Maine DOE Teacher Leader Fellow and National Expert Highlight Collaborative Approaches for Multilingual Learners with Exceptionalities

The Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) professional learning on multilingual learners with disabilities was in the spotlight at this year’s Northern New England Teachers of English Speakers of Other Languages (NNETESOL) 2025 Annual Conference, themed, “Opening Doors Through Language and Literacy Instruction” and held on November 15 at Southern New Hampshire University. Through a joint session, Maine’s leadership in advancing collaborative, equitable instruction for multilingual learners with disabilities took center stage, bringing this emerging area of practice to educators from across New England.

This joint session, “Implementing Joint Professional Learning About Dually Identified Multilingual Learners,” was presented by Melissa Frans,a Maine DOE Teacher Leader Fellow and Special Education Multilingual Coordinator for Portland Public Schools, and Dr. Andrea Honigsfeld, a professor in the School of Education and Human Services at Molloy University. Dr. Honigsfeld teaches graduate courses on cultural and linguistic diversity, language and literacy development, educational equity, and collaborative practices supporting multilingual learners with disabilities. She has authored more than 30 books.

“When I learned that my book, ‘Collaboration for Multilingual Learners with Exceptionalities: We Share the Students,’ coauthored with Dr. Audrey Cohan, was integrated into a statewide professional learning series led by Melissa, I was honored to see my work utilized in such a thoughtful and creative way,” Dr. Honigsfeld shared. “With the Maine DOE providing numerous high-quality, open-access resources on the topic of dually identified multilingual learners, I wanted to learn more about the Maine initiative and invited Melissa to submit a proposal to the 2025 NNETESOL conference with me.”

Frans and Honigsfeld’s session explored the complex needs of dually identified multilingual learners, students who are both multilingual learners and eligible for special education services, and underscored the importance of coordinated, cross-disciplinary professional learning to support them effectively. Frans and Honigsfeld introduced key models for collaborative professional development that deepen shared understanding, strengthen communication, and promote instructional alignment between English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and special education teams.

“Presenting with Andrea at NNETESOL was a masterclass in collaboration!” Frans said. “I was proud to highlight the Maine DOE Teacher Leader Fellow program in strengthening our collective efficacy across Maine and beyond for supporting multilingual learners.”

The presentation also highlighted the Maine DOE’s statewide efforts to expand joint professional learning for educators serving dually identified multilingual learners. This initiative brings ESOL and special education professionals together to build expertise, align practices, and ensure equitable learning experiences for students.

“Dr. Honigsfeld has a reputation for writing accessible books that are grounded in research and sensibly designed for educators,” Frans added.

For more information about related Maine DOE resources and professional learning offerings, please visit the Multilingual Learners with Disabilities webpage. Details about Dr. Honigsfeld’s publications and work are available here.

The Maine DOE remains committed to expanding knowledge, strengthening collaboration, and opening doors for multilingual learners across the region. Multilingual learners thrive when school administrative units (SAUs) implement a coordinated approach through an Integrated Multi-Tiered System of Support (iMTSS), enabling educators to provide timely, individualized support that honors each student’s language needs, identities, and strengths.

The Teacher Leader Fellow program is part of the Maine DOE Office of Teaching and Learning.

Maine DOE Recruiting Educators for Statewide Professional Learning Series to Support Multilingual Learners

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is recruiting 120 certified educators to participate in a statewide professional learning series aimed at supporting multilingual learners (MLs) across the state. Ultimately, this cohort is designed to build educator capacity in evidence-based, language-integrated instruction across all grade levels. This project represents a key component of Maine’s coordinated Literacy and Numeracy Action Plans, which emphasize evidence-based instruction, multitiered systems of support (MTSS), aligned supports, and equitable access for all learners.

This professional learning series is being offered in partnership with SupportEd, a nationally recognized leader in ML instructional design and educator development. Through this project, SupportEd experts will help to deepen the integration of the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework, strengthen scaffolding practices, and refine classroom tasks and assessments.

Professional Learning Series Details

This opportunity is open to a wide range of educators across Maine. Classroom and content-area teachers, ML specialists, and 660-certified educators are strongly encouraged to participate, as are school administrative unit (SAU) and school leaders, such as directors or coordinators of ML programs. The series also welcomes any certified educator who is committed to providing equitable, language-integrated instruction and is eager to strengthen their practice in the services provided to MLs.

Participants will engage in high-quality professional learning led by national experts in ML instruction. Throughout the series, educators will receive practical, classroom-ready tools and templates designed to support immediate application in their own settings. They will also benefit from statewide networking and collaboration, build strategies aligned to Maine’s Literacy and Numeracy Action Plans, and contribute to the co-development of new Maine-specific instructional resources that will support ML success across the state.

All professional learning sessions run from 3 to 5 p.m. The commitment is six sessions, with two hours per session.

Elementary Cohort (pre-K-Grade 5)	Secondary Cohort (Grades 6-12)
Session 1: January 20, 2026 Session 2: February 24, 2026 Session 3: March 18, 2026 Session 4: April 7, 2026 Session 5: May 4, 2026 Session 6: June 3, 2026	Session 1: January 22, 2026 Session 2: February 26, 2026 Session 3: March 20, 2026 Session 4: April 9, 2026 Session 5: May 6, 2026 Session 6: June 3, 2026

Application Process and Timeline

Educators may apply for this opportunity here: Building Capacity for Multilingual Learners in Schools. Applications are due on December 12, 2025, with notification of selection planned for December 19. Selection will prioritize a broad geographic representation, grade-level balance, and diversity of educator roles across Maine’s SAUs.

For more information, please contact Melanie Junkins, Maine DOE Multilingual and Bilingual Education Specialist, at melanie.junkins@maine.gov.

The Statewide Professional Learning to Strengthen Instruction for Multilingual Learners is funded through Title II/Title IV state reservation funds.

Maine DOE Invites Educators to Apply to Serve on Reading and Math Advisory Councils

In the 2025-2026 school year, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) launched the Maine State Reading and Math Action Plans, twin initiatives designed to bring more evidence-based instruction, educator training, and academic partnerships into Maine classrooms.

As part of the Action Plans, the Maine DOE is launching two new statewide groups, the Reading Advisory Council and the Math Advisory Council, which will support the state’s renewed focus on strengthening foundational skills for all Maine students in these core academic areas. Applications for these councils are open now through Thursday, December 11, 2025.

“The Maine Department of Education is pleased to invite educators representing different grade levels and regions from across Maine to apply for this opportunity,” said Maine DOE Commissioner Pender Makin. “Your expertise will help to directly inform best practices regarding reading and math instruction to be shared with the field, ensuring that Maine students graduate from school well-prepared for their futures.”

The councils will be composed primarily of practitioners, classroom educators, instructional coaches, school and school administrative unit (SAU) leaders, and higher education partners, who work directly with Maine learners and can bring firsthand expertise to this work. Members will help to ensure that statewide efforts remain grounded in classroom realities and reflect the needs and strengths of Maine schools and communities.

Each council will be chaired by a statewide leader in the field: Dr. Peter Lancia, superintendent of the Westbrook School Department, will chair the Reading Advisory Council, and Dr. Victoria Cohen, former math teacher, will chair the Math Advisory Council. The chairs will partner closely with Maine DOE leadership to shape meeting agendas, facilitate discussion, and synthesize input from the field.

The Maine DOE is seeking a diverse group of 10-12 members for each council. The Maine DOE will review applications to ensure representation from practitioners across grade levels, regions, professional roles, and school contexts. Members will serve a two-year term, participate in regularly scheduled meetings, review materials, and share perspectives from their local contexts.

The application form is available here. Applicants will be asked to describe their current role, interest in serving, and relevant experience. A reference letter must be submitted separately via email to Maine DOE Chief Teaching and Learning Officer Beth Lambert at beth.lambert@maine.gov.

Applications are due on December 11 at 11:59 p.m. Applicants will be notified of their selection by January 5, 2026, and the first council meetings will be held the week of January 12.

About the Back-To-Basics Initiative

At the direction of Governor Janet Mills, the Maine DOE on October 9 announced major new approaches to strengthen back-to-basics reading and math skills in Maine students.

The Maine State Reading and Math Action Plans include evidence-based strategies and updated guidance for schools and SAUs, as well as commitment from the Maine DOE to provide necessary support and resources. Strategies in the plans include:

Preparing future elementary and early childhood educators to use evidence-based reading and math instruction;
Providing teachers and school leaders access to high-quality instructional resources, as well as participation in annual teacher summits and workshops;
Helping local schools and districts to set literacy attainment goals using universal literacy screeners in early education and elementary grades;
Enabling schools and districts to utilize best practices in early math instruction, incorporating real-world applications in mathematics;
Creating further recommendations for teacher preparation programs through the advisory councils.

The Maine DOE developed the action plans with input from experts in the field. The plans were also informed by data, including the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which sampled approximately 1,700 Maine students per grade level (4th and 8th) per subject (reading and math) in 2024. Over the past decade, NAEP scores have shown concerning declines in Maine and other states.

Additionally, the action plans incorporated testing data from the Maine Through Year Assessment, which is administered to approximately 85,000 students in grades 3-8 and 10 at least twice a year to measure progress from fall to spring. The Maine DOE used input from schools that administer local assessments that gauge student progress, as well.

This effort builds upon a $10 million ARP ESSER investment by the Maine DOE in 2024 for literacy grants to schools for high-quality teaching materials and professional development opportunities.

Nokomis Regional High School Students Lead Technology Learning Across Maine Through MLTI SLAM Program

This story was written by Nokomis Regional High School student Makennah Jura.

Students like myself from Nokomis Regional High School are using their technology skills for good as a part of the Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) SLAM program, a statewide effort sponsored by the Maine Department of Education (DOE). I have had the amazing opportunity of participating in this program for the past three years. Short for Student Leadership Ambassadors of Maine, this program gives students hands-on experience in digital creativity, leadership, and education. Each week, our team takes center stage in producing the SLAM Show, a live broadcast that explores creative digital tools and tech-based learning. Then, once a month, we bring that energy on the road for the SLAM Showcase through events hosted at schools across Maine.

Our advisor, Mr. Kern Kelley, explained it perfectly: “The showcases are a chance for students and teachers to learn new tools together. Everything we use is free and web-based, so anyone can keep using it after we leave.”

Kern Kelley, RSU 19 Technology Integrator and Nokomis High School Educator — *Kern Kelley, RSU 19 Technology Integrator and Nokomis Regional High School Educator*

Mr. Kelley, said the SLAM program began in the 2021-2022 school year during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way for students to connect virtually after school when after-school programs weren’t happening. Now, just a few years later, it has grown into something much larger. According to Mr. Kelley, Nokomis has done more than 60 showcases across Maine, from Fort Kent to Noble. The idea is for students to learn, create, and share.

First-Hand SLAM Experience

At Nokomis Regional High School, we are lucky to be able to help the SLAM program run statewide. Each one of us has a role in something that is bigger than ourselves. We practice each week during the SLAM Show, which helps us to prepare for the SLAM Showcase. Personally, I have helped to set up for live events, present to students, and handle logistics like dinner reservations when our team is on the road. Doing so has taught me organization, communication, and leadership in ways that I didn’t expect.

Annie Nyce interviewing a student from Pemetic Elementary School

I’m not the only one at Nokomis who has learned a lot from the SLAM program:

“Being able to travel around and teach other people about what I know has helped me build communication skills and confidence when presenting,” said member Maddie Ervin.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to grow as a public speaker and teach other kids. You also learn problem-solving, especially when helping younger students with technology,” said host Hallie Coots.
Member Mallory Smith said that what she loves the most about the program is meeting new people and seeing new parts of the state. She said that she has learned the importance of time management and patience, especially when working with students who are just learning to use a laptop for the first time.

During Nokomis’ most-recent showcase at Pemetic Elementary School on Mount Desert Island, I met with Stephanie McGruder, an MLTI ambassador for the Maine DOE, who was teaching Canva to students. She shared: “What fascinates me about SLAM is watching high school students do things most adults can’t even do. You’re creative, genuine, and willing to teach others. It’s incredible to see.”

Why Does This Matter?

Being a part of the SLAM program has shown me that leadership doesn’t just mean being in charge; it means sharing what you know, helping others to learn, and finding your voice. Whether coding virtually or hosting live shows, we’re building skills that will stick with us far beyond high school. As Mr. Kelley explained: “It’s a great chance to travel, learn, and give back to the community while having fun with technology.” I couldn’t agree more.

Hartford Sumner Elementary School Slam Show

Students are interviewed for the SLAM Show that will air on the MLTI YouTube channel.

SLAM Show host Mia interviews MSAD11 students about their favorite parts of the day.

benton-elementary-schools-lynn-hamlin-providing-support-for-students-at-this-years-third-slam-showcase

As technology continues to shape the world around us, the work we are doing through SLAM will become more important. Programs like SLAM show how powerful technology can be when students take the lead in teaching and learning. The experience gives us confidence in teaching these technology tools and innovating with them. As the next generation, we’re not just keeping up with technology; we’re helping to shape how it’s used in the classrooms and communities across Maine and beyond.

This story was submitted by Nokomis Regional High School. To submit a good news story to the Maine DOE, please fill out the good news submission form.

Register Now for MLTI’s “Maine Winter Classic” Student Event in March

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Learning Through Technology Team is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2026 Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) Maine Winter Classic, scheduled for March 2-6, 2026.

This week-long, asynchronous event offers an engaging, game-based learning experience for students across Maine. Participants “travel” across the state on a virtual gameboard, completing tasks, earning tokens, and exploring topics such as computer science, digital citizenship, digital design, and gamification. The flexible format enables educators to participate at their own pace, while providing students with meaningful opportunities to develop digital skills in a fun and collaborative way.

Key Details and Registration

Register here for the 2026 MLTI Maine Winter Classic.

Registration window: now through January 5, 2026
Cost: free
Who can participate: grades 3-12 in MLTI school administrative units
Note: Please register by January 5, 2026, to ensure that your classroom receives its event materials, including MLTI Winter Classic T-shirts for all participants, before the event week. Later registrations are accepted, but materials cannot be guaranteed.

Educators who are interested in learning more before registering are invited to peruse overview materials and support resources from past years to get a sense of what to expect and the kinds of classroom connections available.

Office Hours

Educators planning to be at the 2026 MLTI Maine Winter Classic are encouraged to attend a live office hour session or watch a recorded session prior to the event.

Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 7:45 a.m. – newcomer session (recorded) – Zoom link
Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 3:45 p.m. – returning participant session (recorded) – Zoom link
Thursday, December 4, 2025, at 7:45 a.m. – for all participants (non-recorded) – Zoom link
Thursday, December 4, 2025, at 3:45 p.m. – for all participants (non-recorded) – Zoom link
Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 4 p.m. – for all participants (non-recorded) – Zoom link

For more information about the 2026 MLTI Maine Winter Classic or other MLTI student conferences, please contact Bethany Billinger, Maine DOE MLTI Project Manager, at bethany.billinger@maine.gov.

Maine DOE Update – November 14, 2025

From the Maine Department of Education

News & Updates

Maine DOE Celebrates Successful First Annual Green Schools Symposium

On Friday, November 7, 2025, hundreds of Mainers representing schools, nonprofit organizations, and local businesses attended the first annual Green Schools Symposium, held at Thomas College in Waterville. This event, designed to celebrate environmental education and climate action in Maine schools, is part of the Maine Green Schools Program—a partnership between the Maine Department of Education (DOE) and Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future (GOPIF) that supports schools across the state in advancing sustainability in four key areas: leadership, facilities, curriculum, and career pathways. | More

New Evaluation Tool Available to Support Professional Growth of School Nurses

School nursing is a complex and evolving specialty that plays a vital role in student health and academic success. To support the professional growth and evaluation of school nurses, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) has developed a resource that school administrators may find helpful as a complement to local performance and development processes. | More

Maine DOE Continues to Expand Access to High-Quality Literacy Professional Development

As part of the Maine State Literacy Action Plan, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) is excited to announce another opportunity for Maine educators to access evidence-based literacy professional learning modules at a reduced cost. This comes in addition to a similar previous announcement in October of 2025. | More

REMINDER: Applications Open for Maine DOE 2025-2026 Student Cabinet

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is now accepting applications for the 2025-2026 Maine DOE Student Cabinet, a group of students who collaborate with Maine DOE staff to provide input on educational opportunities, improvements, and policy for the State of Maine. The deadline to apply is Thursday, November 20, 2025. | More

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

PBIS in Action: Students Take the Lead in Building Belonging at Sumner Memorial High School

Sumner Memorial High School in Sullivan is undergoing a cultural transformation, thanks to the implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), a training and coaching framework that has not only improved behavior but also fostered deeper connections between students and staff. By integrating PBIS into everyday school life, the school has strengthened its sense of community and pride, and students are leading the way. | More

Submit good news to the Maine Department of Education here.

Professional Learning/Training Opportunities

View the Maine Department of Education’s Events Calendar here.

Career/Project Opportunities:

Find education-related jobs in Maine.

Maine DOE Celebrates Successful First Annual Green Schools Symposium

Students representing regions from coastal to western Maine attended Friday’s Symposium. Attendees heard opening remarks from speakers including Glenn Cummings, Maine DOE Director of Green Schools, and Maulian Bryant, Executive Director of the Wabanaki Alliance. They also listened to a “My Why” Panel, as speakers including former Director of GOPIF Hannah Pingree, Bryant and her daughter, and 2025 Milken Educator Award recipient Micah Depper shared details about their efforts to “green” schools.

Throughout the day, attendees engaged in interactive workshops and attended sessions ranging from interdisciplinary approaches to climate education, to efforts to increase local foods in school meals and reduce food waste, to the exponential growth of green careers in Maine.

“This event represents what the future of Maine looks like, as we work together to ensure that our schools are healthy, cost-efficient, and teaching our next generations how to protect our outdoors,” said Glenn Cummings, Maine DOE Director of Green Schools. “Reducing pollution in our schools is not a niche extra; it is an essential step in school improvement. It improves health. It improves outcomes. It improves cost efficiency. And, most importantly, it improves hope.”

*Glenn Cummings, Maine DOE Director of Green Schools*

In a letter addressing Symposium attendees, Governor Janet Mills wrote, in part: “I am proud that Maine leads the nation in developing practical, community-based climate solutions that are built by Maine people, for Maine people. Our schools are one of the most important places in which this work can happen. When we improve our school buildings, our curriculum, and the pathways available to young people, we strengthen the foundation of our economy and our future.”

The Symposium marked a launching point for three primary initiatives of the Maine Green Schools Program, including: building environmental literacy and climate-ready learning in pre-K through higher education; cutting carbon and other school pollutants, while cutting waste and cost in school facilities; and creating pathways to real, Maine-based, well-paying clean energy careers. The Maine Green Schools Program has been steadily gaining momentum; earlier this year, the Maine DOE and GOPIF received the 2025 Difference Makers Award from Project Green Schools for their work in designing one of the first statewide climate-ready education systems in the nation.

One student in attendance at the Symposium, Cedar Worster, a senior at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School and co-chair of the Maine DOE Student Cabinet, said she often hears from her peers that they are passionate about climate justice.

“They care because they’re concerned about where our future is headed, and they want to make it the best possible future that we can,” Worster said. “We’re going to be the ones making all of the decisions and doing the work impacting our climate and our environment. I think students just want to be informed and knowledgeable about the decisions they make and how those will impact our environment.”

Worster said part of what she enjoyed about the Symposium was the opportunity to connect with fellow students from different parts of the state.

“It has definitely been eye-opening to talk to students from different areas just because it’s so different from where I am from,” Worster said. “Just seeing their perspective on things and how different things impact them differently than they would impact me based on their environment is really cool to see.”

To end the Symposium, attendees engaged in a discussion about the vision of a Green Schools Network, a concept recently established through state legislation to support environmental education and initiatives within public schools and school administrative units. Youth in attendance at the Symposium organized and ran a “Vision Lab” to brainstorm a wide range of concepts for the Green Schools Network, which will be designed using the input received. In 2026, the Green Schools Network will issue a report to the Maine Legislature, including any recommendations for new legislation to help support the goals of the network.

Maine DOE Continues to Expand Access to High-Quality Literacy Professional Development

In the summer of 2024, the Maine DOE provided free access to AIM Institute for Learning and Research’s Steps to Literacy modules. Nearly 650 educators completed more than 20,000 hours of professional learning grounded in the science of reading, including phonological awareness, phonics, decoding, spelling, language expression, writing, emerging literacy, vocabulary, dyslexia, and supports for multilingual learners.

Building on that success, in 2025, to sustain momentum, the Maine DOE has expanded access to AIM modules and launched Communities of Practice (COP) for school teams. These COPs are designed to deepen professional knowledge and build school-level capacity to implement high quality, evidence-based literacy instruction.

Recognizing that access to affordable and user-friendly professional learning is critical, the Maine DOE invited professional learning providers offering asynchronous modules that met established criteria to extend reduced-rate access to Maine educators. The Maine DOE has established master agreements with two providers, enabling school administrative units (SAUs) to purchase high-quality, evidence-based literacy modules at a discounted cost. Details are available here: Maine Department of Education | Literacy Learning Modules.

Reimbursement Opportunity

Between October 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026, the Maine DOE will, as funds allow, reimburse SAUs for the cost of successfully completed modules. Modules must be selected from the approved vendors listed below. SAUs are responsible for the upfront costs. After an educator employed by the SAU successfully completes a module, the SAU mayseek reimbursement by submitting invoices to the Maine DOE. Invoices must be on SAU letterhead and include proof of successful completion for each module, as well as the names of and grade levels taught by the educators who completed the modules. All invoices and documentation should be directed to Maine DOE Preschool Development Grant Manager Renee Reilly at Renee.A.Reilly@maine.gov.

Who pays up front: SAUs purchase modules directly from one of the approved vendors listed below.
Reimbursement window: This will continue until funding is exhausted or through September 30, 2026—whichever comes first.
What to submit: Please submit invoices on SAU letterhead with proof of successful completion for each module and the names of the educators and the grade level(s) taught by the educators. Grade level information is needed to determine the funding source for reimbursement.
Where to send: Please email invoices and documentation to Renee Reilly, Maine DOE Preschool Development Grant Manager, at renee.a.reilly@maine.gov.

Professional Learning Module Options

AIM Pathways™ is an interactive digital training platform that delivers evidence-based content in the science of reading. Each Steps to Literacy module follows a “learn, practice, apply” cycle and includes teaching techniques, demonstration videos, and printable resources to help educators integrate new strategies into classroom practice. Learn more about accessing AIM Pathways modules here.

Keys to Literacy offers a comprehensive, research-backed approach to sustainable literacy improvement. Its courses integrate evidence-based instruction with systems, structures, and leadership practices that support equitable and effective learning environments. All modules are designed for asynchronous, on-demand access, allowing educators to engage in professional learning on their own schedules. Learn more about accessing Keys to Literacy modules here.

Through these master agreements, the Maine DOE is ensuring that Maine educators have affordable opportunities to deepen their expertise and strengthen literacy instruction for all students.

For questions about module content, please contact Dee Saucier, Maine DOE Inclusive Education Literacy Specialist and Dyslexia Coordinator, at danielle.m.saucier@maine.gov. For inquiries about reimbursement, please contact Renee Reilly at renee.a.reilly@maine.gov.

New Evaluation Tool Available to Support Professional Growth of School Nurses

The Maine School Nurse Evaluation Tool: School Nurse Competencies and Evaluation is now available as an optional guide for school administrators, school nurse supervisors, and school nurses to use in part or in full. In addition to its use as a comprehensive evaluation tool designed for school nurses, this instrument may also be utilized to guide goal setting by focusing on school nursing standards or objectives. It is aligned with the National Association of School Nurses’ (NASN) School Nursing Practice Framework™ and adapted from the Tennessee Department of Education’s School Nurse Competencies & Evaluation guide.

As outlined on the Maine DOE Educator Performance & Development webpage, a comprehensive approach for performance and development is essential to ensuring that Maine schools have quality teachers and leaders, including school nurses. The implementation of Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth (PEPG) systems places a premium on developing viable processes that identify, maximize, support, and maintain excellence among teachers and principals. This can and should extend to all other support staff, too. By utilizing tools such as this, school nurses can be evaluated on their professional nursing practice based on established national standards.

Further information about school health services and school nursing practice—including many resources—is available on the Maine DOE website. With questions, please contact Emily Poland, Maine DOE School Nurse Consultant, at emily.poland@maine.gov.

PBIS in Action: Students Take the Lead in Building Belonging at Sumner Memorial High School

At Sumner, PBIS became the foundation for rebuilding school culture following the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and a period of significant staff turnover. Rather than roll out a top-down initiative, Sumner made PBIS personal by putting students in the driver’s seat.

That student-driven spirit gave rise to the “GO BLUE” initiative—a movement that defines and celebrates the school’s core values. The acronym “BLUE”—Be Safe, Lead, Unite, Excel—was developed by students and staff and outlines key behavioral expectations, while promoting pride and belonging. It quickly evolved into a rallying point for both students and staff.

GO BLUE Fridays have become a favorite tradition at Sumner, as students wear school colors and participate in community-building activities. Each month, students also help organize and lead GO BLUE assemblies to recognize peers and staff who exemplify the school’s values. These celebrations have transformed the tone of daily life at Sumner, boosting morale and creating a stronger sense of community.

Teachers say that they have noticed this shift.

“The students have taken huge ownership in our school culture and the direction in which we are headed,” English teacher and PBIS team member Rachel Ptashinsky said. “In my 11 years of experience in education, this is by far the best school culture and morale I have ever felt.”

That ownership is evident in how students lift up one another and their teachers. During each GO BLUE assembly, students take the time to honor staff who have had a meaningful impact.

“The best part is giving students opportunities to celebrate the adults in our building. Watching them cheer for the adults they chose to recognize—and articulate why—is powerful. You can’t help but love the kids even more,” math teacher Marielle Edgecomb shared.

The recognition is deeply meaningful to students, too.

“It shows that you care about your school, and you want to try your best, excel, and be safe,” ninth-grade student Ava said. “I feel proud of winning. Now, I feel like I’m an even bigger part of the Sumner family community.”

“The GO BLUE assemblies definitely bring our school closer,” 10th-grade student Daniela added. “When students are involved, it gives us our own voice. It brings us together and makes us more comfortable with the school.”

Support has even extended beyond the school walls. Local businesses quickly stepped up to sponsor GO BLUE T-shirts. Every shirt was funded within 12 minutes of the request being shared. The school has also strengthened its outreach through newsletters and social media, helping families to stay connected to the growing culture of positivity.

The results speak for themselves. Data shows that student engagement at Sumner has increased, and staff morale has reached new heights.

“When I walk in, I can feel the shift,” RSU 24 Director of Curriculum Shelly Schildroth said. “The most important part of the work that the Sumner PBIS team has put into place is authentically incorporating student voices.”

With momentum on their side, the PBIS team plans to expand staff training, deepen family engagement, and ensure that all students—including new students—feel included from day one. Career education teacher and PBIS coach Whytne Crabtree encourages other high schools to take note: “Don’t write it off as something that only works for younger students,” Crabtree said of PBIS. “PBIS works in high school when it’s intentional, student-led, and part of the culture—not just a box to check.”

At Sumner, PBIS has become more than a strategy; it’s a movement powered by students, embraced by staff, and supported by the community. Together, they’re building a strong and lasting school culture.

PBIS is a nationally recognized, evidence-based framework designed to create positive school climates by teaching and reinforcing clear behavioral expectations. It helps schools to improve student behavior, promote academic success, and build supportive environments where all students feel safe, respected, and empowered to thrive. To learn more about PBIS in Maine, visit the Maine DOE website.

This article was developed in collaboration with Sumner Memorial High School and the Maine PBIS program, a partnership between the Maine DOE Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education and the University of Maine System. This article is part of a series highlighting the successes of Maine schools that are in the process of implementing, or that have implemented, PBIS in their schools. To submit a good news story to the Maine DOE, please fill out the good news submission form.