to help others see the beauty in the world of STEAM,” said Mattanawcook Academy mathematics teacher Sarah Krause.

“I’m delighted to be working with the DOE to support Maine teachers! I look forward to working with other educators to learn, collaborate, and to create unique learning opportunities for our students,” said national-board certified music teacher Dorie Tripp.

Meet Maine’s Teacher Leader Fellows

Jessica Graham
Jessica Graham

Jessica Graham is a high school social studies teacher at Waterville Senior High School. She serves as the National Honor Society advisor and Trivia Club advisor and on the district curriculum committee. After working in museum education around the state of Maine for a decade, Jessica transitioned to classroom teaching six years ago and relishes the opportunity to build lasting relationships with students. She is passionate about civics education conceived broadly: helping students practice community in the classroom and in the wider world through conversation, action, and applied knowledge of decision-making processes. Her background in museum work leads her to approach content in an interdisciplinary and experiential way. Her greatest honor as a teacher was receiving Waterville’s annual staff Renaissance Award, a recognition bestowed by the student body.

In her free time Jessica is pursuing a PhD in history from the University of Maine, volunteers as a Girl Scout leader, and enjoys slowly converting her suburban yard into a garden retreat full of native plants and pollinator habitat.

James St. Pierre
James St. Pierre

James St. Pierre is a national board-certified teacher with thirty years of teaching experience at Fryeburg Academy where he has taught courses in English and biology and served as English department chair. In addition to his work at the secondary level, he also holds the position of Lecturer at both Granite State College and White Mountains Community College, where he has taught as an adjunct for two decades. He holds a master’s degree in English Literature from Middlebury College and has presented at state and regional conferences regarding the medium of comics. He is married with two sons and enjoys making comics in his free time.

Keith Kelley
Keith Kelley

A Maine educator for more than 33 years, Keith Kelley is currently teaching Integrated Technology. Having taught Language Arts, Social Studies and serving as the School Librarian, he is now teaching IT at Nokomis Regional Middle School. His students make Robots, Skateboards, 3D print, and build Guitars. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Education at UMaine. He has coached soccer, track, and various tech camps. In his free time, he enjoys riding around in his classic mustang with his wife and dogs.

Sarah Krause
Sarah Krause

Sarah Krause is a graduate from the University of Maine with a B.S. in Secondary Education, a B.A. in Mathematics & Statistics, and a Minor in Zoology.

Currently, she is in her twelfth year of classroom experience with AP Calculus, Precalculus, and AP Computer Science Principles as the bulk of her teaching schedule over the years. Other teaching experiences include: Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry, Math Problem Solving, Linear Algebra, Advanced Topics in Mathematics (and elective that explored advanced precalculus topics). Next year she will be adding Intro to Digital Art & Design into her course load.

Sarah is currently teaching at Mattanawcook Academy in Lincoln, Maine, where she also juggles a handful of other roles in the building. Some of those other positions include Math Team Coach, National Honor Society Advisor, Senior Class Advisor, Mentor Teacher, Mathematics Department Head, Technology Team Member, and Cohort/PLC Leader.

Sarah, is in the beginning stages of being part of the #MaineTeachesCS program as a Computer Science Integration (CSI) Educator, and back in 2019, she was a member of the Maine DOE: Mathematics Standards Writing Team.

Moving forward, Sarah is excited to be part of the Maine DOE in this new role as a Teacher Leadership STEAM Fellow with her other teammates in the Office of Innovation.

Dorie Tripp
Dorie Tripp

Dorie Tripp is a national board-certified music teacher with 14 years’ experience teaching elementary music in Maine public schools. Over the years, it has been her mission to promote music instruction that is developmentally appropriate, inclusive, diverse, and engaging. In her quest to do this, she has taken on many roles as a learner and leader. Dorie spent two terms as Vice President of the Maine Music Educators Association, contributed to the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative as a Design Team member, was an active member of the Maine Learning Results writing team for the Visual and Performing Arts, and co-hosted a series of PD sessions for educators during the Covid 19 pandemic. In 2021, she was awarded the MMEA Music Educator of the Year Award. In this next step of her journey, Dorie is looking forward to working with the Maine DOE. She’s excited to practice, share, and support unique learning opportunities for Maine students and educators!

To receive weekly communications and monthly professional learning around civics, STEAM, and/or humanities concepts, click here.

For more information about this or other innovative programs at the Maine Department of Education, contact, Beth Lambert, Acting Chief Innovation Officer and Director of Innovative Teaching and Learning, at beth.lambert@maine.gov.