Category: Newsroom Articles

Gorham High School ELO Program Gives Students Confidence in Career Exploration

As Gorham High School’s Extended Learning Opportunity (ELO) Instructor, Grace Olsen works “to provide meaningful career aligned opportunities to high school students.” Working alongside Eliza Kenigsberg, the school’s Career Aspirations & ELO Coordinator, Olsen helps connect students to business mentors and subsequent internship, job shadow, and volunteer work experiences.

Olsen says the best part of her day is working with her students. “Watching a student flourish in their ELO placement is rewarding and motivates me to help connect with more students,” said Olsen.

Last school year, 50 Gorham students participated in an ELO. However, students at the school who did not directly pursue an ELO were still able to take part in career exploration activities such as the program’s Career X events which involved over 45 guest speakers of various career paths and occupations. As Gorham’s ELO program continues to expand, Olsen is hopeful they will be able to double the number of students in the program in the current school year while also offering plenty of school-wide career exploration events.

One of the program’s goals is to help students who were interested in vocational school but were unable to attend. One student was interested in pursuing a veterinary career and thus looked into a medical occupation vocational program. Upon deciding the program was not a good fit for her, the student and Olsen were able to work together to connect her with a meaningful ELO placement as an intern at the Maine Veterinary Medical Center. As one of many ELO success stories, Olsen’s student shared that this experience made her much more confident about her career path and life after high school.

Olsen has helped students connect with mentors and experiences in a wide variety of fields from engineering to real estate to education and more. She has helped connect students who are interested in a career in education to teacher mentors at local elementary and middle schools, allowing them to gain real work experience in a classroom. “I’m excited to see where life takes these students,” says Olsen. “It’s wonderful to witness young people be interested in education, especially when we continue to need wonderful educators in our schools and communities!”

Looking ahead, Olsen is excited about the expansion of Gorham’s ELO program and looks forward to helping more students as they explore and work toward their future careers.

Olsen would like to extend a thank you to the following organizations for their contributions to Gorham’s ELO program: Moody’s Auto Collision, Rarebreed Veterinary Partners, Jøtul, Great Falls Construction, Harvey Performance, MK Kitchen, IDEXX, Sappi Paper, Maplewood Dental Arts, Erin Flett, Furnishing Hope, Presumpscot Regional Land Trust, Gorham House, Maine Health, Casco Bay Electric, Baxter Memorial Library, and Carter’s Auto Service.

Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs) are hands-on, credit-bearing courses outside of the traditional classroom with an emphasis on community-based career exploration. These opportunities are personalized for students and help them explore options for their professional lives. They help students engage in learning through instruction, assignments, and experiential learning. The Maine Department of Education (DOE), along with state-wide partner Jobs for Maine Graduates (JMG), have made a concerted effort to provide working models, support, and funding opportunities for Maine schools to set up ELO programs within their school communities. To learn more about Maine’s initiatives with extended learning opportunities, visit: https://www.maine.gov/doe/index.php/learning/elo or reach out to Maine DOE ELO Coordinator Rick Wilson at rick.wilson@maine.gov.

Open for Additional Applicants: Comprehensive Electronic Health Record Pilot Grant Program Request for Applications (RFA #202305111)

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is accepting applications from school administrative units (SAUs), publicly supported secondary schools, and Education in the Unorganized Territory (EUT) who meet eligibility requirements stated in RFA# 202305111 as an ongoing open application period.

Using American Rescue Plan, state reservation funds, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) will cover costs of implementing a comprehensive electronic health record of up to $6000 which includes a nominal stipend for an SAU designated electronic health record champion. This widespread pilot aims to show that maintaining an electronic health record is beneficial to both local schools and the State of Maine as it will increase the efficiency of services provided, decrease the burden of reporting health data, allow for data-informed decisions and policy, and increase revenue possibilities with MaineCare.

Proposals submitted that meet the requirements will be accepted on a first come, first served basis until funds are no longer available or by May 31, 2024.

Eligible school administrative units that are interested in the Comprehensive Electronic Health Record Pilot Grant Program opportunity may access the application and the previously released question/answer document through the Grant RFPs and RFAs webpage.

All questions about the Comprehensive Electronic Health Record Pilot RFA should be submitted to the Grant Coordinator: Emily Poland, Office of School and Student Supports, Emily.Poland@Maine.gov

 

Help Spread the Word About Survey for Community Programs for Families

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services and Maine Child Welfare Action Network are partnering with Chapin Hall to understand more about existing programs within communities that help children and families in Maine. This includes programs that primarily serve adults but also benefit families with children. They are specifically interested in understanding those programs’ eligibility, counties or towns served, funding sources, and services to inform the development and implementation of Maine’s Child Safety and Family Well-Being Plan.

Anyone operating a community program that helps children and families, please complete this survey for each program within an organization. The survey should be completed by Monday, November 20 and will only take about 5 minutes per program. Anyone working within the school community who is aware of such programs within your community, please pass this information along to them.

 The survey link is here.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Mariette (mariette.aborn@maine.gov) or Melissa (mhackett@mekids.org).

We are grateful for your ongoing work on behalf of families in Maine and appreciate your partnership in this important survey.

Judy Doran of MSAD 35 Named Maine 2023 School Nurse of the Year

(Pictured [left] Angie Buker, President MASN [right] Judy Doran)

The Maine Association of School Nurses (MASN)  is proud to recognize Judy Doran of Maine School Administrative District 35 as Maine’s 2023 School Nurse of the Year. This annual award recognizes an outstanding Maine school nurse for their contributions to the school and community they serve. The award provides recognition to an individual who demonstrates leadership in six areas of practice: care provision, program management, health education, professional development, community involvement, and research.  

Judy Doran began her nursing career in Alaska working for the US Public Health Service. She then transitioned to Family Care and Pediatrics in Rochester, NH and York, ME. For the past 16 years, Judy has worked in MSAD 35 as a school nurse. In 2015 she became the MSAD 35 District Nurse Coordinator and also serves as a float nurse. She is a trusted medical figure within her school community – not just among students, but also among staff and nurse colleagues. One colleague has described her as the, “consummate professional.” Her superintendent described her as a “difference maker.” Her community described her as an exemplary school nursing leader whose clinical judgment is steeped in evidence-based practice, who has stellar organizational skills, and her ability to navigate the most complicated school health scenarios.  

A common theme across all the letters written in support of Judy’s nomination focused on her dedication and compassion for her students, her school staff, her nurse colleagues, and her community. Her supporters also highlighted her leadership and advocacy.  

State Representative Michele Meyer described Judy’s leadership and advocacy on behalf of her nurse colleagues as “a strong advocate shining a long-overdue light on the mental health of the members of her profession.” Judy has connected with Ms. Meyers on many health-related issues, most recently the need for improvement with supportive policies and practices to reduce workplace stress and increase workplace support for school nurses. Judy has spoken and written passionately about the essential need to address school nurse mental health due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Judy has written editorials for local newspapers, My American Nurse , and has contributed to the school nurse blog, The Relentless School Nurse. In one of her posts published on March 2, 2023, Judy focused her writing on what it means to be a ‘relentless nurse’. She wrote that nurses, “have the capacity to turn on a dime and shine the conversation on the matter at hand. A nurse’s gears are always turning. It’s amazing and appreciated! And that is to say, you are. Relentless. Fearless. Proud.”

MASN receives nominations for the Maine School Nurse of the Year award and selects a Maine School Nurse of the Year (SNOY) annually. To learn more about the process and see a listing of past and present awardees visit MASN’s Website.

Old Town Elementary School Celebrates 20 Year Anniversary with a Book Vending Machine for Students

What do you do to celebrate your school’s 20th Year of Education? Old Town Elementary School wasn’t quite sure what to do to spark their students and make them appreciate all the wonderful things the school has offered over the course of 20 years, but School librarian Michelle Reesman knew just what to do. She approached the school’s Parent Teacher Club and asked the team to purchase a personalized book vending machine to support the students’ pro-social behavior plan during the new school year.

The Book Vending Machine sits in the main hallway at Old Town Elementary School and brightens each student’s face as they walk by and admire all the books to win. Each month the students and their teacher focus on a new characteristic/behavior. All the students work towards those skills in their classrooms with read-alouds, lessons, and activities to support a growth mindset. At the end of the month, students are chosen from each classroom that exemplifies those characteristics and are given a token to use in the Book Vending Machine. The selection of the book, the token dropped in, and the excitement of reaching in and getting the book are more special than you can imagine.

“On this 20th anniversary year at Old Town Elementary, we believe we have hit the sweet spot with the purchase of our Book Vending Machine,” said Old Town Elementary School Principal Jeanna Tool. “The bright and shiny machine is just a small sample of how our school continues to reach for new and exciting activities to benefit our learners. We are grateful for a community that supports and invests in our students.”

Here’s to 20 more years of fun~!

This story was contributed by Old Town Elementary School. To submit a good news story or idea to the Maine DOE please email Rachel Paling at rachel.paling@maine.gov.

PUBLIC COMMENT: School Construction Funding

As a result of the First Special Session of the 131st Maine Legislature, The State Board of Education is engaging in rulemaking in response to Public Law 2023, Chapter 462, “An Act to Expand Access to School Construction Funding” effective October 25, 2023 which directs the State Board to amend their rule regarding administering funding for integrated, consolidated 9-16 educational facilities.

As part of this update, The State Board of Education is opening Rule Chapter 61: State Board Of Education Rules For Major Capital School Construction Projects to complete the legislative changes required by law and is proposing several other changes.

As required by law, a period of public comment opens November 1, 2023 through December 1, 2023. Written comments may be submitted to DOE Rulemaking Liaison Laura Cyr, State House Station #23, Augusta, Maine 04333; 207-446-8791 or laura.cyr@maine.gov until 5:00 pm November 30, 2023. For documentation purposes, written comments are preferred.

In addition, a public hearing for the revised Rule Chapter 61 will be held in person and virtually on November 21, 2023, from 9:00-11:00 am pm at the Burton Cross Office Building, located at 111 Sewall Street, Augusta, Maine 04333, Room 103. As space will be limited, participants are encouraged to attend virtually through Zoom, using this link:

  • Topic: Rule Chapter 61 Public Hearing
  • Time: November 21, 2023 at 9:00 am Eastern Time (US and Canada)
  • Join Zoom Meeting
    Meeting ID: 891 5708 3933
    Passcode: 62847827

Timeline for Rulemaking for Rule Chapter 61 – New, Major Substantive

  • File: October 24, 2023
  • Post: November 1, 2023
  • Comment Period End: December 1, 2023

The revised Rule Chapter 61 can be found here.

You may also submit comments to the following location: Ch. 61 Microsoft Forms

CONTACT PERSON FOR THIS FILING (include name, mailing address, telephone, fax, TTY, email):

Laura Cyr, laura.cyr@maine.gov, 207-446-8791

 

2024 Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative (MOLI) Grant Information Sessions

Start your scope of work now! The Maine Department of Education (DOE) will soon be seeking applications for the next round of Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative grants.  These grants support hands-on, engaging, interdisciplinary outdoor learning and career exploration opportunities that connect students with Maine’s amazing natural bounty. See a Newsroom story about 2023 Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative Grants.

With massive expansions in eligibility, this funding can potentially be used to facilitate outdoor learning programs before, during, or after school; on weekends; during school breaks and/or over the summer. The Request for Applications (RFA) is slated to be published December 1, 2023.

Join Maine DOE staff for a series of open office hours in November to learn more about the application process and how your organization can maximize this opportunity for students.   Make sure you sign up for these Open Office Hours sessions.  After the RFA is published on the State website, the Maine DOE will not be able to field questions outside of the formal Procurement process.

Join the Maine DOE Open Office Hours to brainstorm how your school or organization can take advantage of this one-time federal funding.

The significant expansion of the eligibility rules beyond non-profits to include most local education providers, makes many schools in Maine eligible for this funding.  For 2024, schools, private and nonprofit organizations, municipal Parks and Recreation Departments that are current members of the Maine Recreation and Park Association, and public libraries can apply.  In this sense, “schools” include charter schools, Career and Technical Education (CTE) Centers or Regions, Education in Unorganized Territories (EUTs), approved private schools located in Maine, and school administrative Units (SAU). Applications will also be considered for schools and organizations who wish to use the funding to enhance or expand existing outdoor programming.

The Maine DOE expects more than 60 applications. In 2023 our non-profit partners reached 1,500+ students. In expanding the eligibility and length of the 2024 grant, we expect to reach 2,500+ students with meaningful outdoor educational experiences.

The Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative was created by Governor Mills in 2022 to connect Maine’s young people to the outdoors through engaging summer learning opportunities. The initiative has grown each year in scope and the number of students served. Click here to learn about the 2022 and 2023 Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative programs. The initiative is supported through Federal Emergency Relief Funding.

 

Dyslexia Resources for Schools: Screener Reimbursement Project & Free Dyslexia Awareness Kit

Dr. Sally Shaywitz states in Overcoming Dyslexia, “The human brain is resilient, but there is no question that early intervention and treatment bring about more positive change at a faster pace than an intervention provided to an older child. The sooner a diagnosis is made, the quicker your child can get help, and the more likely you are to prevent secondary blows to her self-esteem.”

Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. A secondary consequence may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede the growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.

In 2016 the Maine Dyslexia Screening Statute went into effect. In this statute it is stated that each school administrative unit shall screen for dyslexia all students from kindergarten to grade 2 who are identified as having difficulty in phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, sound-symbol relationships (phonics), alphabet knowledge, decoding, rapid naming or encoding. If a student in kindergarten through grade 2 has a weakness in any one of these areas the student screening must include an examination of the student’s:

  1. Phonological and phonemic awareness
  2. Sound-symbol recognition
  3. Alphabet knowledge
  4. Decoding skills
  5. Rapid naming skills and
  6. Encoding skills

To support the work of early screening and early intervention the Maine Department of Education Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education is pleased to announce a second year of the Maine Dyslexia Screening Project. This project is designed to support schools in a one-time reimbursement opportunity of up to $4,500 towards a high-quality screener for the 2023-2024 school year. For more information about the evidence needed for reimbursement and the video overview please visit the 2023-2024 screening page here.

If you have additional questions please contact Dee Saucier at danielle.m.saucier@maine.gov or Anne-Marie Adamson at anne-marie.adamson@maine.gov.

Sign Up for a Free Dyslexia Awareness Kit

As part of our expanded efforts to improve communication and deepen understanding about dyslexia screening and supporting struggling readers we are offering one free dyslexia awareness kit to each school in Maine. The kit includes a copy of Conquering Dyslexia: A Guide to Early Detection and Intervention for Teachers and Families by Dr. Jan Hasbrouck, IDA information sheets and informational articles and links.

To request a kit for your school please complete this request form. If you have additional questions, please contact Dee Saucier at danielle.m.saucier@maine.gov.

Presque Isle High School Students Get Life-Changing ELO Experience on Hurricane Island Thanks to Anonymous Donor

Seventeen Presque Isle High School (PIHS) students, along with two University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI) students, recently had the opportunity to participate in a week-long educational experience at Hurricane Island. This exciting experience was made possible due to an anonymous donor who fully funded the adventure, and was open to any student with an interest in career exploration in the sciences through Presque Isle High School’s newly implemented ELO program.

Hurricane Island runs field-based education programs with an emphasis on inspiring future environmental leaders. Students were able to experience the scientific process first-hand with the guidance of the expert staff at Hurricane Island.  The feedback from PIHS students has been overwhelmingly positive.

“Hurricane Island was a life-changing experience that allowed me to learn and grow outside of the confines of a classroom,” said PIHS senior Morgan House who will be pursuing a career in the medical field. “The environment on the island encouraged not only learning but personal growth. I left the island feeling connected with my peers and built relationships that wouldn’t have been otherwise possible here at PIHS. You truly cannot place a number on the value of a hands-on education. I will be forever grateful to the donor who made this trip possible”

Thanks to a two-year, $250,000 grant from the Maine Department of Education, Presque Isle High School has been able to partner with the University of Maine at Presque Isle and Caribou High School to implement programs offering extended learning opportunities (ELOs). ELOs are defined as hands-on opportunities outside of the traditional classroom with an emphasis on community-based career exploration. Allison Reed, Director of Guidance, is the ELO Coordinator for MSAD#1.

“The partnerships forged between schools and local businesses are proving to be mutually beneficial, with companies gaining fresh perspectives from the next generation of talent, and students gaining meaningful job shadowing experiences,” said Reed. “By providing students with opportunities to explore their passions, schools are nurturing a generation of informed, motivated, and inspired individuals poised to make a meaningful impact on the world.”

Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs) are hands-on, credit-bearing courses outside of the traditional classroom with an emphasis on community-based career exploration. These opportunities are personalized for students and help them explore options for their professional lives. They help students engage in learning through instruction, assignments, and experiential learning. The Maine Department of Education (DOE), along with state-wide partner Jobs for Maine Graduates (JMG), have made a concerted effort to provide working models, support, and funding opportunities for Maine schools to set up ELO programs within their school communities. To learn more about Maine’s initiatives with extended learning opportunities, visit: https://www.maine.gov/doe/index.php/learning/elo or reach out to Maine DOE ELO Coordinator Rick Wilson at rick.wilson@maine.gov.

WEBINAR: Media Literacy in the Classroom

Please join Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) Humanities Teacher Leader Fellows James St. Pierre and Dorie Tripp for an in-depth discussion of Media Literacy in the Classroom.

There is no denying the significant presence media has in the lives of our students regardless of their age. This webinar is intended to discuss the many ways media permeates their lives and explore how we, as teachers, can help students understand its influence and determine what is true, what is useful, and what is important. We look forward to seeing you there.

  • Thursday, November 30, 2023
  • 4:00 p.m.
  • Virtual – Register here

About the Presenters:

James St. Pierre is a national board-certified English teacher with thirty years of teaching experience at Fryeburg Academy where he has taught courses in English and biology and served as English department chair. In addition to his work at the secondary level, he also holds the position of Lecturer at both Granite State College and White Mountains Community College, where he has taught as an adjunct for two decades, one of his specialties being Media Studies. He holds a master’s degree in English Literature from Middlebury College and has presented at state and regional conferences regarding the medium of comics. He is married with two sons and enjoys anything to do with comics, disc golf and soccer.

Dorie Tripp is a national board-certified music teacher with 14 years of experience teaching elementary music in Maine public schools. Over the years, it has been her mission to promote music instruction that is developmentally appropriate, inclusive, diverse, and engaging. In her quest to do this, she has taken on many roles as a learner and leader. Dorie spent two terms as Vice President of the Maine Music Educators Association, contributed to the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative as a Design Team member, was an active member of the Maine Learning Results writing team for the Visual and Performing Arts, and co-hosted a series of PD sessions for educators during the Covid 19 pandemic. In 2021, she was awarded the MMEA Music Educator of the Year Award. In this next step of her journey, Dorie is looking forward to working with the Maine DOE. She’s excited to practice, share, and support unique learning opportunities for Maine students and educators!