Maine DOE Highlights Expanding Health Resource Access to Multilingual Families in Maine

In alignment with supporting a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, new tools have been created for school nurses. This newest project directly reflects the advocacy and care our Maine school nurses possess, further strengthening our public health infrastructure.

A sample welcome letter from the health office for any new family in a school community was created, which contains an annual health form and medication authorization form, as well as interview forms for asthma, diabetes, and seizures. These tools have been translated into Maine’s top nine languages and are now available on the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Coordinated School Health webpage entitled Sample Forms.

School nurses are part of welcoming new families into our schools and communities; therefore, this spring, the Maine DOE school nurse regional liaison Lori Huot, BSN, RN, Nationally Certified School Nurse (NCSN) extended a warm invitation to the nurses she serves in Cumberland and York County to attend the monthly office hours hosted by the Maine DOE English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Specialist Jane Armstrong. This multidisciplinary collaboration uncovered the need for more health-centered, culturally responsive, readily available, and translated tools to provide equity through language access, resulting in these updated resources.

The Maine DOE extends a special thank you to the Maine school nurses who participated in this collaboration.

Maine DOE’s Office of Innovation and the Office of School and Student Support collaborate to host monthly ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) office hours. These sessions are open to all school personnel and aim to provide optimal support for ESOL educators and guidance on assisting multilingual learners and their families.

Maine continues to embrace and enroll multilingual students and families statewide, witnessing a 15% increase in student count from 2023 to 2024. Jane Armstrong, State ESOL Specialist, highlights that roughly 63% of Maine’s 206 school administrative units have enrolled multilingual learners.

For the latest data, please visit the Multilingual Learner Data Dashboard. The final ESOL office hours for School Year 2023-24 will be held on June 17, 2024, from 3:30-4:30pm and registration can be found here.

The Office of School and Student Supports has many resources for school staff to improve school services. Guidelines and Resources for School Health Services center on providing culturally responsive, evidence-based care that improves overall health.

Contact DOESchoolandStudentSupports@Maine.gov with any questions, comments, or needs.

Be a Part of Family Math Community of Practice

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is seeking a total of 24 Elementary School educators to participate in a Family Math Community of Practice. This opportunity will provide valuable information and resources to bolster educators’ participation in the growing movement known as Family Math.

The National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement’s Center for Family Math, Erikson Institute’s Early Math Collaborative, and the Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium’s Consortium for Engaging Families Across Maine are excited to partner together to offer the Family Math Community of Practice for K-5 teachers and other elementary school practitioners. The opportunity is based on the emerging movement to promote math activities within the context of family relationships and everyday life. The practices inherent in family math are designed to help children strengthen their math skills and develop a sense of confidence and enthusiasm in their math abilities. The movement empowers parents, organizations, and educators with knowledge, tools, and resources that help them feel excited about introducing and exploring mathematical concepts.

This Family Math Community of Practice is being offered at no cost to participants, has limited space, and is available for school-level educators, including K-5th grade classroom teachers, curriculum specialists, coaches, and school administrators. Learners must commit to participate in four 90-minute virtual sessions. The learning outcomes associated with this professional development opportunity include:

Gaining an understanding of Family Math – what it is, why it is important, and what it looks like;
Acquiring core competencies for engaging families in children’s math learning;
Adopting and sharing Family Math promising practices in K-5 classrooms and schools.

The Family Math Community of Practice will consist of two cohorts, and sessions will be held on the following dates in 2024 from 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm ET:

	Cohort 1	Cohort 2
Session 1	Tuesday, August 20	Thursday, August 22
Session 2	Tuesday, August 27	Thursday, August 29
Session 3	Tuesday, September 10	Thursday, September 12
Session 4	Tuesday, September 17	Thursday, September 19

Participating in a Family Math Community of Practice will qualify for 8 Contact hours through the Maine Department of Education (DOE).

Please share this registration link and encourage K-5th grade educators to register for the FMCOP by August 3, 2024. By August 10, 2024, participants will receive an email confirming whether they have been selected, along with a Zoom link and calendar invite.

Feel free to reach out with any questions to Holly Kreider, Ed.D, Director, NAFSCE Center for Family Math kreiderh@nafsce.org or Melanie Junkins, Maine DOE Family Engagement and Cultural Responsiveness Specialist (melanie.junkins@maine.gov)

This exciting opportunity is being provided at NO COST with the support of the Consortium for Engaging Families Across Maine, funded by the U.S. Department of Education.

Leveling Up Literacy in Maine: Free Self-Paced Modules for Maine Educators this Summer

*Limited Time – Educator Stipends Available for Modules Completed Prior to August 23, 2024.

Are you a Maine educator seeking to better understand evidence-based literacy practices and how science can inform your ability to teach children to read and write?
Are you interested in engaging professional learning to build your expertise and support recertification requirements?
Does earning a stipend for completing professional learning appeal to you?
Would you like to engage in professional learning on your own time from the comfort of your home?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, the Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) Literacy Module Opportunity may be a perfect fit. The Maine DOE is pleased to announce a free professional development opportunity for Maine educators working in Kindergarten–Grade 5 regular and special education settings. These self-paced, asynchronous, evidence-based literacy modules will be available to educators from June 12, 2024 to June 11, 2025.

The Maine DOE has contracted with AIM Institute© for Learning & Research to offer free access to AIM Steps to Literacy Modules at no cost to Maine Educators. AIM Steps to Literacy modules, which can be taken individually or in course bundles, are fully asynchronous online courses focused on a variety of evidence-based literacy topics. Each Steps to Literacy module provides teachers with engaging learning opportunities organized in a “learn, practice, apply” introductory cycle, and contains teaching techniques, videos, and printable resources to develop participants’ knowledge and their transfer of new techniques into classroom practice. The available modules include:

Module 1: Overview of the Science of Reading (9 contact hours)
Module 2: Phonological Awareness (7 contact hours)
Module 3: Decoding & Spelling (7 contact hours)
Module 4: Vocabulary (4 contact hours)
Module 5: Language Comprehension & Written Expression (11 contact hours)
Module 6: Demystifying Dyslexia (3 contact hours)
Module 7: Growing Proficient Readers: Dr. Ehri’s Phases of Development (4 contact hours)
Module 8: Specialized Reading Knowledge Bundle: English Learners (10 contact hours)

Eligible educators must be employed in a Maine school and have a school email address. Participants may complete multiple modules, however it is only possible to sign up for one module at a time. Access to additional modules is not available until verified completion of the prior module. Educators wishing to bundle modules to earn micro-credentials from the AIM Institute© for Learning & Research and Credentials Unlimited will be required to pay any additional fees.

Maine educators who complete modules by midnight on August 23, 2024 will be eligible to receive a stipend of $25/hour per the number of contact hours awarded for each completed module.

There will be an informational session on June 11, 2024 from 4:00-5:00 to provide an overview of module content, form and function, registration, and the stipend process. Please register at this link.

For additional information and access to the module registration form, please visit the Maine DOE AIM Literacy Module landing page. If you have additional questions please contact Inclusive Education Literacy Specialist & Dyslexia Coordinator, Dee Saucier, danielle.m.saucier@maine.gov.

This opportunity was created with Federal Emergency Relief Funding and is a part of Maine’s Whole Student Pandemic Response. Please visit the Maine Department of Education website to learn more about Maine’s Whole Student Pandemic Response.

Registration Now Open for Maine Department of Education 2024 Annual Summit

2024 Annual Summit Theme: Supporting the Whole Student and School Community

Registration is now open for the 2024 Maine Department of Education (DOE) Annual Summit held August 6th – 8th at the Augusta Civic Center. Sessions take place from 7 am to 5 pm each day. Breakfast and lunch are included in the registration fee of $150 for all three days. This year’s event features an all-in-one events app, over 150 session options with contact hours, four engaging keynote speakers, in addition to several mini-summits and other training options available during the event – registration instructions are available below.

This year’s theme, Supporting the Whole Student and School Community, is emphasized through a wide variety of sessions on early childhood education, student behavior (including a session on The Regulated Classroom!), social emotional learning, interdisciplinary instruction, youth engagement, special education and inclusivity, diversity, equity, and inclusion, extended learning opportunities, outdoor learning and climate education, school safety, mental health literacy, emotional intelligence, literacy, math, technology in the classroom, and so much more!

This year’s keynote speakers are Pender Makin, Maine Education Commissioner; Jared Cooney Horvath, a Neuroscientist and Educator; Kim Strobel, a motivational speaker and Happiness Coach; and Catherine Ann Wilson, the founder of Stop Trafficking US.

There are also several mini summits and training certifications being offered during the event. Mini summits include:

As part of the School Safety Summit, there are over 25 presentations from all areas involving school and student safety. Look for their tag in the listing of sessions on the agenda page.
Educational Trip Leader Permit Course– Required for any educator taking students on field trips involving water. Maine Guide and Principal of Wiscasset Middle & High School, Sarah J. Hubert will offer this full 3-day training.
Functional Behavioral Assessments Training (FBA) fifteen (15) total hours (5 per day) during the three-day Annual Summit.
Maine Volunteer Leadership Conference Ten discreet sessions can be taken as an all-day track on August 6 or just attend those of interest! Designed for anyone who invites volunteers to help meet the needs of youth or community. The topics cover a new model for youth service, volunteering as a wellness intervention, engaging local business employees as volunteers, ensuring diversity and inclusion in volunteer systems, and more. Presenters include researchers, practitioners, and panelists from major state employers.

The Maine DOE Annual Summit is your summer destination for connecting with education colleagues across Maine to share ideas and reinvigorate over the summer. The 150+ sessions will give you the high-quality professional learning, tools, and resources you need to re-energize this summer while earning contact hours towards your State of Maine educator and/or administrator credential renewal before the 2024/2025 school year. You will also have the opportunity to meet with members of Maine DOE’s Certification Team all three days of the events!

Transportation & Travel Options

Ride-Share Option – The Annual Summit is now available on the GO MAINE trip planner, a statewide commuter program. The pre-filled event destination can be used and shared with other Annual Summit attendees by using this link.

Travel Reimbursement: All attendees are eligible for mileage reimbursement. Attendees traveling more than fifty (50) miles are eligible to receive reimbursement for lodging for the 3-day Annual Summit. Additional information related to lodging reimbursement and submitting for travel reimbursement can be located on the Maine Department of Education (Maine DOE) Bizzabo Annual Summit event website.

Registration

New this year, the Maine DOE is utilizing Bizzabo, an all-in-one events platform to support registration and attendance. Through Bizzabo, participants will be able to register and pay for the Summit, access their personalized schedule and registration information, and access to real-time conference and scheduling updates.

Register here.

Registration is open until July 19th. The presentation schedule and agenda will be released very soon. After registering for the summit, search for the Bizzabo app in your app store (Bizzabo in Apple Store | Bizzabo on Google Play) and log in with your email and ticket number to access the event.

We look forward to seeing you at the Annual Summit this year!

Maine DOE Introduces 7 Interns this Summer

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is welcoming seven new interns for the summer. The student interns, who will be working on a variety of teams at the Maine DOE, were selected for the Maine Government Summer Internship Program by the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center at the University of Maine.

Maine DOE’s interns will spend the summer assisting with daily operations, projects, events, and other meaningful work while gaining knowledge, connections, and professional experience at the Maine DOE this summer.

Maine Department of Education Interns

Grace Leclerc is a rising junior at Brown University, where she is studying Political Science and Education Studies. She is originally from Topsham, ME. As the Child Nutrition Intern, she is excited to work with the Child and Adult Care Food Program Team to help modernize their training program. In her free time, she enjoys playing the saxophone and learning sign language.

Ellie Lomangino is a rising junior at George Washington University studying International Affairs and French. She is originally from South Portland, ME. As a Data and Media Assistant, she is excited to support the implementation of technology in Maine schools, as well as gaining a broader understanding of the Maine DOE’s initiatives and field of education. In her free time, she enjoys playing piano and singing with the Vibes A Capella group.

Samuel Maltese is a rising senior at the University of Vermont, where he studies Food Systems, Nutrition, and Community Entrepreneurship. He is originally from Camden, ME. As a Learning Through Technology Data & Media Assistant, he hopes to leverage technology to improve education. At UVM, he manages digitalization for the university radio station, WRUV, and was published as a second author of Assessing the Efficacy of Commercial Probiotics in Preventing Colonization of Listeria monocytogenes on Wooden Cheese Aging Boards by Eurydice Aboagye et al. In his free time, he enjoys swimming, cooking, and gardening at his home in Camden.

Colin Marquis-Boutin is a recent graduate of Bates College, where he studied Politics and Chinese. He is originally from Mechanic Falls, ME. As a Recruitment Outreach Assistant, he will be raising the profile of the Maine Service Fellows initiative by attending recruitment events, developing an outreach plan, and creating marketing materials to promote the program, as well as researching and writing a report on current service program recruitment practices and trends. He is most excited to be a part of a team that connects dedicated service fellows to communities to complete important service projects. In his free time, he enjoys cooking and playing the saxophone.

Ava Shapiro is a rising junior at Colby College, where she is studying Government and Educational Studies. She is originally from New York, NY. As the Communications and Outreach Intern, she will be researching different education-related programs and events within the state, writing articles, gathering interview and photo/video content at events, and assisting with promotional materials. She is most excited to help with the Annual Educator Summit, the Maine DOE’s largest event which takes place in August. After graduation, she wants to pursue a career in educational policy in Maine. In her free time, she enjoys skiing, hiking, rock climbing, and listening to country music.

Meredyth Waters is a rising senior at the University of Maine, where she is studying Political Science with a focus on labor and leadership. As an Operational Assistant, she is excited to work for the DOE to pursue her interests in education and public administration and believes that this role will allow her to experience the intersections of public policy, operation, leadership, and labor. In her free time, she enjoys camping, a Wikipedia deep dive, and cheering on the Black Bears during hockey season.

May Whelan is a rising senior at Bates College, where she is studying Economics and Spanish on the pre-law track. She is originally from Bristol, RI. As a Volunteer Maine Human Resource Instructional Design Assistant, she is excited to revamp the adult learning platform for volunteer management, as well as learn more about the different realms of state and municipal government. In her free time, she enjoys dancing and traveling.

The Maine DOE is excited to welcome these summer interns and looks forward to their innovative ideas and fresh perspective on the many projects they will be involved with throughout the summer.

To learn more about the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center’s Maine Government Summer Internship Program, visit their website.

Sign up for updates through the Maine DOE Newsroom and follow us on social media (Facebook | X | Instagram | LinkedIn) to stay up-to-date throughout the summer.

Asynchronous Course: Introduction to the Question Formulation Technique

The Maine Department of Education (DOE)  Interdisciplinary Instruction Team is hosting two summer courses called Question, Reflect, Repeat: Introduction to the Question Formulation Technique. 

The Question Formulation Technique is a powerful strategy to help students and adults ask their own questions, advocate for themselves, and participate in decision-making processes.

There will be two asynchronous summer sessions running from:

July 1 – August 9
August 1 – September 6

To learn more and register for this course, visit the Interdisciplinary Instruction Professional Learning page.

For questions, please contact Jaime Beal, Interdisciplinary Instruction Specialist at jaime.beal@maine.gov

This opportunity is a collaboration between the Maine Online Open-Source Education (MOOSE) project and the Interdisciplinary Instruction Team. The MOOSE project is funded entirely (100%) through Federal money under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA) and American Rescue Plan (ARP) totaling $4,598,000 for the current 2023-2024 funding cycle.

Due Soon: ESEA Demographics Report

The ESEA Demographics Report is an aggregation of students enrolled on 5/31* for participation in state assessments during the current assessment administration. This report includes student demographic categories for assessment and accountability purposes.

*The enrollment date for this report was corrected from 5/27 to 5/31 to accurately reflect this year’s collection period.

Open Date: 5/15
Due Date: 6/15
Required to Report: RSUs, CSDs, MSADs, municipal school units, Maine Indian Education, charter schools, state-operated schools, and private schools that accept publicly funded students.
Resources:
- Webinar scheduled for 5/14: Register Here
- ESEA Demographics Report Guide

For questions about Maine School Approval reporting and/or the ESEA Demographics report, please contact MEDMS.Helpdesk@maine.gov or call 207-624-6896

Celebrate Success, Foster Sustainability at the 2024 Maine ELO Summit!

Calling all Maine educators! Join your colleagues for the 2024 Maine ELO Summit, taking place on August 13th at the Brunswick Hotel. This year’s theme, “Celebrating Success, Fostering Sustainability,” promises an inspiring day filled with valuable insights and discussions on Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs). The summit is open to all Maine school personnel and supporting partners. Registration and meals are fully covered by JMG with support from the Maine Department of Education (DOE).

What are ELOs?

ELOs are a form of micro-credentialing that allow students to earn academic credit through diverse, hands-on experiences outside the conventional classroom. They emphasize community-based career exploration and are highly personalized opportunities for students to:

Engage in learning in ways that resonate with them.
Connect their learning to everyday life in meaningful ways.

ELOs combine elements of academic instruction (projects, papers, presentations) with experiential learning (project-based learning, internships, job shadows).

The Value of ELOs:

Flexible: ELO experiences can be designed for in-person, remote, or hybrid settings, allowing schools to utilize their resources effectively.
Personalized: ELOs offer the chance to customize courses for students who need additional support, specific motivation, or excel in a certain area. They cater to individual learning styles.
Relevant: Every ELO connects real-life experiences with learning standards. This format translates to highly relevant and engaging content, often incorporating valuable career exploration.

2024 ELO Summit Highlights Not to Miss –

Student Stories: Be inspired by students sharing their firsthand ELO experiences!
Dynamic Workshops: Interactive sessions will feature microlearning opportunities followed by facilitated workshops to translate insights into actionable plans.
Engaging Discussions and Networking: Connect with your peers through panel discussions, networking receptions, and collaborative planning sessions.

Don’t Miss Out – Registration is Free!

Register today and be part of the exciting future of ELOs in Maine! For more information, including a full agenda for the day, please see the event flyer.

Leading Early Learning Fellowship—A Professional Learning Series for Elementary School Administrators

As Maine elementary schools have added preschool programming and are promoting whole student approaches across the Pre-K -Grade 3 span, elementary principals have requested professional learning to support their work as educational leaders. The Maine Department of Education and several Maine educational organizations (listed below) have collaborated to design an exciting professional learning series to address identified needs and support professional growth. To date, the Leading Early Learning Fellowship series has supported three cohorts, one each year since 2021-22. We are pleased to announce that applications for the fourth cohort, 2024-25 school year, are now being accepted.

The fellowship provides participants with opportunities to deepen their knowledge of early learning pedagogy and best practices related to supporting students and teachers across Pre-K-3. Participants engage in a variety of modes of learning, from asynchronous modules to facilitated online professional learning communities to in-person gatherings.

“I really enjoyed the variety of materials and activities in which we were engaged–videos, utilizing the observation and reflection tools, and the readings. Also, it was a great group of people to interact with both online and in person,” said a participant from Cohort 3.

“Participating in the series has helped me to look at the decisions we make about our instructional programming and school community through the lens of early learning and what is developmentally appropriate for our youngest learners,” said a participant from Cohort 1.

If this opportunity interests you, please review the fellowship details in the informational guide. A link to apply for the series is included in the informational guide. The series will support up to 30 participants. Applications will be received through July 14, 2024. Once spaces are filled, a waiting list will be generated.

For additional information, please contact Lee Anne Larsen, Director of Early Learning at Maine DOE, leeann.larsen@maine.gov.

Leading Early Learning Partner Organizations

Maine Department of Education
Maine Roads to Quality Professional Development Network
Maine Association for the Education of Young Children
UMaine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies

MADSEC Names 2024 Special Education Honorees of the Year

Every year, the Maine Administrators of Services for Children with Disabilities (MADSEC) announces Honorees of the Year, who are individuals who work in the field of Special Education within Maine schools.

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) joins MADSEC in congratulating the 2023-24 awardees in addition to thanking all educators within the Special Education division. Congratulations to Angela, Kendra, Scott, and Erin, and read more about them below.