On Monday, May 24, and again today, May 25, more than 40 Maine.gov websites experienced intermittent service outages. This includes Maine Department of Education websites. InforME and MaineIT promptly assessed these disruptions and continue to work on addressing the issues.
We apologize for the disruption, and look forward to providing outstanding resources, service and support.
Waldo County Technical Center (WCTC) proudly announces Daisy Bradney as its 2020-2021 CTE Student of the Year.
Daisy, a senior from Belfast Area High School’s BCOPE, is a second year student in the Culinary Arts program. Miss Bradney is a member of the National Technical Honor Society and has also served as a Student Ambassador while at WCTC.
Aside from having asserted herself as a top notch baker, Daisy also excels in the production of soups and stews. A past volunteer at the Starrett Children’s Center, she is the daughter of Jody Johnstone and James Bradney.
Daisy plans on attending the University of Maine at Presque Isle next year to pursue a degree in education. When not focused on her studies or honing her culinary skills for family and friends, Daisy enjoys dancing, hiking and working part time at a local restaurant.
Congratulations and GOOD LUCK, Daisy!
Learn more about Waldo County Technical Center by visiting their website, learn more about the Career and Technical Education Sites in Maine by visiting the MACTE website to see a listing by location. To learn more about Career and Technical Education, watch this short video:
The United Technologies Center is pleased to announce Mackenzie Stepp of Hermon as the 2020-2021 Student of the Year. Mackenzie is a student in the school’s Medical Assisting Program. Mackenzie attends Hermon High School. While at Hermon she has been a member of the Student Council and has served as the organization’s treasurer and president. She is currently president of the National Honor Society. Mackenzie is a two year member of the Key Club and is the school’s student school board representative.
Mackenzie is taking part in the medical assisting externship at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bangor. She has distinguished herself in the medical assisting program through her outstanding academic and clinical performance. Trudy Vintinner, Mackenzie’s medical assisting instructor, explains that not only has Mackenzie excelled in the classroom and clinical portion of the program but has a remarkable sense of care and compassion for others which truly distinguishes her in the medical field. Mackenzie is also a member of the National Technical Honor Society. United Technologies Center is proud to have a student whose kindness and empathy are the centerpieces of a superb set of personal qualities.
Mackenzie will attend the University of New England in the fall where she plans to major in medical biology. She is the daughter of Charlene and Andrew Stepp of Hermon.
Learn more about United Technologies Center by visiting their website, learn more about the Career and Technical Education Sites in Maine by visiting the MACTE website to see a listing by location. To learn more about Career and Technical Education, watch this short video:
Maine students and teachers came together yesterday for a day of learning, collaboration, and innovative thinking at the 18th Annual Maine Learning Through Technology (MLTI) Student Conference.
Hosted by the Maine Department of Education (DOE) in partnership with CATES, the Conference was one of the largest synchronous student learning tech conference in the history of the world, with students from across Maine tuning in virtually to gain insights into the challenges facing Mainers during remote learning, how to develop innovations through peer collaboration to solve complex problems, and begin to develop the mindset of the social entrepreneur.
In addition to participating in a number of innovative synchronous Block Sessions and asynchronous activities using Gathertown as a virtual conference platform to learn new skills and deepen knowledge, conference participants also had the opportunity to work in teams to develop a product or innovation that addresses their chosen challenge (Mental Health Support; Equity in Education; Peer Collaboration; New Ways to Learn).
“Get ready to be REALLY creative today! Be bold with your ideas and be guided by your wildest imagination,” said Education Commissioner Pender Makin in her opening remarks. “Design and innovate as if the future depends upon in. Because in so many ways, it truly does.”
“[The pandemic] has given you a front row seat that will inform your experience with this year’s innovation challenge,” added Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah in his remarks during the conference.
Students’ groups “pitched” their product to conference participants, who voted for their favorite in each challenge category – 38 hours of innovative pitches were created on flipgrid!
“Your pitches demonstrate what amazing thinkers, problem solvers, designers, and engineers, you all are,” said Maine DOE Director of Innovative Teaching and Learning Beth Lambert. “Your work today and in the innovation challenge will lead the way for our state and the entire nation when it comes to redesigning remote learning and the shape of our public education system!”
Pre-Conference students got the opportunity to learn about the different challenges related to remote learning during the pandemic and their implications for Maine DECD’s 2030 Vision + Goals so they could research interesting reports, design frameworks, innovation protocols, videos, and other information related to their challenge.
After the Conference each team of students that wishes to continue on to Part II of the $10,000 Challenge is matched with a mentor to further develop their innovation or venture and submit “a demo”, “pitch deck”, and/or executive summary for their product. Challenge Grand Prize winners will be announced at special online awards ceremony featuring UMaine innovation leaders, and invited to continue developing their innovation through the CATES Center for Social Innovation Summer Incubator program in prep for a fall launch.
For more information about the conference and the Innovation Challenge visit the MLTI website: https://mlticonference.com/
Director Leavitt and the faculty at Tri-County Technical Center have selected Ann Gerardi as the 2020-2021 Career & Technical Education Student of the Year.
Ann is a senior at Tri-County Technical Center enrolled in the Criminal Justice Program. Her instructor, Steve Spaulding nominated her for the award. “Anne exceeds all of the program standards, excels academically, and demonstrates exceptional leadership.”
Last year Anne was enrolled in the Emergency Medical Technician Program where she earned her certification in the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). Tri-County Technical Center Director Brian Leavitt stated, “This is a huge accomplishment for a high school student. Ann now is able to be employed throughout the United States as an EMT. Ann is also a member of the National Technical Honor Society.”
Ann has been accepted into the New Brunswick Bible Institute in the Biblical Studies program. After college she plans to pursue a career in the emergency medical services field.
Ann is a homeschooled student who resides with her family in Dexter. She is the daughter of Brenda and Paul Gerardi of Dexter.
Everyone at Tri-County wishes Ann the best of success!
Learn more about Tri-County Technical Center by visiting their website, learn more about the Career and Technical Education Sites in Maine by visiting the MACTE website to see a listing by location. To learn more about Career and Technical Education, watch this short video:
All counties now green.
AUGUSTA — The Mills Administration today released an update to its color-coded Health Advisory System that classifies counties’ relative risk of COVID-19 transmission to assist schools as they continue with their efforts to deliver instruction and support students safely.
Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) assessed COVID-19 data and trends for all counties and released the following designations:
These designations are made out of an abundance of caution and for the consideration of school administrative units in their decisions to deliver instruction. DHHS and Maine CDC continue to review evidence that indicates lower transmission of COVID-19 in schools compared to the general population.
Over the last 30 days, the rate of new cases for school staff and students has fallen to 39 per 10,000, about 35 percent lower than a new case rate of 60 per 10,000 for the general population.
This continues to demonstrate that in-person learning in schools that follow public health precautions can be conducted safely, without increased transmission of COVID-19, when schools use proven health and safety protocols and resources.
The Health Advisory System categorizations are defined as follows:
The county-level assessments are based on both quantitative and qualitative data, including but not limited to recent case rates, positivity rates, and syndromic data (e.g., symptoms of influenza or COVID-19). Those data are publicly posted every week on the Maine CDC website. DHHS and Maine CDC also consider qualitative factors, such as the presence of outbreaks that may potentially affect school-age children.
The Health Advisory System reflects ongoing analysis of evolving data, and serves as one piece of information that school and district leaders can use to make decisions about how to deliver education during the school year. The qualitative and quantitative considerations and data used by the CDC in determining community transmission risk levels for schools can be located here: How County Risk Levels for Maine Schools are Determined
The Health Advisory System can be found on the Maine DOE website in Part I of the Framework for Reopening Schools and Returning to In-Person Classroom Instruction: https://www.maine.gov/doe/framework/part-I.
Maine schools have been safely open since the fall by adhering to the six requirements for returning to in-person instruction and by following the protocols for identifying close contacts that are found in the Standard Operating Procedure for a positive case in schools, regardless of their county color designation.
The next update will be provided on June 4, 2021. Updating this advisory on a two-week basis aligns with the incubation period for COVID-19 and allows for greater stability in the trend data for small counties.
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St. John Valley Technical Center has named (SJVTC) Anthony Pelletier as the SJVTC’s CTE Student of the Year. Anthony continually demonstrates a high level of leadership, organizational skills and responsibility in his academic and career pursuits within the Allied Health pathway. Anthony has successfully attained through this time at SJVTC the following achievements/certifications: Certified Nurse Assistant (C.N.A.), Personal Support Specialist (P.S.S), First Aid & CPR/AED certifications. He currently works as a Nursing Assistant at Crosswinds Residential Care Facility in Fort Kent.
Anthony enjoys challenges and is not afraid of hard work, always having a positive attitude and outlook on life. He is a strong advocate for providing community service and has been involved in the following Career and Technical Student Organizations: Health Occupation Students of America, National Honor Society and SkillsUSA.
Anthony is the top academic student within his Health Occupations program and continues to take advanced college courses within UMFK’s BSN program. Following graduation, Anthony plans to pursue enrollment within the Maine National Guards to help pay for his college expense. His career plans are to become a Family Nurse Practitioner.
Learn more about St. John Valley Technical Center by visiting their website, learn more about the Career and Technical Education Sites in Maine by visiting the MACTE website to see a listing by location. To learn more about Career and Technical Education, watch this short video:
The following opportunity is being hosted by The Telling Room as a resource for information and opportunities; is not an endorsement of any product or program.
Summer Institute for Educators 2021 seeks to build community through writing.
This year’s institute will take place from 6/28/21 – 6/30/2021. We will be running the Institute virtually over ZOOM.
Join us for three days to learn The Telling Room’s proven method for improving literacy skills while building confidence and a sense of community. We offer tools and techniques to teachers, artists, and nonprofit leaders in a professional development setting.
We gear our forum to educators who work with students 6-18, and seek deliverables that can be taken back to any community or student population.
Cost: $250 for full registration
What is included with registration:
Three days (10-3) of intensive workshops led by Telling Room staff & teaching artists. There will be a mix of presentations, small group work, and breaks throughout the day.
Opportunities to network with like-minded educators
Classroom-ready writing and publishing curricula
For more information and to register visit: https://www.tellingroom.org/program-reservations/summer-institute-for-educators-2021
Southern Aroostook County Region Two School of Applied Technology is pleased to name Alyssa Drake as the 2020/2021 CTE Student of the Year.
Alyssa Drake is currently a student in the Intro to Medical Professions course. This program includes a college level Nursing course as well as a Phlebotomy course that will give her a national certification.
Alyssa is a highly motivated student with goals of becoming a Registered Nurse, and will become a wonderful, competent, and caring nurse that has the ability to connect with patients. Alyssa will be attending Husson College this Fall. Alyssa has exhibited dedication, participation, and hard work with excellent study habits. Alyssa comes to school prepared and with a smile on her face and a positive attitude, every day.
In addition to her work in CTE, Alyssa works on her High School yearbook, manages the cheerleading squad, is a participating member of Olympia Snowe’s Women’s Institute, The National Technical Honor society, and in the process of becoming a member of the National Honor Society.
When Alyssa graduates in the spring, she will hold three college credits for Medical Terminology, CNA certification, National Phlebotomy certification, OSHA 10, BLS, along with completion of her first year Nursing Fundamentals class.
We are beyond proud of Alyssa and all of her accomplishments!
Learn more about Region Two School of Applied Technology by visiting their website, learn more about the Career and Technical Education Sites in Maine by visiting the MACTE website to see a listing by location. To learn more about Career and Technical Education, watch this short video:
The below opportunity is being hosted by the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance.
When: Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Where: Online (Interactive)
Benefits: Participation stipend, Subscription to Science News
Registration Deadline: May 28, 2021
FMI, Contact: Stefany Burrell
Did you know that Maine has a science fair for grades 6-8? The Maine State Middle School Science & Engineering Fair (MSSEF) provides youth with a chance to share their independent STEM projects with judges and their peers. The event encourages students to explore their own area of interest, engage in authentic science and engineering practices, and hone their science communication skills.
Late each spring, the MSSEF welcomes middle schoolers from around the state to present their work in a supportive environment. Students can work alone or in teams of 2-3. There is practically no limit to the topics a student can pursue. If it falls somewhere in the realm of science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM), it fits within the mission of the MSSEF!
As a middle school teacher, you may love the idea of giving your students this opportunity. But how do you start? Join us on Wednesday, June 23 to learn how. We will convene an interactive Zoom session where you’ll learn some tips for getting your students started on their projects and take away some activities to help them make the most of their independent work.
The top 10% of our state’s projects are invited to participate in the national Broadcom MASTERS competition. Although the prestige of winning is reserved for a handful of projects, all students who participate learn invaluable STEM and 21st century skills. Because the MSSEF is affiliated with the MASTERS competition, the Broadcom Foundation has provided MMSA with a grant to pay stipends to teachers who attend this training.
Learn more and register here: https://mmsa.org/2021/05/middle-school-science-fair-teacher-workshop/
Maine DOE Newsroom 