Category: Newsroom Articles

Extended-Day Enrichment Program Boosts Math Skills and Attendance in Dexter, Maine

(Pictured: Ridge View Community students proudly display their extended-day enrichment projects.)

When Ridge View Community School (RVCS) in Dexter, Maine, utilized Emergency Relief Funds to establish an extended-day enrichment program for students in grades 3-8, they couldn’t anticipate the immediate positive impact it would bring.

“We wanted to offer our students hands-on opportunities to learn about things outside of their regular curriculum, places where, in essence, they could be learning and not even realize it,” said Pre-K Through 2 Instructional Coach Kelly Gay,

One hundred fifty students stayed after school on Monday and Thursday nights to participate in various enrichment programs and tutoring sessions.

“I look forward to the extended day,” Lizzie, a Ridge View fifth grader, explained, “because there are so many fun activities to choose from!”

A Ridge View Community School student holds up a painting of a red mug framed by snowy pine trees on a bright blue landscape while giving the camera a thumbs up.
A Ridge View Community School student displays a painting they created during their extend-day enrichment art class.

Students like Lizzie took part in traditional extracurriculars, like woodworking, baking, and art, spent time outside, practiced robotics, conducted mad science experiments, and had a chance to shake out their energy in dance classes.

Older students visited the Tri-County Technical Center to learn about criminal justice, commercial truck driving, early childhood education, and health occupations. In an effort to include the greater Dexter student community, students from Dexter Regional High School came over to teach lessons from their STEM project as part of their coursework.

Gay remembers how touched she was by the students’ enthusiasm.

“It was so amazing watching the kids leave each night with their finished products and the huge smiles on their faces. The tutoring kids even loved heading to their tutoring sessions as the sessions were engaging and hands-on learning,” she said.

Amongst the creative programming, ensuring student received the tutoring help they needed was still a priority. Students would break off for one-on-one tutoring time with staff throughout the sessions.

“In order to make this plan work, we needed teachers who were willing to either tutor or run an enrichment group. Our staff answered our call for help in amazing ways,” said Gay. In all, 30 educators volunteered for the enrichment programs, and their commitment is evident when you speak to their students.

“I think extended days are so fun because the teachers are so nice, and I learn a lot,” ” said fourth grader Khloe.

According to school data, students who participated in the tutoring and enrichment sessions saw significant gains, especially in math fact fluency and attendance.

“We tracked the attendance of all students at Ridge View Community School as part of our school improvement plan and found that almost all students had a positive impact on their attendance rate. They truly wanted to be there and were sad when the program ended,” said Gay.

A student smiles at the camera while holding baked goods they made during an Extended Day Enrichment program.
A Ridge View Community School student smiling after a successful extended-day enrichment baking session.

Students were not the only ones benefiting from the extended-day enrichment. Gay reported that the program fostered relationships with parents and allowed teachers to design lessons beyond the scope of their regular curriculum, centered around their passions.

“We are proud of our school and our students and are incredibly thankful for the opportunity to provide this for them,” commented Gay. The program was so successful that Ridge View extended it to the 2023-2024 school year, expanding both the tutoring and enrichment programs to the high school.

This learning opportunity was made available through the Coronavirus Response Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA). Visit our office of Federal Response Programming here to learn more about CRRSA.

Did your school use Emergency Relief funds to create engaging student programming like Ridge View? If so, we would love to hear from you. Click here to share your story!

Celebrating Women in CTE: Meet Auto Collision Instructor Danica Wooster

The Maine Department of Education, in collaboration with Career and Technical Education (CTE) schools throughout Maine, is celebrating CTE month this February by highlighting some of the amazing women who have found their path in life through career and technical education. We hope their stories inspire you the way they have inspired us.

Danica Wooster has taught the Auto Collision program at the Mid-Coast School of Technology (MCST) for the last 13 years. The program offers a diverse look into the automotive collision industry, including working with the most up-to-date tools and equipment and learning skills in welding, paint preparation, dent repair, and detailing.

The program she now teaches is the same program that got Wooster started in auto collision when she was in high school.

“I had no idea what I wanted to do. My parents suggested I take the class and the rest is history,” said Wooster. Following high school, she attended WyoTech for Collision/Refinishing, and then started working as a technician in the auto collision industry, eventually earning a business degree and then transitioning to teaching the trade right here in Maine.

“Although I didn’t have a background in education specifically, I feel like I played that role many times in my life – from teaching horseback riding lessons in high school to working side-by-side with entry-level technicians in the shop,” said Wooster. “Both of my parents were also educators, and both were a huge support system for me as I started my career,” she added.

Danica Wooster working with a student
Danica Wooster working with MCST student Bryson Mattox plastic welding a wheel flare (Photo credit: Zoe Richardson, a student in MCST Design Technology program).

Wooster says there are a lot of things she loves about working in CTE but one of her favorites is introducing her trade to the students. “I love seeing a student’s face when all of a sudden something clicks – it’s truly special.”

Being able to teach something she is passionate about while experimenting and learning alongside the students is another huge perk for Wooster. Explaining that many people don’t understand that auto collision repair is an art in and of itself. “It’s making something new again, but every single job is different and handcrafted,” she said.

Danica Wooster working with MCST student Andrew Zuidema refinishing a hood in the paint booth (Photo credit: Zoe Richardson, a student in MCST Design Technology program).
Danica Wooster working with MCST student Andrew Zuidema refinishing a hood in the paint booth (Photo credit: Zoe Richardson, a student in MCST Design Technology program).

During her time working in CTE, Wooster has had many opportunities to grow professionally as well, by earning a master’s degree and continuing to hone her craft by working in the collision repair field during her summers off from teaching.

“I get to make connections with other people in my trade and in education, and I get to work in a building that has so many other talented CTE teachers,” said Wooster. “It’s all an amazing experience, and I think it’s a very unique part of being a CTE teacher.”

One of the things Wooster is the proudest of is being an advocate for CTE, promoting how important it is for many students and industries but also the incredible opportunities it creates for students.

“Attending CTE when I was in high school had a much different, and often negative, connotation,” said Wooster. “We have come a long way from that.”

“Danica has inspired countless students to pursue non-traditional career pathways,” said Bobby Deetjen, Director of the Mid-Coast School of Technology. “Her students continue to break down barriers and succeed in shops all over Maine.”

Wooster shared her advice for students interested in CTE.

“Working my entire career in a non-traditional field has taught me that the only person I need to prove myself to is myself,” she said. “I’ve heard my fair share of ‘no,’ but I think having a little bit of grit is what makes the difference, what made me keep moving forward. I always encourage my students to have a little ‘grit’…to push through when things get tough and to not be afraid to make mistakes. My entire trade is based on mistakes…and that’s what helps us learn and get better at what we do!”

Register Now for Alternative Education Association of Maine Spring Conference

Information about the Alternative Education Association of Maine’s Spring Conference is now available. The theme of this year’s conference is Better Understanding the Alternative Education Learner.

Highlights and details for the conference include:

  • Conference Details– March 8th, 8:30-2:30, Thomas College, Waterville
  • Registration Process– Please note some of you registered and paid in the Fall for both dates, so you do not owe any money but PLEASE STILL use the Registration Link here for online registration. AEA of Maine Online Registration Form– ALL INDIVIDUALS need to register separately, even if you are from the same school. (Contact Dawn Matthews if you need to check on your payment)
  • Invoice and Conference Information– If you still need to submit a payment for the conference then please fill out the Invoice Registration Form here and submit it to the address on the form with your payment. The cost of the conference information is on this form.
  • Call for Presenters– We are asking Association members to volunteer to present a session of their choice. We will be accepting presentation proposals through February 29th, preference will be given to presentations that align with our theme of better understanding and working with the students in Alternative Ed. programs. However, please do not hesitate to submit any proposal, as we want to have some diverse opportunities for all members. Finally, if selected for a presentation, registration fees will be waived upon request (can be used in 2024/25 as well). You can submit proposals on the Conference Online Registration Form here.
  • Keynote Speaker – This year’s conference will include a Keynote Address by Debrajean Scheibel. Details are below but the crux of Debrajean’s address will be on alternate approaches to understanding how under-resourced learners learn and reach skill acquisition.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to Lenny Holmes at lholmes@bonnyeagle.org with any questions you might have. If you click on the Invoice and Conference Information Form and scroll down one page you will find a Complete Overview of the Conference. We are so excited to be able to offer this opportunity to all of you again this year.

Inclusive Education Webinar Series: Dispelling Myths about Assistive Technology (AT) Devices and Services

Want to learn more about assistive technology use in the classroom to benefit all learners? Recent guidance on the myths and facts surrounding assistive technology was released from the federal government which supports reducing barriers that often lead to a lack of utilization of AT. This webinar, hosted by Maine CITE and the Maine Department of Education’s Office of Special Services & Inclusive Education, will guide educators, administrators, and ed techs through the latest AT information and provide insights on moving toward a more inclusive education environment.

This will be a two-session event:

  • March 12th from 4:00 – 5:00 pm will include the overview of the myths.
  • March 19th from 4:00 – 5:00 pm will be an open forum for the public to come for conversations about the use of assistive technology in schools.

Register here.  (Same link for both sessions.)

For more information or questions, contact Tracy Whitlock at tracy.w.whitlock@maine.gov

Interdisciplinary Resource Highlight for African American Studies: Mathematics, Science, and Technology

The Interdisciplinary Instruction team has curated resources of content and instructional approaches to help educators include and highlight the important contributions of Black and African American Mainers in authentic ways. These project-based strategies include finding local historical figures and guest speakers, researching local history, and bridging content areas.

Incorporating a mathematical and scientific lens into the teaching of African American Studies of Maine can provide an authentic learning experience for all students, highlighting the contributions that African Americans have made in the fields of mathematics, science, and technology.

A 5E inquiry model allows students to construct their own understandings of concepts and skills and then apply them to a new situation. In the example below, students develop background knowledge about an African American scientist or mathematician and apply that knowledge to answer a challenging question.

Engage: Engage students with a video, prompt, or image to capture their attention and develop questions.

  1. If you use the Questions Formulation Technique to support student questioning, an example of a Q focus statement could be: A world without African American scientists and mathematicians. (Use this link to learn more about the Question Formulation Technique and upcoming PD.
  2. You could also use a video or image that illustrates the contributions of African American scientists and mathematicians.
  3. From there, you can use student questions to drive the unit or prompt students with your own guiding/assessment question. A potential guiding/assessment question could be: How would the world be different if the contributions of African American mathematicians and scientists were overlooked?

Explore: Students explore the contributions of African American scientists and mathematicians to develop the needed background knowledge to answer the guiding/assessment question.

Explain: This phase is for formative assessment and clearing up misconceptions through direct instruction, feedback, and reflection.

Elaborate: Students communicate their new knowledge by answering the guiding/assessment question. Elaborate is also the student assessment, which could include a rubric and expectations.

  • The modality of this is very flexible. For example, students could contribute their information to a whole class website to share what they learned with the world, present to an authentic audience of community members, develop a podcast that can be shared, create videos that are shared through YouTube or Social Media, or a documentary that discusses the contributions of the scientist or mathematician and what the world be like without those contributions.

Evaluate: Students and teachers collaborate to evaluate and score student learning through feedback and reflection. This process can look very different depending on the age of students.

For more information about interdisciplinary instruction, please contact Kathy Bertini, Interdisciplinary Instruction Coordinator at kathy.bertini@maine.gov

 

Seeking Maine Science and Social Studies Educators to Design and Deliver Professional Development on Updated Standards (Stipends Available)

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is seeking dynamic, creative, and collaborative science and social studies educators to design and deliver professional development on the updated standards.

We are looking for Maine educators including, but not limited to, teachers, curriculum leaders, and administrators with a strong background and understanding of the revised science and/or social studies standards. These cohorts of educators will work with Maine DOE content area experts as well as community partners to support their work.

Work will begin in March 2024 and run through February 2025. We will work to design, create, and deliver high-impact asynchronous, live/virtual, and live/in-person professional development. Selected educators will meet with their design teams once a month and be expected to complete work between meetings. We are looking for 40 educators to work with us. Educators will earn stipends of $900 to create professional learning and selected teacher-leaders can earn an additional $300 to take on a leadership role in the design teams. Interested educators should submit an application via this form. Please submit your application by March 6th, 2024. Selected applicants will be notified by March 15th, 2024.

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Beth Lambert, Maine DOE Chief Teaching and Learning Officer, beth.lamber@maine.gov.

Eliot Elementary School Civil Rights Team Takes the Great Kindness Challenge

The Civil Rights Team at Eliot Elementary School has been working hard to make their school a better place to be. The Civil Rights Team is made up of 21 grade three students who engage their school community to think and talk about race and skin color, national origin and ancestry, religion, disabilities, gender, and orientation (in an age-appropriate manner).

“Our team works to make our school a safe and accepting place for all of our students,” said Civil Rights Team Advisor Marissa Armitage. The Civil Rights Team Project is a statewide initiative coordinated by the State of Maine Office of the Attorney General.

Grade 3 students have been spreading the message of acceptance and standing up for what’s right. They’ve been thinking about important issues, hosting important conversations, and changing the climate of the school to be more inclusive.

To combat bias-based harassment, the Civil Rights Team recently hosted an assembly for the Great Kindness Challenge, a weeklong national campaign in January where students in schools across the U.S. are challenged to complete as many acts of kindness as possible using a customizable checklist. Armitage says the Civil Rights Team was outstanding at modeling citizenship during their week of kindness this year.

“The Great Kindness Challenge is just one example of [the Civil Rights Team] initiative,” said Armitage. “I’m really proud of the way our students have shown up as leaders. They set the tone for the rest of the school,” she added.

Armitage tells us that the Civil Rights Team has many more plans for schoolwide initiatives throughout the year.

Find more information about The Great Kindness Challenge here.

This story was a collaboration with Eliot Elementary School. To submit a story from your school, fill out our good news submission form.

Statewide Student Writing Contest Winners Announced by MCSTOYA and MCELA

The Maine County and State Teachers of the Year Association (MCSTOYA), in partnership with the Maine Council of English Language Arts (MCELA), has announced the winners of the second annual Student Writing Contest that showcased the outstanding talent of students and the incredible impact of teachers in Maine.

“The Student Writing Contest aims to lift students’ voices in recognizing teachers’ impact on their lives in ways both small and large,” MCSTOYA and MCELA said in a joint statement. “In only our second year, the submissions exceeded our expectations. We are touched by the stories of caring and supportive teachers from across our state and from every grade span.”

After careful consideration, the judges have selected the following students as the winners:

PK-2

  • 1st Place: Giles Urwin, Grade 2, The Center for Teaching and Learning, Edgecomb
  • 2nd Place: Avery Barnett, Grade 2, Elm Street School, Mechanic Falls
  • Honorable Mentions:
    • Po Salko, Grade 1, Kate Furbish Elementary School, Brunswick
    • Brenden Onyon, Kindergarten, Poland Community School
    • Anais Hernas, Grade 2, Daniel W. Merritt School, Addison

Grades 3-5

  • First Place: Adeline Inman, Grade 5, The Center for Teaching and Learning, Edgecomb
  • Second Place: Abisag H. Castillo Marrero, Grade 4, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Brunswick
  • Honorable Mentions:
    • Arthur Douglas, Grade 5, Oxford Elementary School
    • Josie Mains, Grade 5, Oxford Elementary School

Grades 6-8

  • First Place: Isla A. Litton, Grade 8, Cape Elizabeth Middle School
  • Second Place: Arianna Brooks, Grade 8, Bruce M Whittier Middle School, Poland
  • Honorable Mentions:
    • Ruby Glenn, Grade 7, Coastal Christian School, Waldoboro
    • Zabina Zimmermann, Grade 8, Cape Elizabeth Middle School

Grades 9-12

  • First Place: Jocelyn Davis, Grade 9, Oak Hill High School, Wales
  • Second Place:  Sebastian Milstein-Jones, Grade 9, Casco Bay High School, Portland
  • Honorable Mentions:
    • Shukri Ibrahim, Grade 9, Casco Bay High School, Portland
    • Nataly Fitzpatrick, Grade 12, Nokomis Regional High School, Newport

“We are incredibly proud of all the students who participated. Teaching can be so incredibly hard, and on really tough days, you can start to question yourself and whether or not you make a difference. But how can you not be uplifted by the words of these students,” said Heather Webster, Co-chair of the Writing Contest Committee.

Our youngest writers in grades PK-5 share:

“He shows us things in little steps…”

“[she] makes me feel safe/by knowing me so well.”

“She changed my life, made me think smarter…”

Students in grades 6-12 echo these thoughts in more complexity:

“She makes you feel seen in a room jammed with people.”

“He pushed me to my limits…every day he was in class he taught me a new life lesson.”

“[She] saved me, my spark, and life and she has continued to help me guide myself…to become the person I am today and dream to be.”

And of course, the sentiment that shines through every submission is “all I want to say is, truly, thank you.”

The winners will receive Amazon Gift Cards in the amounts of $125.00, $60.00, and $30.00, and their work will be featured on the MCELA website.

MCSTOYA and MCELA extend their gratitude to the judges for their time and dedication in evaluating the entries. Additionally, we thank all the participating schools, teachers, and students for contributing to the success of this contest.

Making Math Meaningful For All: Math4ME is Accepting Applications for Newest Cohort

Math4ME is a free, three-year, whole-school project designed to support all educators (classroom teachers, special educators, ed techs, and interventionists) to strengthen math proficiency for all learners with a specific focus on increased math proficiency for students with math IEP goals.  The project will focus on building positive math school communities and classrooms, mathematical content and pedagogical skills, supporting inclusionary practices, increased family engagement, and formative assessment including the Early Mathematics Diagnostic Interview (EMDI).

For more details about the Math4ME project check out the informational video.

We are accepting applications for the 2024-2025 cohort until April 5, 2024.  Math4ME Application

We will hold a virtual informational meeting on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 4:00 PM. Register here in advance for this meeting.

For questions or more information contact Susan Hogan, susan.hogan@maine.gov or Jen Robitaille, jennifer.r.robitaille@maine.gov.

Regional Conversations for McKinney-Vento Liaisons and Organizations

Join the Maine Department of Education for in-person Spring 2024 regional conversations for McKinney-Vento liaisons and organizations. During these meetings, participants will:

  • Hear updates on federal, state, and local policies and resources for students and families who are homeless or have unstable
  • Learn how to increase your school and district’s capacity to support
  • Hear strategies to address human trafficking impacting Maine students and families from Hailey Virusso and Celine Guedj, Preble Street.
  • Brainstorm solution-oriented strategies affecting youth in your school and
  • Network with colleagues from other schools and organizations in your

Dates and times for schools and organizations in your region!

  • Androscoggin, Franklin, & Oxford Counties
    University of Southern Maine-Lewiston Auburn – 51 Westminster St, Lewiston
    Tuesday, March 12 – 9:00 – 11:30 am
  • Aroostook County
    ME Department of Labor – 66 Spruce Street, Presque Isle
    Thursday, March 21 – 9:00 -11:30 am
  • Mid Coast, Kennebec & Somerset Counties
    Burton M. Cross Office Building – 111 Sewall Street, Augusta – Room 103 A&B
    Thursday, April 25 – 9:00 -11:30 am
  • Penobscot & Piscataquis Counties
    Wings for Children and Families, 900 Hammond St, #915, Bangor
    Wednesday, March 20 – 8:05 – 10:30 am
  • Washington & Hancock Counties
    Maine DHHS Regional Office – 38 Prescott Drive, Machias
    Wednesday, March 20 – 1:00 – 3:30 pm
  • Washington & Hancock Counties
    Maine DHHS Regional Office – 38 Prescott Drive, Machias
    Wednesday, March 20 – 1:00 – 3:30 pm
  • York & Cumberland Counties
    People’s Choice Credit Union – 23 Industrial Park Road, Saco
    Tuesday, April 30 – 9:30 am -12:00 pm

No cost to participants ~ Registration is required.  Click here to register here for the regional meeting you want to attend!

For More Information Contact:
Signe Lynch, Interim McKinney-Vento State Coordinator at signe.lynch@maine.gov or Susan Lieberman, ARP Homeless Children and Youth Consultant at susan.lieberman88@gmail.com.

ARP funds received from the USDOE support the implementation of this project. The project has an award totaling $795,000 dollars of which 100% is federally funded and directly attributed to project implementation. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by the USDOE or the U.S. Government.