Category: News & Views

Get to know the Maine DOE Team: Meet Robin Kerber

Maine DOE team member Robin Kerber is being highlighted as part of the Get to Know the Maine DOE Team Campaign. Learn a little more about Robin in the question and answer below.

What are your roles with DOE?

I work with Maine schools and farmer/producers/fishermen to get more Maine food into our schools. I’m part of the Maine Farm to School Network and manage the Harvest of the Month program, a statewide initiative challenging schools and child care sites to highlight a different local ingredient each month. I really love my job because I get to use my background in Culinary Arts to help education school nutrition staff on how to cook with Maine ingredients, and I also get to help support our farmers by connecting them to new markets.

What do you like best about your job?

Exposing our school nutrition staff to more local ingredients and helping them gain the skills and confidence to incorporate them on their menus. We are so lucky to have farmers and producers that grow and raise a huge variety of food for us! We recently partnered with a nonprofit that works to support our fishermen, and schools and childcare sites received free locally-caught fish! It directly supported the fishermen and it was so fun to work with nutrition directors and staff to come up with recipes that the students would like. It was the perfect marriage of supporting our local economy and feeding healthy, nutritious food to our kids!

How or why did you decide on this career?

I went to The Culinary Institute of America for Baking and Pastry, then Drexel University for Restaurant Management. I spent about a decade working in kitchens across the US, and eventually found that growing food was just as satisfying as cooking it – and a little less cutthroat. I began working on a variety of different farms including produce, dairy, livestock, and even fishing. I think this varied background and understanding of Maine’s different farming sectors prepared me to work with farm to school programs in the state.

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

I stay busy restoring my 1800’s farmhouse and land with many homesteading projects. I love to travel more than anything, and am training to become an international trip leader (side gig, I won’t be leaving my job for it!) and currently lead local backpacking and skiing trips.

MEDIA RELEASE: Maine Students Help DOE with Special Message to Schools

Maine school personnel have been leading the country in their offering of in-person instruction since September.  They have been teaching and reinforcing the safety requirements for keeping schools open and have demonstrated amazing flexibility, adaptability, and ongoing quick thinking, ensuring that schools can continue serving students through the many vital services that schools provide to our communities. As we continue to make progress in this ongoing battle against the pandemic, Maine schools and the staff who make them run continue to serve students.

A few of Maine’s students joined Commissioner Makin recently to help craft a special message, thanking schools staff for their amazing work in ensuring the health and safety of everyone at school.

A very special thank you to students Brooklyn, Calvin, Molly, Sada-Lynn, Ruby, and Francis, and to Torry Verrill; Educator, St. George Elementary School, Alison Babb-Brott; 2020 Knox County Teacher of the Year, Jessica Gregory; 2020 Piscataquis County Teacher of the Year, Jennifer Mull-Brooks; Principal, Congin Elementary School, and Patrick (and the staff) at Westbrook’s Awesome After School Program for the help in creating footage for this video.

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Priority Notice: Vaccine for School Staff Update

Last Friday, Governor Mills announced an age-based eligibility plan for vaccination to continue protecting those most at risk of dying from COVID-19 and to ensure the speed and efficiency of the state’s vaccination effort.  On Wednesday, eligibility expanded to Maine residents  60 years old or older. As part of this plan,  the Mills Administration is also  standing up dedicated vaccination opportunities for education professionals who are 60 years of age or older.  

To that end, the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services have partnered  with healthcare providers across Maine who will offer regional vaccination opportunities for the age–eligible school staff  March 12 to March 14. Vaccination doses have been matched to staff numbers to ensure that all school staff  60 and older can receive a vaccine. In Maine, 23 percent of  education personnel are in the 60 plus age category, which is more than 10,300 individuals. 

Superintendents have been provided updates throughout the week, and today will receive information specifically for their school administrative unit, including times, location and date(s) that their age– eligible staff have been assigned to. Depending on which medical service provider an school administrative unit (SAU) is assigned to, some will today receive a dedicated registration link or phone number  to be shared with only those staff members who are age 60 or older; others will be receiving the dedicated registration information on Monday. The registration will be matched to the rosters provided by Maine DOE to the vaccination clinics.  

This week, some  individuals – school staff younger than age 60 –  gained access to one of the registration links, which allowed them to register for an appointment despite their ineligibility for these clinics for school staff over age 60.  The healthcare organization that has partnered with DHHS and DOE to offer this clinic will be reaching out to rededicate these appointments to eligible education staff who are 60 years or older.  

On March 3, Governor Mills also aligned Maine’s vaccination plan with  a directive from the Biden Administration to make eligible school staff or licensed childcare providers, regardless of age. As a result, school and child care staff regardless of age may also seek vaccination through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. These sites include Walmart, Sam’s Club, Hannaford, and Walgreens.  The Federal government requires “all enrolled retail pharmacy providers to set aside all currently un-booked vaccination slots for the exclusive use of teachers, school staff, and child care workers through March 31, 2021. Slots that remain un-booked 48 hours prior to the appointment may be released to others.”  

These pharmacies receive vaccine directly from the Federal government over and above what Maine receives for distribution. Aside from these retail pharmacies, Maine vaccination sites should incorporate educators, school staff, and child care workers into their workflow when scheduling appointments for COVID-19 vaccination. Special clinics limited to this eligibility group may be organized by the retail pharmacy providers but not by other health care providers, including Emergency Medical Services providers,  and sites receiving state supplied vaccine except for the age-limited clinics for school staff over 60 years described earlier.   

Additional vaccine clinics in Maine will begin accepting appointments for school staff and licensed child care workers as soon as they are able. Maine school staff and child care providers are encouraged to view Maine’s COVID-19 vaccination website for the most up-to-date information on locations accepting appointments. 

“Our schools have been implementing the six health and safety requirements since August, and have been successful in keeping both students and staff safe,” said Commissioner of Education Pender Makin. “We know our school staff are as safe today in schools as they were two weeks ago, and that a vaccine will support their ongoing efforts in the classroom. I ask them to remain patient as vaccine doses become available to them, and for all education and childcare staff members to register with any of the pharmacy providers to receive the vaccine, as soon as it is possible for them to do so.”  

How One School Resource Officer Brought Together a Community

When the Saco Police Department came together last October to do an annual Pink Patch campaign for breast cancer awareness, they had no idea that only a few short months later one of their own would be diagnosed with it.

Officer Amanda Condon is a School Resource Office (SRO) for the Saco School Department’s Prek through middle school students which includes five schools: Governor John Fairfield School, Young School, C K Burns School, Saco School Pre-Kindergarten, and Saco Middle School. According to her colleagues, she embodies the best qualities of a female leader and role model. She is a part of the Armed Services as Air Force Reservist, as well as a Police Officer. Strong roles that she approaches with her own spirit and personality – a challenge she takes on with a sense of humor, an empathetic heart, and caring smile.

As a member of the community, Officer Condon also participated actively in the Pink Patch Project at the police department and at her schools before finding out that she was diagnosed this past November.

In her role as a SRO, Officer Condon is an employee of the Saco Police Department serving both as a police officer in the force putting in hours on holidays and weekend shifts in addition to other community involvement, she also spends the school hours as an important part of the lives of the young students she serves in Saco’s schools.

“She has been an amazing part of our community,” said Rachel Hasty, School Counselor for Saco Middle School in a statement she provided along with colleagues at Saco Middle School. “Last year she was directing the distribution of meals to the families in the community. She has been present for in-school and outside of school activities and this has really allowed students to get to know her in a variety of different ways.”

Known for her ability to provide both a sense of security and comfort to the students she works with, Officer Condon is that happy face they look forward to seeing at school, some even getting the chance to spend extra time with her as a reward.

“She connects with students as a person, and not just an authority figure,” added Hasty. “People like her and gravitate towards her kindness and sincerity.”

A couple years ago she brought a lot of awareness to the Wreaths Across America project, when she participated in it herself. It was very inspirational and heartwarming for the Saco community, and it started a great conversation with students who had more questions.

Since being diagnosed, Officer Condon has had to take a step back from her jobs and community involvement, leaving a hole felt by many.

The Saco Police Department recently organized a police convoy in support of her fight against cancer. The convoy involved a drive by parade filled with police vehicles and flashing blue lights from six different local police departments that all drove by the window where she was getting chemo treatment. The convoy was in lieu of being able to go in and see her in-person since visitors are limited in health care facilities these days, a measure that helps protect patients from the spread of COVID-19.

police Convoy

As she started losing her hair from the treatment, the Saco Police Department wanted to continue showing their love and support for her so 25 members of the force shaved their heads in a touching event that brought tears to the eyes of everyone involved (group picture featured above). Her team didn’t want her to be the only one without hair during a time that is already challenging enough.

The school has also tried to find ways to support their beloved SRO. “Taking her lead, we have continued to advertise the Pink Patch Project and have been helping to raise money and awareness about this cause that affects her and our entire community. We wanted to continue her work, not just for her but to support her family and to help continue the positive impact she has had in our community.”

Her presence as an officer, active community member, and leader at the school has a grace that touches the lives of everyone she meets. Officer Condon’s family says that since being diagnosed the outpouring of love from the school, the police department, and the community is an example of the impact her character has had on the people she serves.

“If you want to find the silver lining in something terrible, it’s finding how great your community is,” said a close family member of Officer Condon.

While she is undergoing chemotherapy, among other routine treatments to fight the disease, her family, friends, and community continue to rally in support. They are very hopeful that she will pull through and join them once again as the active and loving community member they so dearly miss.

Information for this article was provided by Officer Condon’s family and Saco Middle School as part of the Maine Schools Sharing Success Campaign. To submit a story or an idea, email it to Rachel at rachel.paling@maine.gov.

 

Mt. Vernon Elementary Reads in the Great Outdoors!

On Saturday, February 27th students in grades PreK-5 along with their families participated in a literacy celebration. The main activity lead by the PreK/ELL teacher, Katie Reed, was a Story Walk featuring, Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee, by Maine author Chris Van Dusen.

There was an amazing turnout of over 40 students during the two-hour event that included parents, grandparents, and siblings. Along with the Story Walk there were tons of family-friendly activities including snowshoeing with the school nurse Justin Easter, outdoor snow yoga with the PE teacher, Nancy Martin, a photo booth with Mr. Magee, and treats to eat and drink.

The school’s Little Free Library was on display and all enrolled students were able to select a book to take home and keep. Mrs. Boucher, the literacy specialist, spoke with families about reading engagement, book selection, and ways to read together at home. Jeanette Jacob, district literacy coach, won a grant through Maranacook Education Foundation and facilitated the snack and prize tables.

Congratulations to all of the students and families that entered and won prizes that included gift certificates to a bookstore, a sporting goods store, Titcomb Mountain ski passes, and 5210 water bottles and materials!

This story was submitted by Janet Delmar, Principal of Mt. Vernon Elementary School as part of the Maine Schools Sharing Success Campaign. To submit a story or an idea email it to Rachel at rachel.paling@maine.gov.

Stipend Professional Learning Opportunity Provided by Maine DOE

The Maine Department of Education is accepting applications from individuals interested in learning more about the competitive grant process.  Selected applicants will be trained to serve as peer reviewers who assist the Department in reviewing, assessing, and scoring competitive grant proposals for the 21st Century Community Leaning Centers (21st CCLC) Program.  The 21st CCLC program is a federally funded education program that helps schools and communities develop before-school, after-school, and summer educational programs that support students and their families.

This year’s Request for Proposals (RFP) for the 21st CCLC program was released to the public on January 6 and is available online at: https://www.4pcamaine.org/century21/FY2021/. The Department anticipates receiving proposals from local education agencies, community-based organizations, and other eligible entities seeking awards under this RFP.

Qualifications:

Applicants will be selected based on their experience in providing effective academic support, enrichment, youth development, and related support services for children and youth.  The most qualified candidates will be individuals who have experience in the administration of high-quality youth development programs within schools and communities.  Examples of the experienced individuals sought include, but are not limited to:

  • 21st CCLC program directors and site coordinators
  • Teachers and principals
  • College and university staff
  • Youth development workers
  • Community resource providers

Please note that an applicant or member of an applicant’s organization will not be selected to serve as a member of the Department’s peer review team.

Required Tasks:

Selected applicants must be able to participate in an online training and review grant applications through a web-based system.  Applicants will work individually to read each assigned application and create detailed, objective, constructive, and well-written comments on approximately 10-15 applications based on the criteria established in the RFP.  These comments will be submitted to the Department prior to participating in the scheduled consensus scoring sessions.  It is anticipated that peer reviewers will have a three (3) week window in which to complete their individual review of assigned applications.  Following the individual review of applications, each successful applicant will be required to participate in a series of two (2) online/virtual consensus scoring sessions hosted by the Department.  It is during these consensus scoring sessions that the peer review team will score each application.

Selected applicants must complete the following tasks during the following date(s):

Task Date(s) Time(s)
Participate in an online training webinar March 30, 2021 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Review grant applications through a web-based system and provide individual, written comments on each application (which must be submitted to the Department) April 8, 2021 – April 28, 2021 Any Time
Participate in online/virtual consensus scoring sessions with other members of the peer review team (applicants MUST be available on all four scoring days, but will only be selected to participate for two days) April 29, 2021 – April 30, 2021; or
May 4, 2020 – May 5, 2020		 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Compensation for Services:

Selected reviewers who complete the required tasks will be provided an honorarium of $85 per assigned application.

Previous participants have also found that serving as a member of the peer review team is an excellent opportunity for professional development and growth. It is likely that, if selected, applicants will be exposed to new program models, strategies, and practices.  These new concepts may provide ideas and support for ongoing work as well as future grant writing efforts.  Most importantly, the time given to this effort will help ensure the funding of quality education programs for the children and families of Maine.

How to Apply:

Interested parties must contact Travis Doughty at travis.w.doughty@maine.gov to obtain a copy of the 2021 peer reviewer application and then return the completed application along with a current resume or CV.

Pursuant to Title IV, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, peer reviewers may not include any applicant, or representative of an applicant, who has or will submit a proposal in response to the current competition.

Deadline:

The Maine Department of Education will continue accepting peer reviewer applications through March 11, 2021, or until the needed positions are filled.  Interested parties are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Contact:

For more information, contact State Coordinator, Travis Doughty at travis.w.doughty@maine.gov or 624-6709.

MEDIA RELEASE: Calling All Maine Teens!

The Maine Department of Education is pleased to announce a new program for Maine teens. The  WAVES (Wilderness Activities and Virtual Engagement for Students) initiative connects teens from throughout the State of Maine and invites all Maine teens to browse our website and join one (or more!) of the WAVES Virtual Communities.

Virtual Communities, hosted by current Maine educators, are designed to connect teens across the state who share a common interest or passion.  Teens are invited to connect with peers through WAVES to join an environmental activism group, a mindfulness session, practice Yoga, explore poetry and creative writing, join a Boston Bruins Fan Club, and even go inside a music recording studio! These are just a few examples of current Virtual Communities! There are many other offerings, and more will continue to be added. Please find one that excites you! All of these opportunities can be accessed on the WAVES website directly from your home, or from any other place you can get online. Plus, you will you be able to spend time with Maine teens across the state who share similar interests and passions. This opportunity transcends geographic boundaries, helping all Maine teens increase connections with peers and caring adults throughout the state.

BE SURE TO REGISTER for all the communities that you are interested in. The first meeting will give you an idea of whether the group is right for you.  We will only send meeting invites to folks who are registered, so please register and give it a shot!

WAVES will continue to build on these offerings so if you do not find a community with which you’d like to connect, please complete the Virtual Community request form (also featured on the website) to let us know what you’re looking for. We’ll get right back to you and do all we can to ensure WAVES programming meets the needs of all Maine teens. If you are a current Maine educator, and are interested in hosting a Virtual Community, please see our FAQ page, which includes a link to the host application.

To everyone- teens, educators, guardians and mentors- please share this important opportunity with all the teens you know, particularly those with whom you have a special relationship. We are all aware of the impact of isolation due to Covid-19 and we encourage you to nudge those teens you know who have been missing meaningful social connections during the pandemic. We hope this opportunity will provide meaningful connections for all Maine teens!

Please reach out to WAVES Project Director Sarah Woog (sarah.woog@maine.gov) with questions or feedback. Thank you for all you do. Looking forward to connecting soon!

 New Webinar: The EF-S-05 Part II Special Education Staff Certification Report

To assist those who are responsible for the important task of reporting Special Education Staff data to the Maine Department of Education, the DOE Data Team will be holding a webinar on Thursday March 11th, from 10am to 11am.

The EF-S-05 Part II Special Education Staff Certification report must be verified and certified by the Special Education Director in Maine DOE’s NEO System. The EF-S-05 Part II Special Education Staff Certification report is used to verify the full-time equivalency (FTE) and qualification status of special education teachers, paraprofessionals (educational technicians), and related services personnel who were employed or contracted to provide special education services to students with disabilities ages 3 through 21 as of December 1, 2020.

  • Please note that this will be final year that the EF-S-05 Part II will allow for adjustments of numbers. The 2021-2022 collection will come directly from NEO staff and the EF-S-05 Part II will only be a certification of those numbers. The timeline of the certification will also change to align with the NEO staff certification timeline.  More information will be provided in summer and fall of 2021.

This webinar will be an open session for the DOE and the districts to discuss the EF-S-05 Part II Special Education Staff Certification report. We will review frequently asked questions and common data issues found during previous reporting periods.  This is also an opportunity for districts to ask any questions, provide comments, and voice concerns regarding the Special Education Staff Certification process.

The Special Education Staff Certification Report (EF-S-05 Part II) Opens on March 1st, 2021; Deadline is April 15th, 2021.

Access instructions for completing the EF-S-05 Part II report.

Please click here to register for this webinar.

If you have trouble logging into NEO or have other technical issues, contact the help desk at 207-624-6896 or MEDMS.Helpdesk@maine.gov .

For questions about the EF-S-05 Part II report, contact Brandi Giguere at 207-446-6526 or brandi.a.giguere@maine.gov .

Beech Hill School Theme of Belonging Sets The Tone for SEL & Citizenship Throughout School Year

At Beech Hill School, students and staff start every school year thinking about themselves as individuals and their sense of belonging in a large community. The launching platform for the last two school years has been: “Be Here. Be You. Belong. This school belongs to all of us” (inspired by the leadership work of Brene Brown).  From there, they consider what matters to them, more specifically, who they are and what they wish to contribute to society. This work aligns with the school district’s mission to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and personal qualities to be successful learners, workers, and citizens in a rapidly changing world.

Last year, Principal Nichole Pothier began hosting monthly “Be” themes, which were so well received by students and staff, that they requested more! For “Be You” September, students complete inventories, surveys, and profiles that highlight their interests and learning preferences. During October, the focus was on “being a citizen,” with extra emphasis on their school-wide values: respect, responsibility, caring, and honesty. Students were particularly engaged in learning about the rights and duties of citizens.

Each month’s theme encourages thought and even some action in the school and community.  This year, students particularly enjoyed December’s “Be Worldly” theme with a “Reading Takes Us Places” read-a-thon (with door decorating challenge) and exploring of cultures through literature.  In the new year, January kicked off with a “Be Creative” hat contest and the finalists in each classroom moved on to a school-wide vote.  “Be Kind” February led to all kinds of random acts of kindness throughout the school and even extended to St. Jude’s Hospital.

“Be Creative” January
“Be Worldly” December
“Be Kind” February
“Be Well” March

All of the staff at Beech Hill School brainstorm ways to integrate the monthly “Be” theme into their work with students. Even their school cook incorporates it in the lunch program! Other ideas have included the use of children’s literature, art and music, and outreach activities to reinforce concepts and personal qualities. The school’s efforts help to foster students’ social/emotional skills and overall sense of belonging.  It gives a rhythm to the school year and unifies the efforts and intention of everyone in the school.  They are looking forward to a “Be Well” March with a wellness bingo challenge and school-wide (differentiated) study of the story of The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate.

 This article was provided by Beech Hill School as part of the Maine Schools Sharing Success Campaign. To submit a story or an idea email it to Rachel at rachel.paling@maine.gov.

MEDIA RELEASE: Maine Declares March a Celebration of Arts Education in Our Schools

The list of observances that happen in the month of March is long and varied – the first day of Spring, Women’s History Month, National Foreign Language Week, Deaf History Month – and included in that list is the opportunity to celebrate arts education in our schools for the entire month!  In Maine and across the nation we take time throughout the coming month to recognize the value of the arts in the education of the whole child.

Recently, at a celebration of and for arts education advocacy throughout Maine, Governor Janet T. Mills delivered remarks celebrating the rich traditions and history that arts, artists, and arts education continue to play in the social fabric of Maine’s citizenry.

She, as well as the Maine Department of Education, encourage you to safely celebrate the role that the arts and arts education play in your local communities by encouraging and supporting the efforts of students at all levels.  Without their dedication and determination to explore their artistic selves, many of Maine’s youth would miss out on opportunities to build a strong foundation of 21st-Century skills with which to be successful in a post-secondary school world.  We, at the Maine Department of Education, are proud of our steadfast arts educators for their perseverance during this difficult time, and applaud their attitudes toward innovation and adaptation so that students have opportunities to continue exploring the artist within each one of them.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, Maine will be celebrating “Arts Education in Our Schools Month” a bit differently than in past years.  But rest assured that celebrations are happening in the form of virtual art shows, concerts, and performances of all kinds.  Contact your local school to see how you can support the students and arts educators throughout the month of March – and how you can see, hear, feel, and experience the amazing works of art that come in all forms from students of all ages.

For more information on “Arts Education in Our Schools Month”, and how you can celebrate with your local community, contact Jason Anderson, Visual and Performing Arts Content Specialist at the Maine Department of Education (jason.anderson@maine.gov; 207-592-3524).