Category: News & Views

WEBINAR: Understanding the Role of Teachers in Supporting School Safety Before, During, and After an Emergency

The Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center (a partner of the U.S. Department of Education) will host a Webinar on Thursday, May 26, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET. This Webinar will highlight the role of teachers in supporting school safety at the local level.

Find objectives for the 60-minute Webinar below:

  • Highlight the role of teachers in supporting school safety efforts within their school communities.
  • Demonstrate the importance of developing a collaborative planning team to support emergency operations plan (EOP) development, as outlined in Step 1 of the six-step planning process detailed in the Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans.
  • Discuss the role that teachers play in supporting the National Preparedness System mission areas — prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery — as well as their role in the before, during, and after phases of a potential emergency.
  • Share resources to assist teachers’ efforts around climate assessment, behavioral threat assessment, continuity of teaching and learning, and overall plan development.

Presenters:

Los Angeles Unified School District, Office of Emergency Management and Division of School Culture, Climate, and Safety

  • Jill Barnes, Administrator

REMS TA Center

  • Janelle Hughes, Project Director

Questions About the Event?

Contact the REMS TA Center Help Desk at 1-855-781-REMS [7367] or info@remstacenter.org from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.

Get more information and register here.

PRIORITY NOTICE: State Board of Education Adopts New Chapter 115 Regulations for the Credentialing of Education Personnel

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is pleased to announce that on May 11, 2022, the State Board of Education voted in favor of final adoption of Rule Chapter 115: The Credentialing of Education Personnel. These changes come after more than two years of work with numerous stakeholders to ensure unnecessary barriers were removed, and that Maine continues to have well-prepared educators to work with students in our schools. The final version includes changes required by the Maine Legislature.

Some of the highlights of the new rule include:

  • Praxis exams are no longer required.  Instead of this specific requirement, an applicant for certification may choose to pass Praxis I, utilize a summative grade point average (gpa) of 3.0 for courses required for the certification, or submit a portfolio for review.
  • References to the latest versions of professional standards for many certificates have been updated.
  • Language was enhanced to include greater flexibilities with degrees, as well as work and academic experiences.
  • Course requirements for human development as well as diversity-centered content related to today’s classroom have been added.
  • Many updates to Career and Technical Education certificates and endorsements have been made.
  • Some grade spans have been expanded to include pre-kindergarten.
  • Greater flexibilities for international teachers and alternative education teachers have been added.
  • Renewal requirements for some administrator certificates have been changed.

The new regulations will now be filed with the Maine Secretary of State and become effective 30 days after. The new rule will be posted here.

To assist in understanding the new regulations, the DOE is offering a webinar series, which will be recorded, for anyone in the field.  Please see below for dates, topics, and a link to the webinars:

May 18 – New Ch. 115 Regulations: How Did We Get Here? 

May 25 – Overview of Chapter 115 Changes 

June 8 – How to Best Support Educators Through the Certification Process 

The Certification Team is hard at work implementing the new changes and providing updated resources on the website www.maine.gov/doe/cert. The best way to reach the team is to email cert.doe@maine.gov.

University of Maine System Early College Program Partners with “Let’s Get Ready” to Assist Students with College Application Process

The University of Maine System (UMS) Early College (EC) Program has partnered with Let’s Get Ready to provide rising seniors (students graduating in 2023) with assistance with the college application process. Let’s Get Ready (LGR) is a non-profit organization that shares values with the UMS EC Program including providing college preparation experiences to Maine’s high school students. Current college students who are trained by LGR serve as mentors and will guide high school students through finding potential colleges, application essays, scholarships, financial aid, and provide deadline reminders. This text-based mentorship is being provided to students for FREE.

UMS EC has graciously provided this opportunity for all seniors that are enrolled in EC courses in 2022-2023 school year, although we encourage students who are first generation to attend college, rural, and/or low-income to apply. Students who are interested must complete a separate application with LGR. Parent permission is required. Permission requests are sent after students apply. While we encourage students to consider Maine’s Public Universities, students are not required to apply to a UMS institution to participate in this program.

For more information about the program and services, contact Katie Flood, Director of Rural Programs, Let’s Get Ready. Katie is a Maine-based educator and former Maine school counselor committed to promoting college access for Maine’s high school students.

Professional Development Opportunities for all Educators from Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Whether you are a classroom teacher, scout leader, nature center educator, or just looking to gain new skills, these workshops from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife can help you learn how to engage youth in environmental and experiential learning. You’ll learn a variety of teaching techniques to help build your confidence when taking youth outdoors to learn about fish, wildlife, habitats, natural science, conservation, and outdoor skills. We believe learning should be hands-on and fun for you as well as the students!

In these workshops you will:

  • Gain skills and confidence in talking about Maine fish and wildlife
  • Try new skills and activities to help engage youth in place-based learning
  • Be introduced to activities focused on Maine-specific fish and wildlife
  • Spend time outside learning and having fun
  • Network with other educators and outdoor enthusiasts
  • Receive free resources for instruction

Bring your class outdoors or the outdoors in!

Project Wild is a series of wildlife and natural science-based activity guides. This program is part of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is the Maine partner and host. This international program is designed to be easily used in the classrooms, in the field, and as part of summer camps and events. Each activity easily aligns with learning standards and is designed to help guide students to a better understanding of the natural world and how to be better stewards for the future. These workshops are designed for all types of educators to learn how to use the activity guide firsthand. Each participant will receive professional development hours for attending.

For questions, call Laura Rogers at 207-592-0750.

Upcoming workshops:

Help youth fish for their future!

Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs (HOFNOD) is a youth and family-based fishing program to promote healthy habits, and teach youth about fish and how to fish. This program is a partnership between the Future Fisherman Foundation and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. It is designed to train interested adults in the HOFNOD materials and methods. This program uses angling skill development as a gateway to teach youth about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and how to deal with the chal­­­lenges youth face. Whether you are new to fishing or a seasoned angler this program will have something for anyone interested. Training can be done online or in-person. For questions, call Chelsea Lathrop 207-446-8692.

Upcoming Workshop:

Register for the HOFNOD Instructor In-person Workshop Monday, July 25, 2022 9am- 2pm at the Maine Wildlife Park to get some hands-on practice teaching HOFNOD activities and learn about Maine’s fisheries.

*All who attend must first take the online course (takes about 1 hour).

Seeking a Math4ME Coach for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 School Years

Math4ME is designed to implement evidence-based professional development to improve math proficiency of students with disabilities by supporting their teachers’ instructional practices.  Math4ME training is grounded in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Mathematics Teaching Practices.  This training includes hands-on activities and interactive professional learning experiences that allow participants to gain a deeper understanding of core mathematics concepts and strategies.

The Office of Special Services is seeking a Math4ME Coach for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years.  The Math4ME Coach will be part of the Math4ME team creating training materials and facilitating small group and large group professional learning experiences around computational fluency, diagnostic assessment, and formative feedback.  This is a hybrid position with some in-person professional learning sessions, coaching events, and meetings.  To check out more about the Math4ME Project and the coach position, click here.

Interested in applying? Click here to fill out an application. The application window closes June 3, 2022.

Have questions? Reach out to the Math4ME Project coordinator, Anne-Marie Adamson at anne-marie.adamson@maine.gov.

Get to Know the Maine DOE Team: Meet Donna Tiner

Maine DOE Team member Donna Tiner is being highlighted this week as part of the Get to Know the Maine DOE Team campaign. Learn a little more about Donna in the question and answer below.

What are your roles with DOE?

My role on the Career and Technical Education (CTE) team is to oversee the CTE Perkins federal funds and the CTE team general fund budget.  Through my work as the Perkins Grant Manger I also provide monthly updates and quarterly fiscal reports to the CTE Committee of the State Board of Education,

What do you like best about your job?

I like working with the CTE school directors and their staff to find the most effective ways to use their limited Perkins grant awards to improve CTE opportunities for Maine students.  It is a great feeling to be out in the field and have CTE directors thank me for the work I do.

How or why did you decide on this career? 

As many have said, I didn’t choose the career, the career chose me.  As a high school graduate I was determined that my career would focus on working with animals and would not require me to work in an office environment.  After almost 24 years of office work, 20 of which has been as a Perkins Grant Manager (12 years for the Maine Community College and 8 years for Maine DOE), I hope to soon figure out what I want to be when I grow up.

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

Whether it is kayaking on a local pond or lake, biking on the rail trail, or vacationing in Bermuda (my FAVORITE vacation destination), I am spending time with my husband and two sons.  We also have a black lab named Watson who is my constant companion.

University of New England Summer Workshops Open for Registration!

This summer, the University of New England is pleased to be able to offer Educator/Teacher workshops at our Biddeford, Maine, and Portland campuses, with limited options for online workshops as well. Educator/teacher workshops are free for licensed Maine teachers. Topics include Rockets, Underwater Robotics, Online Learning, Makerspaces, Multilingual Learners and more. UNE’s summer of inspiration at provides exciting workshops to reignite your passion for teaching after some challenging years.

Registration is free for Maine Teachers – no application is required. To register for any of our in person or online workshops, simply fill out the form here or select from the workshops listed in the link below. Registrants will receive a confirmation email including workshop details after registration is complete.

Browse UNE’s Educator Workshops and Register Here!

Water Testing Deadline Extended to Fall 2022

The deadline for submitting school initial lead water samples has been extended. Initial samples will be accepted between September 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022.

IMPORTANT: Only remediation sampling should occur over the summer.

  • Q: I have already received my bottles but haven’t taken my samples yet. Should I do that now? Due to a high influx of sample requests in the last few weeks, A&L Lab is at capacity for processing samples. If you have already received your sample bottles but have not collected the samples, we request that you wait until the fall to collect your samples. All schools will have the chance to complete their initial round of lead water samples between September 1st to December 31st.
  • Q: My school has several fixtures with high levels of lead. Can I take remediation samples over the summer? Yes. You may order and collect any remediation sample over the summer including confirmation samples, 30-second flush samples, and supply line samples. It is only your initial lead water samples that cannot be collected over the summer months.
  • Q: I sent in my samples for analysis, but I have not received the results. What should I do? Due to a high influx of sample bottles from schools in the last few weeks, results may take longer than normal. If you have not received your results within 90 days, please reach out to A&L Labs.

Shipment for initial samples will resume on September 1st, but orders can still be submitted anytime to A&L Labs.

Remediation sample shipments will continue as normal over the summer.
For more information, contact lead@granitestateanalytical.com or 207-784-5354.

Two Maine Students Named 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced the 58th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars, recognizing 161 high school seniors for their accomplishments in academics, the arts, and career and technical education fields.

The Maine scholars include (hometown, scholar, school, location):

  • ME – Bar Harbor – Sirohi G. Kumar, Mount Desert Island High School, Mount Desert, Maine.
  • ME – West Gardiner – Brett J. Palmer, Gardiner Area High School, Gardiner, Maine.

“Our 2022 Presidential Scholars represent the best of America, and remind us that when empowered by education, there are no limits to what our young people can achieve,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “Today, I join President Biden to celebrate a class of scholars whose pursuit of knowledge, generosity of spirit, and exceptional talents bring our nation tremendous pride. Throughout one of the most trying periods in our nation’s history and amid our recovery from the pandemic, our students have once again demonstrated their strength and that they have so much to contribute to our country. Thanks to them, I know America’s future is bright.”

The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects scholars annually based on their academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as a demonstrated commitment to community service and leadership.

Of the 3.7 million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 5,000 candidates qualified for the 2022 awards determined by outstanding performance on the College Board SAT or ACT exams or through nominations made by chief state school officers, other partner recognition organizations and YoungArts, the National Foundation for the Advancement of Artists.

As directed by Presidential Executive Order, the 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars are comprised of one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large, 20 scholars in the arts and 20 scholars in career and technical education.

Created in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program has honored over 7,900 of the nation’s top-performing students. The program was expanded in 1979 to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, literary and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.

The Presidential Scholars Class of 2022 will be recognized for their outstanding achievement this summer with an online recognition program.

A complete list of 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars is available at http://www.ed.gov/psp.

MEDIA RELEASE: Maine’s 2022 County Teachers of the Year Announced

Governor Janet Mills, Education Commissioner Pender Makin, Education Leaders Honored the Teachers at the State Capitol

Augusta, ME—Sixteen Maine teachers were announced as 2022 County Teachers of the Year today at a ceremony in the Hall of Flags at the Maine State Capitol Building. Governor Janet Mills joined Education Commissioner Pender Makin, Educate Maine Executive Director Jason Judd, State Board of Education Chair Fern Desjardins, 2022 Maine Teacher of the Year Kelsey Stoyanova, and Maine County and State Teachers of the Year Association Co-President Shana Goodall to announce the new class of County Teachers of the Year.

As part of the Maine Teacher of the Year Program, hundreds of teachers across Maine are nominated by a member of their school community. Through a rigorous application process, one teacher from each county is selected as a County Teacher of the Year by a panel of teachers, principals, and business community members within the county.

“It is a privilege to congratulate Maine’s 2022 County Teachers of the Year,” said Governor Janet Mills. “As the daughter of a long-time public school teacher, I know how hard each of these teachers works every day to make sure our kids have the best shot at success. I am so grateful for all they do for our students, our communities, and our state, and I promise that my Administration will do all we can to support them.”

“It’s such an honor to celebrate these extraordinary teachers and elevate them as true ambassadors for all Maine teachers and the teaching profession,” said Education Commissioner Pender Makin. “These teachers were nominated by students, colleagues, and parents for the difference they make every day in the lives of their students, for their innovation and leadership, and for their commitment to their schools and communities. You are all true heroes, and the Maine Department of Education is so grateful for all you do.”

“We are so proud of the 2022 County Teacher of the Year cohort. They are truly remarkable teachers and we look forward to working with them throughout their year of recognition,” said Educate Maine Executive Director Jason Judd.

2022 County Teachers of the Year:

Maine County Teachers of the Year serve as ambassadors for teachers, students, and quality education state-wide throughout the year. The Maine County Teachers of the Year are available to make presentations to local and regional organizations. Throughout the summer, they will continue to participate in an intensive Maine State Teacher of the Year selection process.

The Maine Department of Education’s Teacher of the Year Program is administered through a collaborative partnership with Educate Maine. To learn more about the Teacher of the Year Program visit: https://www.mainetoy.org/. The event was also broadcast live on the Maine Department of Education’s YouTube page.

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