Category: Newsroom Articles

Special Topic Series Upcoming Sessions: Word-Level Reading and PBIS Framework

As a reminder, the Maine Department of Education’s Office of Special Services & Inclusive Education is hosting a Special Topic Series around inclusivity and multi-tiered systems of support through the winter and spring months. Upcoming topics include:

Word-Level Reading Problems – Implications for Instruction and Intervention

Description: Speaker David A. Kilpatrick, PhD will focus on how children learn to read words and why some children struggle. Learn more here.
Date: March 1, 2023
Time: 3:30-4:30 pm
Where: Zoom
Cost: FREE
Register here.

Supporting All Students: How the PBIS Framework is Inclusive for All

Description: Speaker Dr. Heather George. PBIS has been shown through research to be effective for a wide range of student outcomes. This whole school prevention based approach establishes a safe and predictable environment to improve behavior and help more students succeed, including students with disabilities. Free resources will be shared to help schools build systems with practices that are inclusive, robust and supportive of all students.
Date: Wednesday, April 26, 2023,
Times: 3:30-4:30 PM
Where: Zoom
Cost: FREE
Register here.

Download a flyer about these topics (PDF)

 

 

 

Reminder: Nominations Open for the 2023 National History Teacher of the Year

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is seeking nominations for the 2023 National History Teacher of the Year.

Each year the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History recognize first-rate K–12 teachers who find creative ways to bring history to life in their classrooms. Winners are selected from each state and US territory, and become finalists for the national award.

State History Teachers of the Year receive:

  • $1,000
  • Recognition at a ceremony in their state
  • Free entry to the Gilder Lehrman Teacher Symposium
  • Free classroom materials

The National History Teacher of the Year receives $10,000 and is honored at a ceremony in New York City.

The deadline for 2023 nominations is April 30, 2023. Learn more and nominate a teacher at gilderlehrman.org/nhtoy.

Download a flyer (PDF)

REMINDER: Seeking Presenters for 2nd Annual Educators Summit

The 2nd Annual Educator Summit is scheduled for August 7 through August 10, 2023, at the Augusta Civic Center. The Maine Department of Education is currently seeking presenters from Maine’s education field.

This year’s theme is Inspiration, Innovation, and Inclusion. Knowing that there are many inspirational, innovative, and inclusive practices being performed in our public schools, we have opened the applications to the entire Maine public education workforce.  Our intent is to showcase the inspirational, innovative, and inclusive practices being used every day in our schools and use this to inspire other schools.

We will also be accepting applications from the Maine Department of Education staff that are providing support for our Maine teachers and students, and to provide a launching point for continuing support throughout the 2023-2024 school year.

Presenter Application Portal (Applications close on March 3, 2023)

For more information regarding this event please contact Teri Peaslee, 2023 Summit Coordinator at Teri.peaslee@maine.gov or 207-530-7672.

Augusta Adult Education Partnerships with Maine Veteran’s Home to Offer FREE CNA Training

Augusta Adult and Community Education is partnering with the Maine Veterans’ Homes-Augusta to offer an, “Earn While You Learn” Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Training Program. The purpose of the partnership is to increase and strengthen Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training in the Augusta area and prepare participants for employment within the healthcare industry within the state.

The first cohort of Certified Nursing Assistants who participated in the partnership graduated on February 10, 2023.

“This is an exciting time to become part of the Maine Veterans’ Homes-Augusta team at their new state-of-the-art facility at 35 Heroes Way,” said Kayla Sikora, Director of Augusta Adult and Community Education in a news release. “Augusta Adult and Community Education is honored to partner with Maine Veterans’ Homes-Augusta.”

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed into effect on December 1, 2022, between Augusta Adult and Community Education and Maine Veterans’ Homes-Augusta to offer “Earn While You Learn” CNA Training.

To learn more about this program visit, “Earn While You Learn” CNA Training. or contact the Augusta Adult and Community Education Program.

20th Annual MLTI Student Conference Call for Breakout Session Proposals

The Maine Department of Education is issuing a call for student and educator team breakout session proposals for any of the three events that are part of the 20th Annual MLTI Student Conference.

  • In-person Conference – University of Southern Maine (Portland) on May 12th
  • Virtual Conference on May 18th
  • In-person Conference – University of Maine (Orono) on May 25th

The MLTI Student Conference is a unique technology experience developed exclusively for students at MLTI schools in grades 6-9. Since MLTI’s beginning in 2001 this conference has been providing students with their own conference where they can engage in authentic, relevant, technology-rich, learning experiences that prepare them for a fulfilling future.

Conference Theme and Breakout Sessions

The MLTI team is excited to host three conferences this year, which provides more opportunities for presenters (both educators and students) to share the innovative work that is happening with the technology in Maine schools. If you are excited to share and showcase work at any of our in-person and virtual events, please consider submitting a proposal. We will be hosting some Q&A sessions and providing support if you are interested, but still unsure about submitting a proposal at this time. We are also happy to announce that we will be providing technology for presenting teams to bring back to their schools.

Other considerations:

Conference Theme: DiveRightIn The intent of the conference theme is to reflect the many interpretations of water as they relate to Maine students and their use of technology as well as how technology connects us in different environments and virtual spaces.

Possible Topics

Proposals are not limited to the conference theme and might include topics such as:

Device Requirements: Sessions should be “platform agnostic” and feature only free apps and tools that are accessible to all, and appropriate for 6th through 9th grade MLTI students. If you have concerns or questions about these requirements, please email doe-mlti2.0@maine.gov.

Session Design

  • Led by
    • Educator with student(s)
    • Student(s) with educator support
    • Educational partner with educator and/or student support
  • Length of
    • 60 minutes
    • 90 minutes
    • 120 minutes
  • Encourages participants to
    • explore & create
    • participate & share
    • or engage & connect

Submit Proposals by completing this online form.

Important Dates

  • Tuesday, March 21st, 2023 – Session proposals due
  • Friday April 3rd, 2023 – Sessions posted
  • Friday, April 7th, 2023 – Student Conference Registration opens
  • Friday April 21st, 2023 – Student Conference Registration Closes
  • Friday May 5th, 2023 – Conference registrations finalized

Get to Know the Maine DOE Team: Meet Steve Airoldi

Maine DOE team member Steve Airoldi is being highlighted this week as part of the Get to Know the Maine DOE Team Campaign. Learn a little more about Steve in the question and answer below.

What are your roles with DOE?

I am the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Project Manager, monitoring and regulating the CTE Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan (MJRP) grants.

What do you like best about your job?

I love the connections within the agency and the schools and the people from all across the State that I get to work with in support of Maine’s students and educators.

How or why did you decide on this career?

I chose education very early on in my career. I worked my way through higher education, private secondary schools, and then most recently public elementary schools. As my family moved to Maine I sought to find a position that kept me serving public educators and students and I was lucky to find a role on this team!

What do you like to do outside of work for fun?

Outside of work I love to hang out with my wife and my two kids. We hike, play disc golf, and tour the tasty food and beverage options throughout the area!

4H Agriculture Leadership Ambassador Program for Students

University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H is offering its Agriculture Leadership Ambassador program from March 7–April 18. The program, open to all teens ages 14–18, will focus on understanding the Maine food system, exploring careers and building advocacy skills.

As formal agricultural programs at local high schools disappear, students lack opportunities to learn about critical food systems and discover careers in agriculture. The 4-H Agriculture Leadership Ambassador program seeks to provide teenagers with opportunities to consider a future in agriculture and connect with others who have similar goals. Additional details about the program can be found on the program website.

Participants in the program will gain leadership experiences, explore career pathways and investigate current issues around food systems including climate, social justice, food equity, livestock, crop sciences and aquaculture. This program is open to all Maine youth; 4-H membership is not required for participation.

The program will begin with a series of online learning and will conclude with an in-person visit to the UMaine campus in Orono. The spring 2023 cohort will meet virtually. from 3:30–5 p.m. on Tuesday afternoons from March 7–April 18, with an in-person celebratory luncheon in Orono on April 20.

Download a PDF Poster about this opportunity

To register, visit the event website. For more information or to request reasonable accommodation, contact Sadee Mehuren; 207.342.5971; extension.4hagleadership@maine.edu.

Culturally Diverse Culinary Resources

The Maine Child Nutrition office has created a new webpage dedicated to culturally diverse culinary videos, recipes and resources that are available for Child Nutrition Programs, including the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program. Currently, there are Halal and Wabanaki/indigenous foods recipes and resources available, with plans for more culturally diverse resources being added in the future! The goal of these resources is to educate and provide tools for child nutrition programs in meeting the diverse needs of their student populations.

For more information and to view these resources, visit the Culturally Diverse Culinary Resources page.

Worthington Scholarship Application Open

The Worthington Scholarship Foundation is offering scholarships of up to $17,000 to high school seniors in 13 counties, who plan to attend Worthington-eligible colleges or community colleges in Maine.

Students with a high school GPA of a B- or higher attending one of Worthington’s partner four-year colleges, or students with a GPA of a C- or higher attending one of the foundation’s partner community colleges are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is April 15.

For the application and complete details regarding eligibility, please visit worthingtonscholars.org.

Each award can be up to $17,000 over four years for students attending a four-year college and up to $15,000 to attend community college, with the option of continuing to a four-year college. The foundation’s goal is to award scholarships to eligible students in each partner high school.

The foundation also provides mentoring and student support services to its scholars throughout their college careers and works closely with each partner college to help students attain their education goals.

For more information and an online application, please visit worthingtonscholars.org. For additional information, email info@worthingtonscholars.org or call 207-975-0971.

The University of Maine Invites High school and Middle School Student Teams to Participate in the Windstorm Challenge

The Matthew R. Simmons Windstorm Challenge, hosted by the University of Maine, asks teams of students to design and construct a floating platform for a scale model wind turbine, and then deliver a presentation to a panel of expert judges.

The event is designed for student teams at both the high school and middle school level, with a diverse range of experiences.

Event details, an updated Guidebook and Curriculum for the Challenge, registration link, and contact info are available at the University of Maine Advanced Structures & Composites Center website.