Category: Newsroom Articles

UPDATE: PAEMST 2019-2020 Awards – Nominate a Teacher Today!!

UPDATE: The PAEMST Team decided to delay the application deadline from May 1 to October 26 due to COVID-19. To qualify for the October deadline, teachers must complete the eligibility component of the application by May 1. Teachers can begin an application for PAEMST by going to www.paemst.org. The eligibility component consists of seven easy questions and only takes a few minutes to do.

Should you have any questions about the program or the application process, please contact the Department’s Mathematics Specialist, Michele Mailhot at Michele.R.Mailhot@maine.gov or the Department’s Science Specialist, Shari Templeton at shari.templeton@maine.gov.

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The National Science Foundation is currently accepting nominations and applications for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) program. PAEMST are the highest honors bestowed by the United States government specifically for K-12 science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science teaching. Since 1983, more than 4,800 teachers have been recognized for their contributions to mathematics and science education. Awardees serve as models to their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of STEM education. Up to 108 awardees may be recognized each year.

The PAEMST program is open to outstanding STEM teachers in the 50 states; Washington, D.C.; the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; Department of Defense Education Activity schools; and the U.S. territories as a group.

Anyone–principals, teachers, parents, students, or members of the general public–may nominate a teacher by completing the nomination form available on the PAEMST website. To submit a nomination, you will need the teacher’s name, email address, and school contact information. If you know more than one teacher deserving of this award, you may submit more than one nomination. Teachers may also apply directly at www.paemst.org.

Presidential awardees receive a certificate signed by the President of the United States; a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities; and a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation. They also join a network of award-winning teachers from across the country. The National Science Foundation administers PAEMST on the behalf of The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

RSU 4 Maintains Open Communication with Community Through Bi-weekly Online Forums

Every other week, RSU #4’s Superintendent Andrew Carlton and Director of Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction, Kathy Martin, have been hosting an online community forum.  In order to create two-way communication with families, students and other community members, the two district administrators have been hosting a zoom meeting to allow constituents the chance to get information, ask questions, give comments and provide feedback on various topics that have affected our students during this COVID-19 pandemic.

RSU #4 started these zoom meetings during their first phase of the continuity of education plan as part of their communication efforts.  It was an opportunity to discuss food distribution, device pick-up procedures, and explain the educational plans for that phase of skills maintenance efforts.  During this meeting, parents could better understand responsibilities for parents, students and teachers during each phase of the plan. The meeting also allowed parents to give suggestions on how to support the learner with creating a daily schedule, for example.

By the second meeting, the district was in the Phase II portion of the continuity education plan.  Topics included questions about new learning in a remote setting, expectations for a typical school day, how to pick up personal belongings in our school buildings, and discuss what April vacation will look like.  In addition to discussing topics related to the remote learning plan, it was also a chance to discuss some business as usual events. For example, there was a discussion about the budget, the budget process and how the district will proceed over the next few months.    

All the zoom meetings have been recorded and shared through the district’s website and social media sites so community members could view the recording if they could not attend the actual meeting.  In addition, parents and students could send questions, comments or feedback ahead of time to ensure their questions or concerns would be addressed during the zoom.

The community forums are going to continue as one measure to open communication between the school system and community.  The zoom meetings can also leverage opportunities to better support and continue the vision of “inspiring our learners for future success” even in these unprecedented times.

This article was submitted by RSU 4 Superintendent Andy Carlton as part of the Maine Schools Sharing Success Campaign. To submit a story or idea, email it to rachel.paling@maine.gov.

Get to know the DOE team: Meet Lori Freeman

Maine DOE team member Lori Freeman is being highlighted this week as part of the Get to know the DOE team. Learn a little more about Lori in the question and answer below.

What are your roles with DOE?  

I work for Special Services of DOE.  I process the EFS-04’s which are State Agency Client Reimbursement Forms.  Special education costs for state agency clients.

What do you like best about your job?

I enjoy working with all the school districts, getting to know them all.  My position requires quite a bit of research and organization which I truly enjoy.  I work with a great team that really cares.

How or why did you decide on this career?

I am here to serve.  I’ve worked in the service field for years, including working for the homeless shelter and animal shelter. I enjoy working for the greater good.

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

My passion is gardening, planting, and maintaining flowers and vegetables.  I just love being outside with my two Labs, taking long walks in the woods behind my house.  At the moment I am teaching myself how to play the guitar.

PRIORITY NOTICE: Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act: Education Information

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law by President Trump on March 27, 2020. The relief promised by the CARES Act is desperately needed statewide, and the Maine Department of Education is eagerly waiting for the US Department of Education (USDE) to issue a notice inviting applications from State Education Agencies to apply for the funding. USDE’s statutory deadline to release the application is April 26, 2020.

Over the past several weeks leaders from the Maine Department of Education have been engaging in national discussions and internal planning sessions to prepare for the implementation of the CARES Act stimulus funding. Maine expects to receive $95.645 million in overall education stabilization funding, with $9.3 million for the Governor’s emergency education relief fund, $43.7 million in K-12 relief funding, and $42.5 million in higher education funding. The Maine Department of Education will apply for and manage the K-12 funding. It will be allocated to districts using the Title IA funding formula, as required by statute.

Additional details regarding the CARES Act funding are included in the Department’s Frequently Asked Questions document available here.

Please send your CARES Act related questions to the Department’s Director of Policy and Government Affairs, Chelsey Fortin-Trimble at chelsey.a.fortin@maine.gov.

Early Child Care and Public Preschool Providers Caring for Children Birth-5 – No Cost Professional Development Training

Maine Resilience Building Network (MRBN) will once again offer free professional learning opportunities focused on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) and resilience building. MRBN offered this training in the fall of 2019 and is now offering 6 more sessions virtually between April 21-June 2, 2020. This learning opportunity is funded through the Preschool Development Grant, a collaboration between Maine Departments of Education and Health and Human Services.  These new sessions are open for Pre-K and child care educators, as well as other staff working with this population, to strengthen their role in supporting children and families.

Strong Kids, Strong Families, Strong Communities: The Impact of ACEs and Resilience Building will bring together childcare and public Pre-K professionals to learn about Adverse Childhood Experiences research, early brain development science, the effects of toxic stress on social emotional learning and protective factors including positive relationships.   This training will provide an understanding of how adverse experiences at a young age can affect a person’s emotional and behavioral development. Participants will also hear suggestions for how to support the individual and family and learn classroom strategies including the practices of mindfulness, compassion and co-regulation.

In the fall of 2019, the training was offered in 12 sites across the state to early childhood educators working with children up through Pre-K. Through the evaluation, participants shared that they learned strategies to build stronger connections and relationships with children and families, to be more compassionate and less judgmental, and to be better prepared for stressful situations.  They felt they had a better understanding and awareness of where children are “coming from” and to think about what happened to the child as opposed to what is wrong with the child.  One participant commented that “All professionals who work with children should attend.”

Registration is required

Date/Time Registration Link
April 23, 2020   6-8pm https://maineresilience.org/event-3790527
April 28, 2020   9-11am https://maineresilience.org/event-3799333
May 4, 2020   2-4pm https://maineresilience.org/event-3799347
May 12, 2020   9-11am https://maineresilience.org/event-3799366
May 21, 2020   6-8pm https://maineresilience.org/event-3799397
June 2, 2020    6-8pm https://maineresilience.org/event-3799412

For more information, contact Karen Bergeron, PDG Director, Maine Department of Education

Karen.j.bergeron@maine.gov  207-446-3754 or Info@maineresilience.org

Priority Notice: Regarding April Enrollment Count Report and ESEA Demographics Certification Report

The United States Department of Education (USED) has waived assessment and accountability requirements for the 2019-2020 school year, however the requirement for report cards has not been waived.  The following items are still needed on the ESSA data dashboard (report card):

  • Enrollment data, including student groups
  • Teacher data

In addition to these requirements, English Learners have completed their English proficiency assessments for this year, and demographic information is needed for them to load into the Maine Assessment and Accountability Reporting System (MAARS) for local use.

We will use demographics from the April Enrollment Count Report, requiring only one spring data certification that can be used for multiple purposes. Usually, the student demographic data would be verified by schools on ESEA Demographics Certification Report (formerly known as the Accountability Certification).  Because the April Enrollment Count Report does not normally report out demographics, there are some adjustments that need to be made to the report so that data staff can properly validate the student demographics.  We are asking superintendents to hold off on certifying the April Enrollment Count Report until we provide further guidance that the report is now available to serve both purposes.

The Data Team will be providing another April Enrollment Count Report webinar in the near future to explain the changes and the dual purpose of the report.  Please look for that announcement in the coming weeks.  The deadline for this report will be adjusted accordingly.  Thank you for your patience as we work to ensure that federal requirements are met in what we hope to be the least disruptive method as possible.

Maine DOE Update – April 10, 2020

 

From the Maine Department of Education

Reporting Items

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |

News & Updates

Statement Regarding Recommendations for Extended Remote Learning

On Tuesday evening, April 7, 2020, Commissioner of Education Pender Makin, with the support of Governor Mills, made the recommendation to Maine schools to extend their remote learning plans until the end of the current school year. “School classrooms are closed, but schools are not,” said Commissioner Makin.| More

Rural Aspirations Launches Website to Support Teachers & Families in Community-Based Learning

Rural Aspirations, in collaboration with many other cross-sector organizations, has developed a tool for teachers and families to support and highlight community-based learning opportunities in Maine.| More

Maine DOE Delivers Donated Devices to Piscataquis County Schools

The Maine Department of Education delivered wifi enabled Samsung Tab A’s with a 12 month Verizon service to Piscataquis county schools yesterday afternoon, in a effort that is helping students in the area with their school work while they are engaged in remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of this pilot program, the Maine DOE surveyed building principals across Maine to identify needs, and are working to procure device and hotspots for all students that need them as quickly as possible. | More

Expanded Authority of Reserve Funds

An Act Regarding the Reserve Funds of Certain School Organizational Structures was signed by Governor Mills on March 12, 2020 and will become effective on June 16, 2020.  | More

Commissioner Updates Regarding Covid-19 Response

| See All Recent Covid-19 Updates from Commission Makin |

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

| Submit your Maine School Success Story |

Professional Development & Training Opportunities

Virtual Meetings Will be Available Again Next Week

The Maine Department of Education will continue to schedule virtual office hours to support educators and administrators during extended school closures. We are working on further security measures for our virtual meetings and will have an updated schedule ready on Monday. | Check the schedule here next week

| Visit the Professional Development Calendar |

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

View current Maine Department of Education employment opportunities here

 

Maine Students to Speak with NASA Astronauts Aboard Space Station

Students from Maine will have an opportunity next week to talk with NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station who have special ties to the Pine Tree State. The Earth-to-space call will air live at 1:20 p.m. EDT Monday, April 13, on NASA television and the agency’s website.

NASA astronauts Christopher Cassidy and Jessica Meir will respond to questions recorded by students from across the state. Cassidy, who considers York, Maine, his hometown and Meir, who was born in Caribou, Maine, will be on the International Space Station together for eight days, following Cassidy’s arrival at the station on Thursday, April 9, and Meir’s departure on Friday, April 17.

The event is being coordinated by the Challenger Learning Center of Maine and the Maine Space Grant Consortium. The Challenger Center uses space-themed simulated learning to inspire students into STEM. The Challenger Center of Maine is also sending well-wishes from Maine locals to Cassidy regarding his launch to the space station. The Maine Consortium is a member of NASA’s National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, which works to expand opportunities for Americans to understand and participate in NASA’s projects through science and engineering education and research. Special recorded messages from U.S Sens. Collins and King of Maine will be included in the downlink event.

Linking students directly to astronauts aboard the space station provides unique, authentic experiences designed to enhance student learning, performance and interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Bonny Eagle High School Students Council Creates COVID-19 PSA #BEHealthy

Bonny Eagle High School Students Council, Dawna Cyr and School Nurse Jen Dow, RN created this wonderful PSA for COVID-19 called “We are all in this together” with the hashtag #BEHealthy. The PSA talks about what you can do right now to take care of yourself and also provides information about how to access more resources. The group says they are working on more public service announcements.