Category: Newsroom Articles

2023 Mitchell Scholarship Application Open

The 2023 Mitchell Scholarship online application is now open until April 1. You can find the application link, requirements, and a few additional college and scholarship resources on the Mitchell Institute’s web site.

New for the 2023 Mitchell Scholarship application season!

The Mitchell Institute is pleased to announce an expanded commitment to increasing college access for Maine students. In addition to the longstanding commitment of awarding at least one $10,000 scholarship annually to a graduating student from each of the 135 public high schools in Maine, the Institute will award 20 more scholarships across the state, bringing its annual total to $1.55M in support for the class of 2023 Mitchell Scholars. Visit this site more information: The 2023 Mitchell Scholarship Application is Now Open

In addition to the $10,000 scholarship that the Mitchell Institute will award to a graduating student from every public high school in the state, they provide numerous resources and programs for Mitchell Scholars:

  • Leadership and career development events
  • Access to a wide array of professional networks
  • Customized career advising and personal support through individual meetings with Mitchell Institute staff and community members
  • Fellowship Awards of up to $1,500 to support internships and personal/professional growth opportunities
  • Emergency financial assistance for unexpected financial challenges

Mitchell Scholarships are awarded to students planning to attend two- or four-year degree programs at colleges either in- or out-of-state. Candidates are evaluated based on the following criteria: academics, community impact, and financial need. Please encourage any graduating college-bound students from Maine’s public high schools to apply before the April 1 deadline.

For more information, contact the Mitchell Institute at info@mitchellinstitute.org or (207) 773-7700. Click here to subscribe an e-newsletter that offers a monthly roundup of news: The Mitchell Institute Update

WEBINAR: Functional Communication – More Than Just a New App!

The Maine Department of Education is pleased to present “Functional Communication: More than just a new app!”

Please join us on February 1st from 3:30-5:00 pm for a free virtual workshop presented by Fran Bodkin, MA CCC-SLP, in order to support all school personnel in understanding students with communication needs. Communication is vital to participating in society at all levels; school, home and community. Students who have difficulty expressing themselves and getting their needs met frequently experience frustration and may exhibit interfering behaviors in attempting to communicate what they need and want.

In this presentation you will learn:

  • How functional communication impacts students across settings
  • What is a functional communication evaluation and who can do one?
  • How to seek an evaluation or alternate supports
  • Different levels of assistive technology to support communication
  • How you can support students across settings
  • How to help students reach their full potential
  • How to leverage communication to support positive behaviors
  • How to have fun with communication!

1.5 contact hours will be offered to participants of this webinar.

Register here.

For more information contact Erin Frazier at Erin.Frazier@maine.gov.

Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) Training for Maine PBIS Schools

Maine PBIS is offering a 3 day Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) Training for our Maine PBIS schools. A FBA is the process used to assess a specific behavior that is interfering with a student’s academic, social, emotional and behavioral goals.  This team-based training will support your school staff in identifying why the behavior is happening through a variety of assessment tools and procedures leading to the development of a positive behavior support plan individualized to the student’s strengths and needs.

  • Team-based training, minimum of three team members per school
  • In-person training 8:30-3:00 pm (3/21, 4/4, 4/25)
  • The training is cumulative, participants will need to attend all three sessions – 18 contact hours are available to participants who attend all 3 sessions.
  • In-person at University of Southern Maine, Gorham Campus: 37 College Ave, 8 Bailey Hall – Room 301/301C in Gorham, ME

Register for the training on this form: https://forms.gle/LE89e6x1dGzkrcrQ7

Please contact Anne-Marie Adamson (anne-marie.adamson@maine.gov) with questions.

Join us to Learn More About Celebrating the 2023 Week of the Young Child®

The Maine Department of Education and the Maine Association for the Education of Young Children (MaineAEYC) invite you to join us in celebrating the Week of the Young Child®, an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), during the week of April 1-7, 2023.  While the Week of the Young Child is still a couple of months away, the Maine DOE and MaineAEYC are providing a couple of informational sessions in early February to help schools and communities start to plan for how they will celebrate.

Consider registering to attend one of the following virtual informational sessions:

  • February 2nd, 3-4 pm – Register here
  • February 9th, 1-2 pm – Register here

NAEYC is the world’s largest early childhood education association with close to 60,000 members and a network of 52 Affiliates, committed to promoting high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8.  Their collective vision is that all young children thrive and learn in a society dedicated to ensuring they reach their full potential.

The purpose of Week of the Young Child® is two fold.  First, it aims to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families while recognizing the early childhood programs, services and providers who meet those needs.  Second, it calls on citizens and communities to consider and plan how we can better meet the needs of young children and families at the local, state and national levels.

Week of the Young Child® is an exciting series of fun filled daily themes that celebrate young children, their families, their teachers and the communities that support them.

It is our hope that programs serving young children and their families will plan and participate in activities that support the daily themes and call attention to the important work you are doing.  This is a great opportunity for schools, child care centers, home child care programs, before & after care programs, public libraries, museums, and community organizations to come together to collaborate and organize celebrations in communities across the state. MaineAEYC and the DOE have several activities planned for the week, including ECE STATE HOUSE DAY in Augusta on April 5th from 8:00am to 12:00pm.  We hope to see you there!

Want to learn more about the Week of the Young Child (WOYC)? Interested in being a part of WOYC, but not sure how? Want to plan a WOYC event, but looking for ideas? Want to learn more about WOYC mini grants being offered by MaineAEYC?

Join MaineAEYC and the Department of Education for a Week of the Young Child Informational Session on: February 2nd, 3-4pm OR February 9th, 1-2pm

You can find Week of the Young Child®  resources, including a guidebook and mini-grant opportunity, at the MaineAEYC, DOE and NAEYC websites.  For more information please feel free to contact:.

Morgan Hart Tolin, M.Ed
Professional Learning Director
Maine Association for the Education of Young Children
morgan@maineaeyc.org                                                                                        

Nicole Madore
Early Childhood Specialist
Maine Department of Education
Nicole.Madore@maine.gov

Marcy Whitcomb
Public Pre-K Consultant
Maine Department of Education
marcy.r.whitcomb@maine.gov    

Sue Gallant
Pre-K Expansion Consultant
Maine Department of Education
Sue.Gallant@maine.gov                                                               

Monmouth Memorial’s Makerspace Reaching Even More Students

A finished student independent project from wood and stain
A finished student independent project from wood and stain

Monmouth Memorial School has some innovative ideas on how to involve more of its students with their makerspace. Not only is this makerspace available to whole classes and individuals throughout the day, but students in grades 6-8 also take a unified arts class where they are exposed to many different components of the makerspace, including 3D printing, motors and electronics, woodworking, sewing, all the way to virtual and augmented reality. By the time the students finish middle school, they will have developed makerspace skills, learned about the design process, and completed an independent project. These projects can be hands-on, virtual, or anything in between with some projects including a YouTube instructional video on quilt sewing, marble runs, an American Flag made out of wood and stain, safety guides on tools in the makerspace, and a three-foot-tall basketball hoop.

Monmouth Memorial's studio space
Monmouth Memorial’s studio space

The makerspace projects are spearheaded by Elizabeth Bellegarde, the district librarian, and Seth Mitchell, who is the school’s technology integrator and the 2022 Kennebec County Teacher of the Tear. Bellegarde feels the system is a great fit for their school, saying “I feel as though the set-up we have is ideal for our school’s structure, allowing the maximum amount of student access.” That structure allows for many different projects happening all at once, with one space designed as a work area that involves everything from power tools and snap circuits as well as materials for the Lego Robotics and VEX Robotics teams, which competed in the 2022 Vex Robotics World Championship.

In the makerspace unified arts class, 6th-8th grade students will be working on a wide array of projects simultaneously, with Bellegarde moving between groups to provide support when needed. Students enthusiastically switch between low-tech and high-tech skills to complete their projects, but the energy and excitement from the students is constantly pulpable.

“It takes time to build that culture,” Mitchell says, “having administration who see the value in this program makes it even more successful.”

A student’s marble run project
A student’s marble run project

Attached to the main makerspace area is Monmouth’s studio space. This area contains a wide array of materials including a sound board, iPad teleprompter, green screen walls, and resources for video editing. “Students and teachers have this wonderful resource available [that can] extend learning in a way that wasn’t previously possible,” Bellegarde says. “By using the makerspace this way, classes become more fun with memorable experiences that will increase retention.” For many students in the makerspace unified arts class, having flexibility between both learning spaces gives them even more options to create unique projects.

Bellegarde wants to continue making these learning resources available for as many students as possible. “We are still working on making more students aware of this opportunity, the makerspace unified arts class is a huge part of that,” she says, “but the students who do take advantage of the makerspace find it to be a rewarding experience.” Not only can students participate in the unified arts class, classroom teachers can use the space for whole-class learning experiences as well as individual students working independently during study halls and available times throughout the day. Bellegarde sees these learning experiences leading to the development of lifelong design, critical thinking, decision-making, and independent skills. “For me, this is the best part of the makerspace.”

This story was written and coordinated by MLTI Ambassador Joshua Schmidt as part of the Maine Schools Sharing the Success Campaign. To learn more, or to submit a story or an idea for a story, email rachel.paling@maine.gov.

WEBINAR: Annual Foster Care Training for Point of Contacts – Jan 31st

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into law on December 10, 2015,  amending the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). ESSA contains provisions related to protections for children in foster care and requires the Maine Department of Education ( DOE) and Maine school administrative units (SAUs) to collaborate with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to ensure educational stability for children in foster care. 

Join the Maine DOE’s Office of School and Student Supports Director Julie Smyth and Associate Director of Child Welfare Services Bobbi Johnson on Tuesday, January 31st via Zoom for a 4:00 pm Annual Foster Care Training for Point Of Contacts (POCs). Participants receive a certificate upon successful completion of a post-session quiz.

The goal of ESSA is for children in foster care to experience minimal disruption in their education because of being placed in foster care and that they are given the same opportunities to develop the necessary skills to be successful as children who are not in foster care. 

Under ESSA the Maine DOE and OCFS must work together to ensure: 

  • A child in foster care will enroll or remain enrolled in the child’s school of origin unless a determination is made that it is not in the child’s best interest to attend that school. 
  • If a determination is made that is not in the child’s best interest to remain in the school of origin, the child will immediately be enrolled in a new school, even if the child and/or his or her guardians are unable to produce records normally required for enrollment; and 
  • The child’s new school must immediately contact the school of origin to obtain relevant records. 

Register here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing further information about joining the meeting. 

For questions, please contact Julie Smyth, Director of the Office of School, and Student Supports – at 207.592.0949 or julie.a.smyth@maine.gov . 

Maine CDC Seeking Participants for Maine Young Adult Survey

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is partnering with Public Consulting Group LLC (PCG) to administer a web-based anonymous health survey to enhance the data available on the young adult (18–30-year-old) population living in Maine. The Maine Young Adult Survey is a product of the Maine State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup (SEOW). The survey will be a representative sample from across the state, reaching at least 2,500 young adults with increased recruitment of key subpopulations. Participants will receive a $10 Amazon gift card via email.

Why? There is little community-level data on the health habits of young adults in Maine. This survey attempts to fill the data gaps and will be used to guide and target strategic planning of prevention interventions and programs around substance abuse.

What can you do? Maine CDC is seeking your support in recruiting 18–30-year-old Mainers to complete the survey.

There are multiple ways you can support this effort:

  • Share the survey link via email lists with young adults in Maine and encourage participation! Maine Young Adult Survey
  • “Like”, “follow”, and “repost” the Maine YAS social media pages and posts!
  • Promote the survey with these flyers – print them out in your spaces or post it on your social media or website!

When? Now! The Maine Young Adult Survey is live and will be open for respondents for approximately 8-10 weeks.

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please email MEYoungAdultSurvey@pcgus.com or visit www.maineseow.com/yas.

 

Maine DOE Staff & Maine Educators Honored in 2022 Fenway Bowl Honor Roll

(Pictured: Maine DOE Staff Amelia Lyons Rukema at Fenway with friends and family at the 2022 Fenway Bowl Honor Roll.)

The Wasabi Fenway Bowl, in partnership with Moderna, Amica Insurance, CVS Health, Samuel Adams, Extra Yard for Teachers, and Boston Globe Media, recently honored 30 people working in the education workforce in New England, 6 of the people recognized are from Maine’s education field.

The Wasabi Fenway Bowl Honor Roll is a charitable program focused on recognizing and thanking educators who have gone above and beyond to support their students and respective communities.

2022 Honor Roll Honorees from Maine:

Amelia Lyons Rukema – Finalist
McKinney-Vento Specialist
Maine Department of Education

Amelia has worked tirelessly to promote resources for students experiencing homelessness. During the pandemic, she worked with schools and teachers across the state of Maine to link them to support for students and their families.

Susan Capwell
Technology Integrator
Searsport District Middle & High School

“Susan is a passionate educator who goes the extra mile. She has supported students by creating a safe, accessible class culture and engaging students through creative STEM activities. ‘As the head of the tech lab and robotics team, she serves as an inspiration for girls to get involved with tech’ her nominator writes.”

Allison Leavitt
Nutrition Director
Lisbon School Department

“Allison ensures her students have access to fresh and nutritious by partnering with local farms and businesses in the Lisbon community. As the Present Elect and Education Committee Chair of the Maine School Nutrition Association, she also creates training opportunities for school nutrition staff across Maine.”

Emily Poland
School Nurse Consultant
Maine Department of Education

“She has been a pillar of strength throughout the pandemic, tirelessly advocating for school nurse,” her nominator writes. “Using her vision, creativity, and persistence, Emily Poland, MPH, RN, NCSN built a team to honor the needs and time of school nurses, assisting in deciphering the changing guidelines and mitigation strategies.”

Bonnie Robbins
Athletic Director/Community Outreach Coordinator
Brunswick Junior High School

“Bonnie provides amazing support for students’ mental health and well-being, not only at her school, but also by volunteering her time to collaborate with the Department of Education to provide weekly meetings with other school-based mental health professionals across the state.”

Juana Rodriguez
Executive Director
Mano en Mano

“Juana plays an integral role in the work of the Blueberry Harvest School, where the goal is to meet the needs of each student through culturally responsive learning. Juana is a member of the Board of Directors of Healthy Acadia, The Women’s Health Resource Library, and Friends of the Milbridge Public Library. She is also a Commissioner on the Status of Racial, Indigenous, and Tribal Populations of Maine.”

Over 200 teachers, administrators, and staff were nominated for the Fenway Bowl Honor Roll this year. See the full list of 30 honorees from across New England.

Honorees and their friends, families, and supporters were invited to Fenway in December to be recognized at a nationally televised college football game being hosted there. Maine DOE’s Amelia Lyons Rukema, a finalist in the Fenway Bowl Honor Roll, was present along with Maine educator Bonnie Robbins and many other honorees, and their fans from across New England.

To learn more about the Wasabi Fenway Bowl and its commitment to equitable and quality education across New England, visit FenwayBowl.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Afghan Refugee School Success Events in Portland and Lewiston

The Office of Maine Refugee Services is hosting events in both Portland and Lewiston for teachers, school administrators, and school districts that are serving Maine’s newly arrived Afghan students and their families. The workshop will be focused on cultural advisement, student success, and whole-family engagement. There will also be culturally and linguistically appropriate training for Afghan parents and guardians on parenting, school, and school engagement in the US.

The workshops with be held in Portland (March 6th) and Lewiston (March 7th). The morning workshop (10 am-12:30 pm) will be geared towards teachers and schools and will cover cultural advisement and particular challenges schools have identified in serving new populations, offering practical strategies to support refugee and immigrant students in school. The afternoon session (1-4 pm) will be the culturally and linguistically-appropriate workshop for Afghan parents and guardians on parenting, school, and school engagement in the US. Any teachers and school staff are welcome to attend the parent workshop as well. A free lunch will be provided. While these workshops are geared toward Afghan student success, the workshops will be applicable for teachers and schools working with students and families from any refugee background.

Where: Portland Jewish Community Alliance
When: March 6, 10 am-4 pm
Register here

Where: Lewiston Public Library
When: March 7, 10:30 am-4:30 pm
Register here

About the facilitator: Freshta Taeb is an Afghan-American cultural advisor, facilitator and behavioral health specialist who has worked with large and small schools and school districts across the country, non profits, and government entities including as a lead cultural advisor for DHS. She has worked as an interpreter, domestic violence interventionist and is a former teacher.

Flyer (English)
Flyer (Dari)
Flyer (Pashto)