EPS High-Cost Out-of-District Report (EF-S-214) Open for Reporting on March 1; The Deadline is April 15

The EF-S-214, also known as the EPS High-Cost Out-of-District Report will be open for data entry to Maine public schools on March 1 in the Maine Department of Education’s NEO Portal.

School districts should sign into the report as early as possible to allow time for data entry as well as the two-step submission process. The Department must approve the report by April 15 to allow time to make possible EPS adjustments.

Adjustments to the Special Education High-Cost Out-of-District allocation will be based on costs exceeding:

$19,176 for placements in Regional Special Education Programs;
$28,764 for placements in other school administrative units; and
$38,352 for placements in private schools.

Below are a few important things to note about the EF-S-214 report:

School districts will need to project the tuition cost for the full fiscal year.
This report is required for all publicly funded school districts, including districts that do not meet the High-Cost Out-of-District tuition threshold, these districts must login and submit “no students to report.”

The report can be located by logging into NEO at: https://neo.maine.gov/DOE/NEO/Accounts/Account/Login

Navigate to→ Special Education → Forms → EFS-214

Questions about the report should be directed to Stephanie Clark, Fiscal Compliance Associate for the Maine Department of Education at Stephanie.clark@maine.gov or 207-624-6807.

Philip Rossetti Named a National Assistant Principal of the Year Finalist

The Maine Principals’ Association (MPA) announced that Maine Assistant Principal of the Year, Philip Rossetti, Assistant Principal of Windham High School, is a Finalist for the National Assistant Principal of the Year. He will be honored by the MPA at its annual awards banquet at their Spring Conference on April 29th at the Samoset Resort in Rockport.

The announcement highlighted Rossetti’s belief that people make mistakes, but it’s what they do after that defines who they are. He’s used this principle to transform how Windham High School manages student behavior, focusing on restorative justice to hold students accountable and repair the harm they caused their school community. This restorative approach has improved school safety and reshaped school culture, fostering stronger relationships between students and turning mistakes into opportunities to learn.

Reflecting on Rossetti’s selection as a 2022 NASSP Assistant Principal of the Year Finalist, MPA Executive Director Dr. Holly Blair noted, “It is exciting that Mr. Rossetti has been recognized by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) as a finalist for the National Assistant Principal of the Year. This is the first time that Maine has had a finalist in the program. Mr. Rossetti is an exceptional Assistant Principal and very much deserving of this honor. We are very proud of him.”

Rossetti started his educational career as a social studies teacher at Windham High School in 1996. In 2015, Mr. Rossetti became the Assistant Principal of South Portland High School before returning to Windham High School 2016 where he continues to serve as Assistant Principal. He is a member of the Maine Principals’ Association (MPA) and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Judy Camuso Participates in Read to ME Challenge

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Judy Camuso recently took part in the Read to ME Challenge by reading Poppy by the author Avi to Mrs. Perkins’ fourth grade class at Canal Elementary School. Following the reading, Camuso and the students learned about and dissected owl pellets.

Maine’s Read to ME Challenge is a month-long campaign every February to promote the importance of literacy for all of Maine’s students, regardless of age. In its seventh year, the campaign sponsored by the Maine Department of Education encourages adults to read to children for 15 minutes, capture that moment via a photo or a video, post it to social media using the hashtag #ReadtoME, and challenge others to do the same.

There’s still plenty of time to join the Read to ME Challenge and February break is the perfect opportunity to grab one of your favorite stories and read to a child in your life.

Schools, families, and community organizations can find a Read to ME toolkit and resources on the Department of Education website and the Department continues to share videos, photos, and updates from the Challenge all month long on social media.

Molly Ockett School 3rd Graders Study Maine Forests in Outdoor Classroom

Brian Cushing, a 3rd grade teacher at Molly Ockett School in MSAD 72 was looking to do something different with his students this past fall after a year of working indoors through the pandemic.

Inspired by a “Forests of Maine Teacher Study Tour” he took in the summer of 2021 at the Maine Outdoor Center on Millinocket Lake near Mt. Katahdin, Cushing created a lesson for his 3rd graders that gave them the opportunity to study Maine forests.

“Our field experiences [on the Forests of Maine Teacher Study Tour] were what inspired me most to have my students get outside and learn about forestry,” said Cushing. “Our teacher field experiences took us from harvesting and processing the harvest to retail operations.”

In a 10-session study that integrated reading, writing, technology, science, and geography components, Cushing collaborated with Tin Mountain Conservation to create something really special for this students. He worked with Tin Mountain to co-teach lessons on tree identification, internal structure/components of trees and how to tell how old a tree is when cut down by counting rings on tree cookies.

Cushing decided to use their local school site in Fryeburg, which is located on several acres of mixed woods on one side, for a place to set up their outdoor classroom.

“Students enjoyed having an outdoor classroom,” said Cushing. “Being indoors so much of the day during this pandemic can be monotonous, and even though protocols are in place for outdoor classrooms, it was a change, the air was fresh, and they were learning about a new topic.”

In addition to learning about tree science, the students also studied animal habitat, and what mammals live in the Maine woods. They kept science journals for their weekly lessons, the majority of which were outside at their school site. They also worked in teams of two or three and used their laptops to research selected Maine mammals such as black bear, moose, snowshoe hare, flying squirrels, and bobcat, and then created visuals to present their findings to their classmates, as experts on their chosen mammal.

“They were so enthusiastic to research and write about their mammal, and then to present to the class,” said Cushing. “This was the first time any of them had been able to do any kind of team work since the pandemic hit.”

As part of the collaboration with Tin Mountain, students also had the opportunity to assemble a Maine moose skeleton in class, as part of a traveling museum that came to their classroom. Students also got see a Maine black bear skin, a taxidermied pileated woodpecker, and a saw-whet owl.

“The best part for me was seeing how integration really makes sense to students,” Cushing reflected.

To learn more about Tin Mount Conservation visit their website. To learn more about Mr. Cushing’s study on Maine forests, reach out to him at brian.cushing@msad72.org.

Public Meeting Notice for LD 313 Work Force Group on Career and Technical Education

On Wednesday, February 23, 2022 from 8:00 to 10:00 am, the Work Force Group for LD 313 will hold its next meeting hosted by the Department of Education.

LD 313 was passed in the 130th legislature and is focused on several topics regarding Career and Technical Education. If you would like to join as an attendee and listen to the discussion, you can use the following link at the time of the meeting.

Work Force Group for LD 313 02/23/22 Meeting link: https://mainestate.zoom.us/j/85970382498

If you have any comments on the discussion, you can send an email to cte.doe@maine.gov .

Maine $1,000 Pre-Service Teacher of the Year Award & FREE Conference

Applications are open for the Educators Rising Preservice teacher award which helps a future teacher get a jumpstart on setting up their classroom. The award of $1,000 will be presented to a senior at a teacher prep program in Maine and the award will be judged by Maine County and State Teachers of the Year.

Award applications can be submitted here. (DEADLINE: March 18th, 2022)

The winner will be announced at the Maine Pre-Service Teacher Conference on April 1.

This free conference is for aspiring teachers (high school seniors and pre-service teachers) and will be held April 1, 2022 in person at Thomas College. Virtual programming will be available as well via Zoom.

Presenters include principals and award-winning teachers of the year, and will cover topics pre-service teachers and other aspiring educators have expressed interest in, such as classroom management, getting a job, and the first year in the classroom. All in-person participants will be eligible for gift card door prizes throughout the day.

Conference Informational flyer.

Pre-Service Teacher of the Year Award flyer

Please email Dr. Rybakova at rybakovae@thomas.edu if you have any questions.

Webinar: Student Daily Attendance Reporting Process and Requirements

The Maine Department of Education Data Team is pleased to announce that Student Daily Attendance data reporting is now fully functional in Synergy and NEO. We are holding a webinar to cover the new student daily attendance reporting process and requirements on February 28^th, 2022 at 10AM. To participate please follow the Join Live link at the time of the webinar.

Please see our following Student Daily Attendance guidance documents:

Synergy

NEO Student Reports

NEO Student Daily Attendance Reports Instructional Video

Maine DHHS Announces Additional COVID-19 Tests Now Available

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced today, February 17, 2022 that it is extending Project Access COVID Tests (ACT), its partnership with The Rockefeller Foundation to mail free COVID-19 tests directly to Maine people, with an order for 50,000 additional tests, after Maine people claimed the remaining initial supply on Wednesday.

The first 125,000 tests in the pilot phase of the project were supported by The Rockefeller Foundation at no cost to the state. That initial supply, which was originally limited to certain vulnerable communities in Maine, became available statewide Wednesday, with every household in Maine eligible to order one set of five at-home rapid tests, regardless of ZIP code of residence. By Wednesday evening, Maine people had ordered all of the remaining approximately 50,000 tests.

Maine has extended the project with the additional supply. Starting earlier this afternoon, an additional 50,000 tests are available to Maine residents. Maine residents can order tests now and anyone who tried but could not order tests in the last 24 hours is encouraged to revisit www.accessCOVIDTests.org to sign up. Delivery delays are possible depending on demand.

Maine is extending Project ACT with Federal funds for COVID-19 testing to make the free tests available to all Maine residents.

No payment information is required — both the tests and shipping are free to residents – and the tests will be delivered through Amazon. The tests require a quick swab inside each nostril, with results available within minutes. Any individual over the age of two can use the tests. The program is limited to one order per residential address.

Maine residents can also order free tests through the national initiative at COVIDtests.gov. More information about accessing free, rapid, at-home tests can be found on the COVID-19 Testing in Maine website.

With February school vacation starting on Monday, February 21, the Mills Administration especially encourages families and school staff to get home tests. Testing before returning to school following February vacation week will help prevent the school-based transmission of COVID-19 as students and staff return on February 28.

What I Did with my Summer: MSAD 58 Social Studies Educator Finds Teaching Inspiration Through the Story of Ona Judge

(Book image from Amazon)

This past summer, Crystal Polk, a Social Studies Teacher at Strong Elementary School in MSAD 58 attended a 5-day session entitled “Slavery at Mount Vernon” offered through the George Washington Teacher Institute’s 5-day digital, professional development programs designed to educators.

“I applied to participate because I wanted to learn more about George Washington and slavery with a group of experts and teachers, so that we could also discuss how to best teach the content,” Polk explained.

Prior to engaging in the program, participants read a book entitled, The One Avoidable Subject of Regret, by Mary V. Thompson, a compelling book about slavery at Mount Vernon. The program layout consisted of synchronous professional development sessions which were a combination of presentations by historians and teachers, virtual tours of different areas on the Mount Vernon estate, and discussions with other participants. In addition, asynchronous assignments were also given throughout the week to keep participants engaged.

“The ongoing support and professional development provided by the George Washington Teacher Institute is amazing and inspiring,” said Polk after finishing the program.

After fulfilling her goal to learn more about George Washington, Mount Vernon, and slavery in general, Polk purchased and read, Never Caught: The Story of Ona Judge, a resource that was discussed during the sessions.

“Ona Judge was a slave who escaped from the Washington’s and lived out her life in freedom in New Hampshire,” explained Polk. “The book was well written, so I used my stipend money from the Teacher Institute and purchased a class set of these books to use with students. I have used the books with a small group of seventh graders, and I am working on developing a whole unit centered around the life of Ona Judge. I am also working on developing a presentation to share with my local and state colleagues.”

Additionally, this year Polk has been working as a teacher leader with the EVER FI professional development series for Maine teachers. She is planning to share her knowledge and resources when the Ever Fi team presents their African American history content and the 306 online course information with Maine teachers.

“After this experience, I was asked to serve as a member of the George Washington Teacher Institute Advisory Group,” added Polk. “This group of ninety-two teachers from around the United States will meet digitally on an ongoing basis to discuss content related to George Washington and professional development opportunities for educators.”

To learn more about the George Washington Teacher Institute visit their website. To learn more about social studies professional development opportunities and more, join Maine DOE’s Social Studies Listserv here. For more information and questions about social studies resources for Maine educators, contact Joe Schmidt at joe.schmidt@maine.gov.

Maine’s National Board Certified Teachers Honored in Virtual Pinning Ceremony

“When I look at each of your faces, I get so excited because I am looking at the best examples of reflective changemakers in the state. I am hoping tonight, you realize how much power you have as an educator and your role as change-maker,” said Hillary Hoyt, National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT), 2021 Waldo County Teacher of the Year, and 2022 Maine Teacher of the Year Finalist. Hoyt was the keynote speaker at the February 7, 2022 virtual pinning ceremony honoring and recognizing Maine’s new and renewed NBCT’s.

This week, 16 educators were celebrated for being newly certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. These outstanding educators join more than 400 teachers across the state who have undergone this highly reflective professional learning experience, including 32 of their colleagues who were recognized for renewal of their National Board Certification this year.

The pinning ceremony was hosted by the Maine Education Association (MEA) and the National Board Certified Teachers Network of Maine (NBCTs of Maine). Among those in attendance to celebrate were family members, colleagues, administrators, fellow NBCT’s, state legislators, and Maine Department of Education staff. Education Commissioner Pender Makin; Deputy Commissioner Daniel Chuhta, MEA President and NBCT Grace Leavitt; NBCTs of Maine Chair and NBCT, Heidi Goodwin; Membership and Outreach Coordinator and NBCT Matt Madore; NBCT and Treasurer Susan O’Brien; and Keynote Speaker Hillary Hoyt, NBCT all shared words of admiration and congratulations.

The journey to National Board Certification, described by Maine educators as rigorous, personally reassuring, and professionally rewarding, requires nearly 400 hours of time and effort to achieve. Educators must submit a detailed portfolio that includes examples of student work, video recordings of classroom teaching, a reflection piece focused on student assessment and learning, and demonstrated mastery of the content of their chosen certification area. This evidence must meet the Five Core Propositions and the National Board Standards, a body of knowledge that is maintained by teachers. Practicing teachers, through a peer-review process, assess the portfolios.

Grace Leavitt, MEA President and NBCT reflected on her personal journey to become certified, then addressed the honorees, “You must truly be the most remarkable of most remarkable. Not only did you take on the challenge, but you persisted despite the fact that we have been in a global pandemic for two years.”

Commissioner Pender Makin, just returning from a memorable day in Windham added, “What a complete honor to be able to close out my day in celebration of you. You each thought, ‘I am going to stretch myself to my absolute limit, dig in deep and engage in this process.’ I am in absolute awe of your work, commitment, of your professional integrity and fortitude that got you through this experience. Thank you to everyone for everything you do for your students and the profession!”

NBCT’s and Professional Learning Facilitators Heidi Goodwin and Jennifer Dorman led this year’s pinning ceremony. Attendees each had the opportunity to introduce themselves and be “pinned” by a family member or friend at home.

Closing out the evening, Susan O’Brien shared, “This evening we witness 16 newly certified NBCT’s. Tonight you witnessed 32 veteran NBCT’s being honored for renewing their certificates. These are reflective educators who are forever learning, improving, and leading. I am proud to share a screen with those who go above and beyond with their sparkling pedagogy and engaging content!”

In pursuing and achieving National Board Certification, the following teachers have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to their students, schools, and districts. Please join us in congratulating them!

16 New National Board Certified Teachers:

Name	District	School	Grade/subject	NB Certificate Achieved
Wyndee Mocciola Grosso	Westbrook	Saccarappa School	1^st Grade/all	Generalist/Early Childhood
Carolyn Nichols	RSU 1	Morse High School	11 & 12 Biology	Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Mary Carbone	n/a	Thornton Academy	High School Science	Science/Early Adolescence
Joseph Carbone	n/a	Thornton Academy	High School Science	Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Jessica Cardosi	n/a	Thornton Academy	High School Science	Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Alice Ford				Generalist/Middle Childhood
Jodi Bisson	RSU 22	Earl C. McGraw	2^nd Grade/all	Generalist/Early Childhood
Meagan Mattice	Augusta Public Schools	Gilbert School	Kindergarten/all	Generalist/Early Childhood
Stacy Jardine LaBree	RSU 22	Reeds Brooks Middle School	English and Math	English Language Arts/Early Adolescence
Elizabeth Carlson	RSU 21	Kennebunk High School	Language Arts	English Language Arts/Early Adolescence
Kathryn Giampetruzzi	Lewiston Public Schools	Connors Elementary School	ELL Coach	English as a New Language/Early and Middle Childhood
Krystle Catell	MSAD 28	Camden-Rockport Middle School	Special Education Teacher Gr 5	Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Garrett White	Scarborough Schools	Scarborough Middle School	Art Gr 6-8	Art/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
Kassandre (Kassie) Dwyer	Athens Public Schools	Athens Community School	Gr 6 – 8	Social Studies- History/Early Adolescence
Becky Marks	RSU 12	Windsor Elementary School	Gr. 1	Generalist/Early Childhood
Eva Platt	Portland Public Schools	Multiple schools	Library Media Specialist	Library Media/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood

32 National Board Certified Teachers who achieved “Maintenance of Certification” (MOC) – (This is the new “renewal process” for NB)

Name	District	School	Grade/subject	NB Certificate Maintained
Valerie Dominski	RSU 51	Mabel I Wilson School	Gr 3/all	Generalist/Early Childhood
Maureen Driscoll	RSU 51	Mabel I Wilson School	Library Media Specialist	Library Media/Early Childhood – Young Adulthood
George “Rad” Mayfield	RSU 34	Old Town HS	Science 9 – 12	Science/Adolescence –& Young Adulthood
Megan Bendson	Five Town CSD	Camden Hills Regional High School	Social Studies 9 – 12	Social Studies/History Adolescence & Young Adulthood
Troy Wagstaff	RSU 26	Orono High School	School Counselor	School Counseling Early Childhood – Young Adulthood
Denise Allen	MSAD 51	Greely High School	Health/ Science 9 – 12	Health Education – Early Adolescence – Young Adulthood
Blair Atherton Bacon	Portland Public Schools	Lincoln Middle School	Teaching Strategist	Literacy: Reading Language Arts, Early & Middle Childhood
Jessica Sleeper Rosado	RSU 21	District-wide	ELL Teacher	English as a New Language: Early and Middle Childhood
Paula Bourque	Augusta Public Schools	Multiple Schools	Literacy Specialist	Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood
Maureen Cooper	Augusta Public Schools	Gilbert School	Gr 1 – all	Generalist/Early Childhood
Caroline Eldridge	Augusta Public Schools	Hussey School	Gr 2 – all	Generalist/Early Childhood
Brenda Longway	RSU 10	Mountain Valley Middle School	Gr 7 – 8	Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early childhood through Young Adulthood
Tonya Prentice	Tremont Public Schools	Tremont Consolidated School	Science/Gr 5- 6	Generalist/Middle Childhood
Jena Kerns	Portland Public Schools	Longfellow School	Gr 1 -2/all	Generalist/Early Childhood
Danielle Waite	Millinocket Public Schools	Granite Street School	Gr 1 – all	Generalist/Early Childhood
Heather Girsa	Millinocket Public Schools	Stearns Jr/Sr High School	Math	Math/Early Adolescence
Tracy Vassiliev	Bangor Public Schools	James F. Doughty School	Science & Applied Science	Science/Early Adolescence
Jennifer Boehmer	Bangor Public Schools	James F. Doughty School	English, Gr 6	English Language Arts/Early Adolescence
Heidi Bullen	RSU 44	Crescent Park School	Gr 3/all	Generalist/Middle Childhood
Brenda Wight	RSU 44	Crescent Park School	Gr 2/all	Generalist/Middle Childhood
Alice Lee	RSU 44	Crescent Park School	Gr 2/all	Generalist/Early Childhood
Renee Charette	RSU 44	Telstar Middle School	Gr 8/math	Generalist/Middle Childhood
Gina Lavoie	RSU 44	Crescent Park School	Gr 2/all	Generalist/Early Childhood
Michelle Fraser	Wiscasset Public Schools	Wiscasset Middle/High School	English Composition Gr 9 & 10	English Language Arts & Young Adulthood
Molly O’Guinness Carlson	Wiscasset Public Schools	Wiscasset Middle/High School	Special Education Teacher 7 – 12	Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood – Young Adulthood
Lori Fowler	Lewiston Public Schools	Montello School	Pre-K/all	Generalist/Early Childhood
Robyn Rose	Lewiston Public Schools	Montello School	Special Education Gr 4 – 6	Exceptional Needs Specialist/early Childhood – Young Adulthood
Sara Lucas	RSU 11	Helen Thompson School	Gr 2/all	Generalist/Early Childhood
William Hinkley	RSU 40	Medomak Valley High School	Algebra Gr 10 – 12	Mathematics/ Adolescence – Young Adulthood
Nancy Coty	Wells	Wells High School	Health Education 9 – 12	Health Education/Early Adolescence – Young Adulthood
Kevin O’Shaughnessy	Wells	Wells High School	Psychology, World After 1945 9 – 12	Social Studies – History/Adolescence – Young Adulthood
Cara Colgan	Westbrook	Saccarappa School	Gr 4/all	Generalist/early Childhood

National Board certification is voluntary and open to all teachers who have at least three years of classroom experience and a bachelor’s degree. Certification is available in 25 certificate areas, from preschool through 12th grade.

Maine offers an annual salary supplement for teachers who have achieved National Board Certification and scholarships to support up to 30 teachers, annually, in attaining National Board Certification.

Contact information for National Board Certification in Maine:

NBCTS of Maine:

Heidi Goodwin: nbct.heidi@gmail.com

Susan O’Brien: nbct.susan@gmail.com

Maine Education Association:

Grace Leavitt: gleavitt@maineea.org

Maine Department of Education:

Emily Doughty: Emily.doughty@maine.gov