ACTEM 2021 Fall Conference to take place Virtually on October 14th and 15th

The 2021 Fall ACTEM Conference (Association of Computer Technology Educators of Maine) is virtual this year, hosted by Hopin, a very reliable and successful platform. The conference is FREE for all ACTEM members, $20 for in-state non-members, and $30 for out-of-state educators.

The conference will run Thursday, October 14h and Friday, October 15th from 3:00PM to 7:00PM each day.

2021 Fall ACTEM Conference Highlights:

Two amazing keynotes, Michael Matera and Dr. Shreya Dave.
90% of the presentations are recorded and available to all ACTEM members.
Check out the schedule of presentations here: https://bit.ly/ACTEM21

Learn more and register here!

For more information contact ACTEM at (207) 222-4353 or info@actem.org.

Nominate a Maine ‘Education All-Star’ for the Fenway Bowl

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is excited to share an opportunity to celebrate and highlight the amazing education workforce in Maine! The Fenway Bowl, Boston Globe Media, and partner sponsors are seeking nominations for education workforce (teachers, professors, education staff, administrators, and anyone working in education in Maine) who are making a difference.

Please consider nominating an All-Star in Education using this quick form below: Nominate a New England All-Star in Education Form (google.com).

Nominations are being accepted now until October 15, 2021. Three finalists from across New England will each receive a grant, courtesy of Fenway Sports Management, and will be recognized at the Fenway Bowl game in December.

Last year, 6 Maine educators out of 29 awardees over all were recognized as All-Stars! Congratulations to Maine’s 2020 All-Stars: Monster Finalist Michael Davis (Walton Elementary School), and All Stars, Jennifer McGee (Atwood Primary), Melissa Guerrette (Oxford Elementary), Dr. Flynn Ross (University of Southern Maine), Alison Babb-Brott (St. George School), and Bill Tracy (Hampden Academy). Check out their amazing stories here.

For more information or questions, contact Emily Doughty at emily.doughty@maine.gov.

Oxford Elementary Showcases STEM Skills with a Little Help from the Local Fire Department

The Oxford Fire Department made a special visit to Oxford Elementary School with a ladder truck recently to support the culminating activity of a new instructional sequence the school designed and implemented this year. As part of an effort to improve mathematics achievement, the school has started a new tradition of supporting the transition into academics with a “First Ten Days of Math” program for all students in Grades 1 through Grade 6.

The program supports students in thinking of themselves as mathematicians who enjoy and actively participate in problem solving through establishing consistent classroom roles, routines, and procedures that support teaching and learning, and increase rigor by having students explore, express, and better understand mathematics content through problem-solving.

The Grade 4 to 6 teams participated in the STEM Egg Drop challenge to support older students in applying the academic and social-emotional routines and procedures that will set them up for success as they transition into the curriculum.

The challenge is a project-based lesson that helps students learn to:

embrace mistakes that make your brain grow and, in turn, help you to learn
communicate and compromise with partners and groups
assess strategies
get unstuck and ask questions
share their thinking and communicate in the math classroom
make sense of problems and create a plan to solve them
use feedback and revise work

“All of this work is a way to support students in better understanding productive academic behaviors, so they know how to use them throughout the school year,” said Caitlin Dailey, Oxford Elementary Math Coach and MSAD #17 K-6 Math Coordinator.

Originally an extension of a school-wide book study of Mathematical Mindsets by Jo Boaler, the project has become “so much more,” added Dailey, with students now implementing these behaviors throughout their school day.

Fifth-grader Jackson Lessard reflected, “This was the first time we got to know each other. I think this is going to make our communication better. Communication is so important. Even if your group isn’t a group of friends you can find ways to work together to solve problems.” The practical lessons learned informed norms or agreements for many classrooms. A classmate, Juliette Szantyr added, “Making agreements about how we would work together in our classroom is really helpful.”

“We’re really excited about what we’ve built with our students–beyond egg containers–and that our whole school has embraced the importance of cultivating a community for math learning,” said Melissa Guerrette, 5th Grade Oxford Elementary School Teacher and 2021 Oxford County Teacher of the Year.

Teachers and other school staff have been reflecting on the success of the project and look forward to designing future opportunities to practice and reinforce these skills widely across the learning setting.

This article is part of the Maine Schools Sharing Success Campaign. To submit a story or an idea, email Rachel at rachel.paling@maine.gov.

One Stop Resources for Educators

Dear Champions of Education,

Thank you for your ongoing and heroic service to the students of Maine. We recognize and hear the challenges you are facing, and have gathered in one place a few resources to assist you as you continue to provide for the academic, nutritional and social emotional needs of your students.

For a free, online, self-paced, asynchronous set of K-12 interdisciplinary learning modules created by Maine educators based on MLR standards, (great for supplementing classroom learning, emergency remote learning, or extension activities for students needing more challenge) check out MOOSE: https://www.maine.gov/doe/moose

For a free, open-access Social Emotional Learning online program, great for teachers to use in the classroom with students or remotely, check out SEL4ME: https://www.maine.gov/doe/sel/sel4me

For information about project Rethinking Responsive Education Ventures, or “RREV,” which provides professional learning opportunities in innovation engineering for school staff and leaders, access to innovative remote learning models and funding for piloting these, check out the RREV site: https://www.maine.gov/doe/rrev

For quick and easy tools for using technology to provide a high-quality continuity of learning, in person or remote, check out the awesome interactive MAP. Created by educators for educators, click to enter the school floor-plan-themed interactive resource bank and Check out the “Front Office” on MAP’s floorplan to connect directly with DOE staff members who can offer live help, office hours, ideas, and other supports. Check out the site: https://www.maine.gov/doe/col/map

For ensuring your students have access to their learning, even if they are quarantining or in isolation, DOE has contracted discounted rates for internet connectivity for Maine schools. Information about the cost of service and vendor contacts can be found on our website: https://www.maine.gov/doe/Learning/LTT/ConnectKidsNowProviders.Additionally, the Maine DOE is providing technical assistance to School Administrative Units who are applying for the federal grant Emergency Connectivity Fund, which can provide funding for wireless devices to support at home learning.
The Maine DOE is available to support schools with new account set up, wireless service activation, and resources for connectivity. For more information on the ConnectKidsNow! Initiative, ECF funding applications, and wireless support for at home learning, please reach out to Brandi Cota at Brandi.M.Cota@maine.gov.
For a supportive ear and confidential resource for all educators who are facing the challenges of the pandemic, please remember to use the Frontline Warmline. Staffed 7 days per week, 8:00 am – 8:00 pm, they are a great resource for listening and processing. More information can be found, here: https://mainedoenews.wordpress.com/2021/09/10/maine-frontline-warmline-available-to-support-school-staff/

We hope you’ll find these resources helpful as you face the extraordinary COVID-related challenges. Please know that you have the respect and support of our DOE team behind you, and please reach out if we can be of assistance. Please take care of yourselves as you take care of others.

With gratitude,

Pender Makin
Commissioner

Outstanding Portland High Student Wins College Board Recognition

Portland High School senior Rahmat Ali has been selected for the College Board National African American Recognition Program. She earned this recognition because of her remarkable academic achievements and outstanding performance on the PSAT and/or AP.

“We are immensely proud of Rahmat,” said Superintendent Xavier Botana. “Despite nearly two years of unprecedented learning challenges caused by the pandemic, she has demonstrated unwavering commitment to achieving academically. I also salute those who supported her in her efforts, including her Portland High School teachers and other staff and her family. We congratulate Rahmat on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to learning about her further accomplishments in years to come.”

The recognition can help with college admission because institutions of higher learning across the country know that students who have been selected for the College Board National African American Recognition Program are some of the most talented across the country.

David Coleman, CEO of The College Board, wrote in a letter to Rahmat: “We are extremely proud of all you’ve accomplished and to honor you as part of the National African American Recognition Program. We are hopeful this program helps you on your path to college. On behalf of the College Board, I celebrate your success and the brightness of all that’s ahead.”

This article is part of the Maine Schools Sharing Success Campaign. To submit a story or an idea, email Rachel at rachel.paling@maine.gov.

CTE Staff Data Entry and Validation Webinar

To assist those who are responsible for the important task of reporting and validating CTE staff data to the Department of Education, the DOE Data Team will be holding a webinar on Tuesday October 14^th at 10am. This webinar will focus on how to report CTE staff data to the state and how to validate it.

If you are tasked with entering, editing and/or validating CTE staff data in NEO Staff you are encouraged to attend. Please follow the “Join Live” link at the time of the training to join us. Join Live

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns in regards to this webinar, please do not hesitate to contact us at the MEDMS helpdesk at MEDMS.Helpdesk@Maine.gov or (207) 624-6896.

Maine DOE Provides a MAP for Navigating Continuity Of Learning Plans

As the Delta variant of COVID-19 continues to surge through the communities of Maine, our schools are also being impacted by the increasing cases of this highly transmissible disease. While our education staff members are providing outstanding and eagerly anticipated safe, in-person learning this year, many students and staff may be impacted by required isolation or quarantine.

These impacts to in-person learning are driving the immediate need for high quality, continuity of learning plans that can be easily integrated into instruction whenever offsite learning, or teaching, is required. Maine Department of Education is pleased to share a brand new and continually expanding resource for building continuity of learning plans, designed by teachers, for teachers.

The MAP, Making Access a Priority (MAP): An MLTI 2.0 Guide to Continuity of Learning, provides suggestions, resources, and connections to education leaders for developing learning options for all students to access, in-person or from home.

This resource was developed by a team of educators from Maine classrooms, who spent last year providing remote and hybrid learning to students. Click along the map into each of the rooms of our virtual school to find “how to” ideas and a colleague ready to guide you! Resources will be added throughout the year, and educators are encouraged to check in often.

The MAP also includes self-care and wellness resources, because we know that our education workforce needs to care for themselves, so they can care for their students.

Check out the MAP, and please join us for a forum on Making Access a Priority (MAP): An MLTI 2.0 Guide to Continuity of Learning on October 20, 3:15 – 4:30 pm, on Zoom. More information and a link will be coming soon!

Led by educators, for educators, this engaging forum will:

Explore the functionality of the MAP;
Provide hands-on opportunities to practice using the tool; and
Facilitate an interactive feedback discussion to learn how MDOE can maximize the effectiveness of this resource.

FMI or for questions, please contact Maine DOE Office of Innovation at beth.lambert@maine.gov.

ConnectKidsNow! Ensuring a Continuity of Learning

In April 2020, to ensure continuity of learning when schools closed to in person instruction due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) launched ConnectKidsNow! with funding from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER). Through this program, connectivity was ensured by providing hotspots to 26,702 students, which met 100% of the need reported by schools between April 2020 to June 30, 2021.

Though the State is no longer funding the wireless service to the hotspots that were provided to and remain with the requesting schools, Maine schools can purchase discounted wireless service for these hotspots through the state procured contracts with three cellular providers. Information about the cost of service and vendor contacts can be found on our website: https://www.maine.gov/doe/Learning/LTT/ConnectKidsNowProviders

Additionally, the Maine DOE is providing technical assistance to School Administrative Units who are applying for the federal grant Emergency Connectivity Fund, which can provide funding for these wireless devices to support at home learning.

The Maine DOE is available to support schools with new account set up, wireless service activation, and resources for connectivity.

For more information on the ConnectKidsNow! Initiative, ECF funding applications, and wireless support for at home learning, please reach out to Brandi Cota at Brandi.M.Cota@maine.gov.

Commission on Educational Opportunity for Military Children Meeting

The next meeting of the Commission on Educational Opportunity for Military Children will be held virtually on Wednesday October 27th at 9:00am. Interested parties may email Tyler Backus at tyler.backus@maine.gov to receive the agenda, meeting materials, and instructions on how to attend the meeting.

All 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, belong to the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3). Each state appoints a council to oversee the implementation of the Compact at the state level.

States that sign on to the Compact commit to doing what it takes to:

Enroll children of military families at their new schools as quickly and seamlessly as possible, even in the absence of normally required official records and immunizations; and
Ensure that students with parents in the Armed Forces stay on track to graduate on time, even when such students’ academic records don’t comply perfectly with local graduation requirements.

More information about MIC3 is available at http://www.mic3.net/ or https://www.maine.gov/doe/military

Virtual Training Session on Submitting English Learner Data on Oct. 5

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Data team will be holding a training session on October 5th at 1pm to discuss how School Administrative Units (SAUs) and private schools should be submitting English Learner data to the state.

The target audience for this training includes both data coordinators and English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) educators. We will have April Perkins, Maine DOE’s World Languages & ESOL/Bilingual Programs Specialist on hand to answer any specific questions about students who are learning English. We will also be joined by Jodi Bossio-Smith, the Maine DOE’s Alternate & WIDA Assessment Coordinator and Dan Weeks, the ESEA Title III & Title V Coordinator.