Get to know the DOE team: Meet Tracy Whitlock

Maine DOE team member Tracy Whitlock is being highlighted this week in the Department’s Get to know the Maine DOE Team Campaign. Learn a little more about Tracy in the brief question and answer below.

What are your roles with DOE?

I work in the Office of Special Services with special initiatives such as Math4ME, Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBIS), Dyslexia, the Special Services webpage and other projects that support districts, schools, special education teachers and students. Additionally, I assist with Special Purpose Private School monitoring and the Educational Surrogate Parent Program.

What do you like best about your job?

The Special Services team is a wonderful group of dedicated professionals and I love working with them. Since my role overlaps with other offices in the department I really enjoy getting to know and work with people from across the floor. So to sum it up, I guess what I like best is working with people!

How or why did you decide on this career?

Initially I was a classroom teacher and taught elementary grades in both parochial and public school settings. When my family moved to Nashville I pursued a graduate degree and started working in higher education. I taught a variety of teacher preparation coursework with a focus on literacy at the University of Louisiana Lafayette and Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. During my time in Ohio I had the opportunity to work in state government and found that while I missed working with children and young adults, I enjoyed supporting teachers, families and students throughout the state. I was thrilled when the chance to work at the Maine Department of Education became available after our move to Maine a year and a half ago.

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

Spending time with my family, traveling (can’t wait to do that again!), reading and learning new things (I’m trying my hand at gardening right now).

McKinney-Vento Subgrants: COVID-19 Emergency Mini-Grant

The Maine Department of Education is offering Maine schools a unique opportunity to apply for McKinney-Vento Mini-Grants. The Mini-Grants are to be specifically dedicated to supporting the needs of students experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Maine school administrative units (SAUs) may submit one application for multiple schools for the mini-grants with a $5,000 cap per school. Resources and services can be delivered at sites other than at the SAU’s schools and can be provided by subcontractors, but the applications may only be submitted and administered by Maine SAUs. The application deadline is Wednesday, May 6th 2020 at 11:59 pm. The application can be found here.

Additionally, the McKinney-Vento Sub-grant call for proposals will be posted soon for the year 2020-21. Proposals will be accepted from SAUs seeking to develop, implement, or expand programs that improve the success of students identified as homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act. This grant may be renewable for up to three years. It will be posted at www.maine.gov/dafs/bbm/procurementservices/vendors/grants and a press release will be sent out once it is available.

If you have questions about homeless education or the McKinney-Vento grants, contact Amelia Lyons at amelia.lyons@maine.gov or (207) 557-1787.

Nominations Open for 2020 Maine Curriculum Leader of the Year

Maine Curriculum Leaders Association is currently accepting nominations for 2020 Maine Curriculum Leader of the Year

Curriculum Leader of the Year Selection Criteria

Has successfully served as a curriculum leader (designated curriculum director, assistant superintendent, or teacher leader) in public education for at least five years.
Is an MCLA member at the time of nomination.
Is a proven champion of curriculum, instruction, and assessment policies and practices that enhance learning both within and outside the district, who also: promotes and provides opportunities to learn and to share learning, and develops partnerships and networks with other districts and organizations to support learning.

Nominations Due April 30, 2020

Send a recommendation letter describing how the nominee is a champion of learning (criteria 3 above) both in and outside the district. Provide details about how the nominee’s curriculum, instruction, and assessment leadership impacts teachers and students in the district and the nominee’s leadership activities outside the district.

Please include email and phone contact information for you and your nominee. Send recommendation letters to: MCLA CLOY Selection Committee and email as a pdf or Google document to director@mainecla.org

The CLOY Selection Process

The selection committee includes previous curriculum leaders of the year and MCLA board members.
April 30, 2020 Nominations close.
April 30 –May 31 Selection Committee reviews nominations and invites nominees to complete a written interview if needed
June 1 , 2020 The Curriculum Leader of the Year is announced
July 1, 2020 The 2020 CLOY joins MCLA’s board of directors for a one-year term.

Submit recommendation letters by April 30, 2020 in pdf or Google Docs to director@mainecla.org

Nominations Open for 2020 Maine Instructional Coach of The Year

Maine Curriculum Leaders Association (MCLA) Coaching Co-Op, a collaborative that provides a range of support and advocates for instructional coaches and learning communities across the state through networking and professional development, is currently accepting nominations for 2020 Maine Instructional Coach of the Year.

Instructional Coach of the Year Selection Criteria:

Has successfully served as an instructional coach (working at least .5 time as a designated coach) in public education for at least two years.
Is an MCLA Coaching Co-Op member at the time of nomination.
Is a leader who promotes instructional quality through learner-centered coaching practices: modeling effective instructional practices, work with teachers to make evidence based decisions, actively works to promote coaching, encourages and promotes reflection for teaches
Is a highly effective coach focused on collaboration and student growth.

Nominations Due April 30, 2020

Send MCLA’s ICOY selection committee a nomination letter answering the following questions to MCLA ICOY Selection Committee (please email as a pdf or Google document to director@mainecla.org)

Describe the structure and organization of the nominee’s coaching program/practice and how it impacts student learning.
Describe how the nominee contributes to your school/district’s culture of continuous improvement.
Explain the nominee’s impact on the school/district community.

The ICOY Selection Process:

April 30, 2020 Nominations close.
April 26 –May 31 Selection Committee reviews nominations and invites nominees to provide additional references if needed.
June 1, 2020 Instructional Coach of the Year is selected.
July 1, 2020 The 2019 ICOY joins the CoOp Council for a one-year term and fulfills the following
– Hosts 2 Hot Topic Zoom Sessions during the 2020-2021 School Year
– Supports planning and facilitation of one MCLA Coaching CoOp event

Submit recommendation letters by April 30, 2020 in pdf or Google format to director@mainecla.org

Bonny Eagle Middle School Challenges You for Earth Day! #QuarantineRoadsidePickup

Ethel Atkinson, 2019 York County Teacher of the Year and Bonny Eagle Middle School (BEMS) Reading Specialist/Instructional Coach and Pathfinders Director is helping her school issue a challenge to schools across the state for earth day.

“WE CHALLENGE YOU!” Earth Day is Wednesday, April 22nd. (But EVERY day is Earth Day, Right?) Got Trash? Join in a roadside cleanup!

Make a 10-second video of you and your family and pass on the challenge. Upload pics and videos to https://flipgrid.com/quarantineroadside

See Ethel’s video:

Get Outside, Take Care of the Earth, and Pass On the Challenge. We are Maine Strong!

****Please exercise caution. Wear protective gloves.****

Maine Department of Education Announces Maine School Safety Center!

The Maine Department of Education is pleased to announce the creation of The Maine School Safety Center(MSSC)! Although the MSSC is newly created, it is quickly adding staff and the ability to assist all Maine schools with their emergency planning. The primary role of the MSSC is to provide training, guidance and technical support for all things school safety and security-related. The MSSC will initially provide six lanes of service:

Training
Mental Health and Threat Assessment
Site Assessment/climate assessment
Emergency Operations planning/exercise
School Resource Officer (policy and training)
Legislation and police review and recommendation

The MSSC will work closely with your local, county and state EMA Directors to assist you in your planning and school’s safety needs. The current pandemic crisis has accelerated our operational time line, so we are quickly getting staff into place to be able to offer you services immediately.

Our staff consists of the following:

Jonathan J. Shapiro is our School Safety and Security Coordinator, and leads this team and supports their collaborative efforts. Contact information: Jonathan.J.Shapiro@Maine.gov, or (o) 207-624-6694 Cell 207-441-0725

Robert Susi is our School Safety and Security Specialist and is currently leading our effort to develop policy, procedures and training for our SROs. Robert also has an expertise in school emergency planning and site assessment and is able to provide support to our Planning Officer Melissa Condon. Contact information: robert.w.susi@Maine.gov or 207-441-8321.

Melissa Condon is our Emergency Operations Planning Officer and she is ready to work with you to provide training and review and/or develop your planning in response to this current ongoing pandemic crisis. She is also developing guidance for the short and long term future of schools returning to some level of operational normalcy. Working with our EMA partners we will provide training, assistance, guidance and technical support for your planning needs. Contact information: Melissa.A.Condon@Maine.gov or (207) 446-0862.

Dr. Karen Barnes is our Threat Assessment/Mental Health Officer, and is available to address any questions you may have regarding Threat Assessment. Karen is developing a threat assessment model for Maine, and is working with experts in this field to assure the best model possible is developed for our schools. Karen is our Mental Health liaison coordinating efforts between the Maine DOE and the various other mental health providers in the state. Contact Information: Karen.A.Barnes@maine.gov or Cell (207) 446-0713.

We look forward to working with you! Please feel free to contact us with questions or concerns.

Supporting Schools – Protecting our Future!

Next Week’s Virtual Office Hours

With many schools taking a well-deserved vacation from remote learning next week for April break, the Maine Department of Education will not be sending out daily notifications about the virtual office hours, meetings, and professional development opportunities occurring from Tuesday, April 21st through Friday, April 24th.

Next week’s schedule is available at all times on the Maine DOE website. Below is a listing of sessions being held next week as well, for your convenience.

Please note that due to the need to heighten security for online conference sessions, the Department is requiring password protection or pre-registration for most of our virtual sessions. Thank you for your patience as we work to continue providing these opportunities in the safest way possible.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

FOCUS AREA	SPECIALIST	TIME	MEETING INFO	HOST CONTACT INFO
Brain Centered Emotional Support	Kellie Bailey/ Bear Shea	8:30 AM	Join this session.	bear.shea@maine.gov or kelley.bailey@maine.gov
Health Education and Physical Education	Susan Berry and Jean Zimmerman	10:00 AM	Register	susan.berry@maine.gov
School Nursing: Mental Health	Emily Poland with guest host Bear Shea	11:00 AM	Registration required. Register HERE	emily.poland@maine.gov
Digital Learning – TBA	Jonathan Graham & Emma-Marie Banks	11:00 AM	Register Here	jonathan.m.graham@maine.gov or emma-marie.banks@maine.gov
Music, K-6 Office Hour	Jason Anderson, Visual and Performing Arts Specialist	2:00 PM	Register here	jason.anderson@maine.gov
Visual Art, K-6 Office Hour	Jason Anderson, Visual and Performing Arts Specialist	3:00 PM	Register here	jason.anderson@maine.gov
Brain Centered Emotional Support: YOGA	Kellie Bailey/ Bear Shea	3:30 PM	Join this session.	bear.shea@maine.gov or kelley.bailey@maine.gov
ELA Happiness Hour: Emphasis on happy!	Morgan Dunton/Dee Saucier	7 PM	Contact meeting host for link and password	morgan.dunton@maine.gov or Danielle.M.Saucier@maine.gov

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

FOCUS AREA	SPECIALIST	TIME	MEETING INFO	HOST CONTACT INFO
Brain Centered Emotional Support	Kellie Bailey/ Bear Shea	8:30 AM	Join this session.	bear.shea@maine.gov or kelley.bailey@maine.gov
PK-8 Science Earth Day part 2 and Lesson Menus	Shari Templeton	12:00 PM	Contact meeting host for link and password	shari.templeton@maine.gov
World Language K-12	Lavinia Rogers	1:00 PM	Register	lavinia.m.rogers@maine.gov
Music, 7-12 Office Hour	Jason Anderson, Visual and Performing Arts Specialist	1:00 PM	Register here	jason.anderson@maine.gov
CED and Middle School CTE Staycation Conversations	Diana Doiron & Meg Harvey	2:00 PM	Contact meeting host for link and password	diana.doiron@maine.gov & margaret.harvey@maine.gov
Visual Art, 7-12 Office Hour	Jason Anderson, Visual and Performing Arts Specialist	2:00 PM	Register here	jason.anderson@maine.gov
Brain Centered Emotional Support	Kellie Bailey/ Bear Shea	3:30 PM	Join this session.	bear.shea@maine.gov or kelley.bailey@maine.gov

Thursday, April 23, 2020

FOCUS AREA	SPECIALIST	TIME	MEETING INFO	HOST CONTACT INFO
Brain Centered Emotional Support	Kellie Bailey/ Bear Shea	8:30 AM	Join this session.	bear.shea@maine.gov or kelley.bailey@maine.gov
School Nursing	Emily Poland	8:30 AM	Pre-Registration Required	emily.poland@maine.gov
Health Education and Physical Education	Susan Berry and Jean Zimmerman		Register	susan.berry@maine.gov
Pre K Open Office Hours	Nicole Madore	10:30 AM	Pre-Registration is required	nicole.madore@maine.gov
Digital Learning – TBA	Jonathan Graham & Emma-Marie Banks	11:00 AM	Register Here	jonathan.m.graham@maine.gov or emma-marie.banks@maine.gov
World Language – language specific	Lavinia	1:00 PM	Register	lavinia.m.rogers@maine.gov
PK-12 Mathematics Office Hour	Michele Mailhot & Jen Robitaille	2:00 PM	Pre-Register Here	michele.mailhot@maine.gov & jennifer.r.robitaille@maine.gov
Digital Learning – TBA	Jonathan Graham & Emma-Marie Banks	3:00 PM	Register Here	jonathan.m.graham@maine.gov or emma-marie.banks@maine.gov
ELA 6-12 Office Hour	Morgan Dunton	3:00 p.m.	Contact host for URL and password	morgan.dunton@maine.gov
Brain Centered Emotional Support: YOGA	Kellie Bailey/ Bear Shea	3:30 PM	Join this session.	bear.shea@maine.gov or kelley.bailey@maine.gov

Friday, April 24, 2020

FOCUS AREA	SPECIALIST	TIME	MEETING INFO	HOST CONTACT INFO
Brain Centered Emotional Support	Kellie Bailey/ Bear Shea	8:30 AM	Join this session.	bear.shea@maine.gov or kelley.bailey@maine.gov
PK-12 Science Networking	Shari Templeton	12:00 PM	Contact host for link and password	shari.templeton@maine.gov
CED and Middle School CTE Staycation Conversations	Diana Doiron & Meg Harvey	2:00 PM	Contact host for URL and password	diana.doiron@maine.gov & margaret.harvey@maine.gov
Maine Seal of Biliteracy Roundtable	Lavinia Rogers	2:30 PM	Register	lavinia.m.rogers@maine.gov
Brain Centered Emotional Support	Kellie Bailey/ Bear Shea	3:30 PM	Join this session.	bear.shea@maine.gov or kelley.bailey@maine.gov

Locker Project Joins in To Feed PPS Families During COVID-19 Crisis

In addition to the meals being provided to students by the Portland Public Schools (PPS), the nonprofit Locker Project is offering free bags of food to families at school meal distribution sites on Wednesdays and Thursdays on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Locker Project takes a whole-family approach to child hunger by providing healthy foods to take home for evenings and weekends, the times youngsters are most likely to experience hunger.

During the pandemic crisis, the district’s Food Service Department is serving free breakfast and lunch meals for anyone age 18 and under. Both can be picked up together anytime between 10 a.m. and 12 noon, Monday through Friday, from the bus loops at each participating school. No I.D. is necessary and youngsters do not need to be present or to qualify for free or reduced-price lunch or be PPS students to receive these meals.

The nine school distribution sites are: Deering High School, East End Community School, King Middle School, Lyman Moore Middle School, Peaks Island Elementary School, Portland High School, Presumpscot Elementary School, Riverton Elementary School and Rowe Elementary School.

The Locker Project is offering free food bags from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Wednesdays at Presumpscot, King, Rowe, and East End schools and on Thursdays at PHS, DHS, Riverton, and Lyman Moore schools.

“We are very grateful to the Locker Project for joining us to help families experiencing food insecurity during this crisis,” said PPS Food Service Director Jane McLucas. “We don’t want any students or families to go hungry.”

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine is offering additional dinner Grab & Go meal options for those 18 and under and their family members at their clubhouses. However, beginning Monday, April 13, the meals will be offered only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, instead of each weekday, in order to protect staff by limiting time spent in the kitchen. Families can pick up additional meals for Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends during the new three-day schedule.

The clubhouses are currently closed for regular use but families can pick up the dinner meals at those sites from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The clubhouses are in Portland, South Portland, Riverton Park, Sagamore Village and Auburn/Lewiston.

Anyone who wants to help students and families coping with hunger in this crisis can donate to the PPS Food Fund. The fund is a collaboration by the Foundation for Portland Public Schools and Food Fuels Learning to help ensure food security for PPS students. Learn more: https://foundationforpps.kindful.com/?campaign=1046737

For a full listing of schools and locations offering meals to students visit: https://www.maine.gov/doe/meals

This story was submitted by Tess Nacelewicz, Communications Coordinator for Portland Public Schools as part of the Maine Schools Sharing Success Campaign. To submit a story or an idea, email it to Rachel at rachel.paling@maine.gov.

MSSM Student and Faculty Member Use 3D Printers to Create Medical Equipment

Maine School of Science and Mathematics (MSSM) has two community members working toward being part of the solution in the Covid-19 pandemic. Eli Wales, a sophomore from Mount Desert Island and Dr. Greg Hamlin, Computer Science Instructor at MSSM, have been using 3D printers to create full-face shields and ear strap holders for local hospitals. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) designates full-face shields as preferred Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Eli joined a team of about 5 members with skills in 3D printing and an interest in helping the situation. Prior to the Governor’s edict to stay home, Eli and his team went around to schools in the Mount Desert Island area and borrowed Flashforge Finder 3D printers that have been donated to many Maine schools by the Perloff Family Foundation. Eli said, “each member of the team has created a small production line where we make as many ear strap holders as possible.” The purpose of the ear strap holder is to keep the face shield’s elastic band off the ears, which can hurt after wearing it for a number of hours. Eli has personally produced around 700 of the strap holders and other members have made about the same. He noted they have only made about 3 face shields and taken them to local hospitals to make sure they will be acceptable.

Dr. Hamlin, using 3D printers and materials from Maine School of Science and Mathematics, has been producing protective face shields for use by local healthcare providers. He has been running two of the school’s printers 24/7 producing plastic frames, which are then fitted with a transparent front panel made from overhead transparencies or similar material. An initial set of 40+ units has been provided to Cary Medical Center in Caribou. Dr. Hamlin said, “We were fortunate that the school had the supplies and equipment on hand for the project, so it was just a matter of setting things up in my guest room and keeping the printers supplied with filament.

This article was submitted by Ryan McDonald, Public Relations Coordinator for Maine School of Science and Mathematics as part of the Maine Schools Sharing Success Campaign. To submit a story or an idea, email it to Rachel at rachel.paling@maine.gov.

Bath Tech Center Students Partner With Community Organizations to Build Low Income Housing

On March 25, 2020, Bath Housing Development Corporation undertook a project to move a newly constructed house, built by local students, to 57 Chestnut Street in Bath, Maine. This unique project is the result of a partnership between Bath Housing, the Bath Regional Career and Technical Center (BRCTC), Bath Rotary Charitable Trust, and Vaillancourt Construction.

Video credit: Keegan Denery.

With financial support from the Bath Rotary Charitable Trust, students in the BRCTC Carpentry program are introduced to basic residential construction techniques through hands on application of theories taught in the classroom and applied in the construction of a modular home. Students experience framing the home, laying out and building risers, interior trim, sheetrock, roofing, and siding installing cabinetry, windows, and doors. At the conclusion of the two-year carpentry program, students leave with the skills to enter the field of residential construction and/or continue their education at the Community College level – along with the pride in knowing they built a house.

The home is 720 square foot with two bedrooms, one bathroom, and an open floor plan with cathedral ceilings in the kitchen/living area. The house will have a zero-step entry into the home and a simple front porch. The house will go on the market early this summer and will be sold to a family at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income. Funds to acquire the site were provided by MaineHousing through its Land Acquisition Program.

Bath Housing purchased the BRCTC-built house from Bath Rotary Charitable Trust, and contracted with Vaillancourt Builders LLC – a long-term partner of the BRCTC Program – to oversee the sitework, building move, and finish work. Working with Dirigo Structures, the building was moved from its worksite on Congress Avenue to Chestnut Street on March 25.

This article was submitted by Julie Kenny, Director of the Bath Regional Career & Technical Center as part of the Maine Schools Sharing Success Campaign. To submit a story or an idea, email it to Rachel at rachel.paling@maine.gov.