First Annual Maine School Wellness Summit is open to individuals or teams

On June 22 and 23 at Bates College, summit participants will be empowered to envision and create plans for a positive, healthy, and safe learning environment in their schools. The goals will be to improve personal health and well-being as well as define a culture of wellness that improves academic achievement. This summit is a component of the Maine Schoolsite Health Promotion Program (MSHPP) and is hosted by the Maine Department of Education.

Continue reading “First Annual Maine School Wellness Summit is open to individuals or teams” →

Students named winners of Constitution Essay and Poster Contest

Students from across the state took part in the annual Maine Constitution Essay and Poster Contest which allows students from grades K through 12 to participate, with older students submitting essays regarding the Maine Constitution, voting and democracy; and younger students creating posters reflecting Maine history or symbols.

Continue reading “Students named winners of Constitution Essay and Poster Contest” →

“Multiple Pathways to the Student Brain” workshops next month

“She doesn’t understand it because she doesn’t try hard enough.”
“Most people are right-brained or left-brained.”
“He will never be able to learn.”

If you’ve ever heard yourself utter these ideas, you will not want to miss the upcoming workshop by neuroscientist and educator, Janet Zadina, PhD. For the first time in Maine, Dr. Zadina will be presenting “Multiple Pathways to the Student Brain” on June 29 for PK-5 or June 30 for grades 6-12 at Cony High School.

Continue reading ““Multiple Pathways to the Student Brain” workshops next month” →

Maine History Teacher of the Year named

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History has named a Maranacook Community High School educator as Maine History Teacher of the Year. Shane Gower has been teaching at the school in Readfield since 1998 where he currently teaches U.S. History and Advanced Placement U.S. History, serves as the Social Studies Department Learning Leader, and is a senior class advisor. He is a Maine Social Studies Community Teacher-Leader, Vice President of the Maine Council for the Social Studies and was selected to participate in the prestigious Understanding Sacrifice Teacher Institute.

Continue reading “Maine History Teacher of the Year named” →

Has your school joined the Read to Ride Summer Reading Challenge?

If you are like many teachers and parents at this time of year, you are celebrating the growth students have made as learners but wondering if that growth will be maintained over the summer months. Keeping young minds stimulated during summer vacation is so important to maintaining learning gains and one of the best ways for students to keep their minds active is through regular reading.

Continue reading “Has your school joined the Read to Ride Summer Reading Challenge?” →

Regional training for ESEA coordinators and business managers

The Maine Department of Education is providing training for Elementary Secondary Education Act (ESEA) coordinators, individual title administrators and business managers/bookkeepers who manage federal ESEA programs and funds with responsibilities for the ESEA Consolidated Application and Performance Report.

Continue reading “Regional training for ESEA coordinators and business managers” →

Agriculture and natural resources students recognized at Maine FFA convention

Students of the Maine FFA Association (formerly Future Farmers of America) participated in the State convention earlier this month at the University of Maine in Orono where they engaged in competitions, tours, and awards in recognition of their 2015-16 accomplishments in agriculture and natural resources.

Continue reading “Agriculture and natural resources students recognized at Maine FFA convention” →

2016 County Teachers of the Year honored

Maine’s 2016 County Teachers of the Year spent some time in Augusta last week learning more about their roles in representing all educators in the state. Maine’s 2016 Teacher of the Year Talya Edlund encouraged educators be connected on Facebook to read all the posts regarding education policy and more. “You don’t know where this journey will take you, but soak in every moment and enjoy the ride,” she said.

Continue reading “2016 County Teachers of the Year honored” →

School nurses recognized at the Blaine House

Maine 2016 School Nurse of the Year, along with some retiring school nurses, were honored last week for their years of not only service to Maine’s schools but the nurturing they have given to our children. “The nurses in this room total hundreds of years of nursing,” said Nancy Dube, the Maine Department of Education’s nurse consultant.

Continue reading “School nurses recognized at the Blaine House” →

Maine’s U.S. Senators briefed on work of Maine Schools for Excellence grant project

Maine’s Director of the Maine Schools for Excellence (MSFE) grant initiative, Scott Harrison, recently traveled to Washington D.C. to brief Maine Senators Susan Collins and Angus King on the accomplishments MSFE’s ten school districts have made in their efforts to create collaborative, improvement-focused educator effectiveness programs.

Continue reading “Maine’s U.S. Senators briefed on work of Maine Schools for Excellence grant project” →