Category: News & Views

Professional Learning Workshop: Integrating Literacy through Graphic Novels with Marek Bennett

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Teaching and Learning is excited to kick off the return of the Integrating Literacy series with a full-day deep dive into graphic novels as powerful tools for literacy growth.

From fantasy and humor to history and science, graphic novels are among students’ favorite reads. They’re more than entertainment, though; research shows that the format can strengthen vocabulary, comprehension, and visual literacy.

Join educator and graphic novel author Marek Bennett for an inspiring, hands-on workshop. We’ll explore exemplary texts, unpack the science behind their impact on readers, and create our own graphics.

Educators will leave with:

  • A clear understanding of the research supporting graphic novels for literacy development across grade levels and disciplines.
  • Practical ideas to build a schoolwide culture of reading through graphic storytelling.
  • Concrete strategies to engage students in creating and publishing their own work.

When: Friday, November 21, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: The Steel House in Rockland (639 Main Street, Rockland, ME 04841)

This free workshop is happening in-person and will be streamed via Zoom for those unable to travel. Bring a lunch or order locally—there are plenty of spots to picnic and connect with fellow educators!

Space is limited! Register today.

This event marks the first in a four-part literacy workshop series offered by the Maine DOE. Other workshops in the Integrating Literacy series include:

  • “Mapmaking: Coding and Decoding” with Osher Map Library on Friday, March 6, 2026, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in Portland
  • “Objects (Rocks, Minerals and Gems – Oh My!) and Writing Process” with the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum and Ronni Blaisdell on Friday, April 10, 2026, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in Bethel
  • “Engaging Reluctant Readers” with Cris Tovani on Friday, May 15, 2026, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in Augusta

To register for any of these workshops, use this registration form.

With questions, please contact Maine DOE Interdisciplinary Instruction Specialist Heather Martin at Heather.Martin@maine.gov.

Lewiston Public Schools Strengthens Student Stability through Preventing Student Homelessness Grant

Lewiston Public Schools is making meaningful strides in supporting students and families through the Preventing Student Homelessness grant, turning critical funding into lasting impact. With innovative districtwide outreach and the creation of a robust Student Resource Center, Lewiston is ensuring that students can focus on learning, growth, and opportunity—not crisis survival.

Meeting Basic Needs through the Student Resource Center

At the heart of this work is Lewiston’s Student Resource Center (SRC), a welcoming space that provides students and families with the essentials needed to thrive. Stocked with food, clothing, hygiene products, toiletries, and school supplies purchased with Preventing Student Homelessness grant funds, the center ensures that no student goes without the basic necessities that make learning possible.

The center also offers laundry and shower facilities, complete with soaps, shampoos, and detergents—all free for families to use. Beyond immediate needs, the center connects students with housing agencies, case management, and mental health services, helping to prevent homelessness before it occurs and strengthening family stability.

a bunch of racks with clothes on hangers
A cozy looking room with places to sit and hang out, colorful.


Staying Connected All Year Long

Recognizing that needs don’t stop when the school year ends, Lewiston’s summer outreach team—made up of teachers, administrators, McKinney-Vento liaisons, and support staff—hosts weekly community events throughout the summer months. These events provide families with information about learning opportunities, distribute essential items, and maintain vital connections with students experiencing homelessness. Each event also includes free lunches, helping to reduce hunger while promoting engagement and connection.

Making an Impact

The impact of this coordinated effort is clear. During the 2024-2025 school year, Lewiston served 694 McKinney-Vento-eligible students, with 464 actively enrolled as of May 2025. Each student reached represents a step toward greater stability, attendance, and academic success.

Through the Preventing Student Homelessness grant, Lewiston has been able to reduce barriers to education, increase student engagement, and strengthen family connections across the district.

Community Partnerships Creating Change

Lewiston’s success is built on strong community partnerships that amplify the reach of the Preventing Student Homelessness grant:

  • MaineHousing: Since March of 2025, more than 93 students and families have received housing navigation services, with at least 51 students prevented from experiencing homelessness due to eviction.
  • Soles4Souls: Each spring and fall, 750 pairs of shoes are distributed to students—half of whom qualify under McKinney-Vento—ensuring every child can comfortably and confidently participate in school and extracurricular activities.

Continuing the Commitment

While challenges such as rising housing costs and limited access to mental health care persist, Lewiston Public Schools remains steadfast in its mission to support every student. The district continues to expand partnerships, connect families with essential resources, and build systems that promote stability and success.

Thanks to the Preventing Student Homelessness grant and the dedication of Lewiston’s educators and community partners, students are not only finding safety and stability—but also the confidence and opportunity to thrive.

This article was submitted by Lewiston Public Schools. To submit a good news story to the Maine DOE, please fill out the good news submission form.

FAME Offers Free Resources to Help Maine Borrowers Manage Federal Student Loan Repayment

The Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) is offering various resources and opportunities to make federal student loan repayment more manageable and less overwhelming. Maine residents with federal student loans (“borrowers”) are encouraged to take advantage of FAME’s guidance, tools, and personalized support to better understand their options and stay on track with repayment.

  • FAME’s Federal Student Loan Help for Maine borrowers webpage provides a clear, step-by-step guide for borrowers to identify the status of their loans, understand repayment expectations, and take informed next steps. Knowing where your loan stands is critical to maintaining financial stability and avoiding repayment issues.

  • Through partnerships with national student loan experts, FAME is offering free federal student loan counseling for Maine borrowers. These one-on-one sessions provide personalized advice and help borrowers to navigate repayment challenges with confidence.

  • FAME is also hosting an informational workshop titled, “Managing YOUR Student Loan Debt Crisis – What’s at Stake When You Ignore Your Student Loans,” presented by nationally recognized expert Betsy Mayotte. This workshop will help participants to understand current developments in the student loan landscape and explore strategies for staying on top of repayment.

Failing to repay student loans can have serious financial consequences, including damage to credit scores, additional fees, loss of access to certain federal financial aid, and even withheld tax refunds or wage garnishment. FAME’s mission is to help Maine borrowers avoid these challenges by providing accurate information, expert advice, and accessible support—all at no cost.

To explore these free resources and take control of your student loan repayment, visit the FAME website.

Professional Learning Series: Developing Individual Language Acquisition Plans (ILAPs) for Multilingual Learners with Collaboration and Instructional Planning in Mind

Are you new to Individual Language Acquisition Plans (ILAPS) or looking to strengthen your team’s approach? Do you serve a small multilingual learner population and want a practical framework that ensures compliance with state and federal guidelines and promotes student growth? If so, consider attending a two-part virtual series that the Maine Department of Education (DOE) is hosting to offer a clear, collaborative process for developing ILAPS that reflect each student’s language profile, strengths, and instructional needs.

An ILAP is a required, school-based plan for every student identified as a multilingual learner. An effective ILAP clarifies educator roles, targets timely and individualized supports, and honors students’ identities and assets to foster growth, engagement, and belonging. Led by Maine DOE Teacher Leader Fellows Rebecca Carey and Melissa Frans, this series will help participants to learn how to design ILAPs that meet state and federal requirements, while advancing equity, access, and belonging through intentional instructional planning and partnership.

Format:

Participants must attend both sessions of this series. Each session includes one hour of structured learning followed by 30 minutes of collaborative sharing and discussion. Registration is required. Please register here.

Session Topics:

Intended Audience:

English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teachers, directors/coordinators of multilingual programs, and general education teachers who support multilingual learners may find this series beneficial. Participants will develop actionable, collaborative approaches to ILAPs aligned with WIDA Standards and supportive of instructional planning.

Schedule:

This two-part virtual series will be held from 3:30-5 p.m. on:

  • Wednesday, November 5, 2025
  • Thursday, November 6, 2025

Participants who attend both sessions will receive three contact hours.

The Teacher Leader Fellows program is a part of the Maine DOE Office of Teaching and Learning. For more information, please contact Jane Armstrong, Maine DOE State ESOL Specialist, at jane.armstrong@maine.gov.

On Mackworth Island, a School Builds Trust and Educator Pathways

When a deaf Teacher of the Deaf led a summer marine biology camp at the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing/Governor Baxter School for the Deaf (MECDHH/GBSD), something remarkable happened. Students who typically relied on spoken English naturally shifted into American Sign Language (ASL), so that they could connect with their peers.

“It was powerful and beautiful to watch inclusion come alive,” Catherine Lushman, MECDHH/GBSD Assistant Director of Statewide Education and Family Services, said.


That story, and others like it, framed a recent Maine Department of Education (DOE) visit to the Mackworth Island campus to connect with MECDHH/GBSD and have conversations focused on community engagement and the urgent need to strengthen pathways for Teachers of the Deaf across Maine.

Building Trust through Shared Spaces

The Mackworth Island campus has become more than a school. In November of 2024, the Maine DOE unveiled the Maine Outdoor Learning Pavilion—a state facility designed as a shared hub with classroom resources, restrooms, and a group activity lawn. In partnership with MECDHH/GBSD, the pavilion now welcomes students, educators, and community groups for learning and events ranging from Deaf Culture Fest to all-staff meetings and gatherings of the Maine Association for the Deaf.

“Every time we open our space, it builds trust,” Lushman explained. “That has been one of our first priorities—mending and strengthening relationships.”

Growing the Educator Pipeline

MECDHH/GBSD educators have described the challenges of meeting a statewide demand for services with limited staff.

“It’s not just about staffing numbers,” Steve Connolly, Executive Director of MECDHH/GBSD, said. “It’s about making sure services are equitable, even when students live far apart.”

Megan Garrity, MECDHH/GBSD Family and Peer Programs and Eastern Services Coordinator, noted the importance of sparking interest in this pathway earlier.

“Even small experiences—like ASL (American Sign Language) classes, senior projects, or internships—can spark interest. That could be the first step toward building the next generation of educators.”

Partnerships in Practice

At the heart of the visit were the educators whose voices and experiences are shaping the future of deaf education in Maine. By sharing their challenges and solutions, they are building pathways—not only for their students today but also for the next generation of Teachers of the Deaf.

For the Maine DOE, elevating these voices is essential. Insights from MECDHH/GBSD educators will inform statewide work on educator pipelines, higher education partnerships, and community engagement. By bringing these stories forward, the Maine DOE can help to ensure that the innovation happening on Mackworth Island is recognized, supported, and shared across Maine’s schools.

For more information or to get involved with statewide efforts with Teachers of the Deaf across Maine, please contact Maine DOE Director of Strategic Partnerships Ayesha Hall at ayesha.hall@maine.gov.

Maine and Aomori, Japan Celebrate More Than 30 Years of Friendship through Student Art Exchange

Maine students and students from Aomori, Japan, are once again connecting across cultures through art in the 2025 Hashi-Maine exhibition, hosted by MSAD 51 at the Greely Center for the Arts this fall.

Now in its fifth year, Hashi-Maine—meaning “bridge” in Japanese—features student-created prints from both sister states using traditional Japanese block printmaking techniques. The exchange is part of a long-standing cultural partnership between Maine and Aomori, which has been celebrated for more than 30 years.

This year’s exhibition, which ran from September 10 through October 22, includes prints by Maine students from the Cumberland Community Education summer specialty camp, “Art and Culture of Japan,” led by visual art educator Lynda McCann-Olson, as well as students from Long Island Community School, Portland Public Schools, and Eight Corners Primary School in Scarborough.

Japanese Student Artwork
Japanese Student Artwork
Maine Student Artwork
Maine Student Artwork
Maine Student Artwork


The Hashi Exchange is a collaboration between the Friends of Aomori of Maine and the Aomori City Morning Rotary. Through this partnership, students in both regions create and exchange prints that highlight aspects of their daily lives and cultures. Once exchanged, the Maine prints become part of the Munakata Shiko Collection at the Aomori Museum of Art, and the Aomori prints join the Friends of Aomori’s collection in Maine.

“The exchange of artwork is an act of cultural diplomacy that encourages students to connect through creativity to build mutual understanding and personal relationships,” said McCann-Olson.

Friends of Aomori, a nonprofit organization of volunteers, works to strengthen the Maine-Aomori relationship through educational and cultural programs. The Maine-Aomori Sister-State Advisory Council (MASSAC), whose members are appointed by the Governor, advises the state on this international partnership.

To learn more about Friends of Aomori of Maine, click here or reach out to Lynda McCann-Olson at lmccann.olson@gmail.com.

This story was written in collaboration with Friends of Aomori of Maine. To submit a good news story to the Maine DOE, please fill out the good news submission form.

Cultivating Calm: Pond Cove Elementary School’s K-4 Health and Wellness Program Builds Lifelong Skills

At Pond Cove Elementary School in the Cape Elizabeth School Department, students gain more than just academic knowledge; they’re learning essential tools to support their mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Pond Cove is one of the few elementary schools in Maine with a certified health educator leading a comprehensive Health and Wellness program.

Heather Kennedy, K-4 Health and Wellness teacher at Pond Cove Elementary School, is deeply committed to fostering the whole health of young learners. Kennedy has designed and is implementing a K-4 Health and Wellness curriculum that blends health content, mindfulness, The Regulated Classroom framework, and Yoga 4 Classrooms strategies.

“All students participate in structured or unstructured physical movement as part of every health lesson,” Kennedy explained. “I intentionally designed the Movement on Mats program to help expand students’ whole-body learning, including the practice of self-regulation and stress release.”

A movement on mats classroom set up.

For younger learners who may not yet have the words to express their stress, movement becomes a powerful tool. Through physical activity, focused breathing, and body control, students build body awareness, emotional resilience, and leadership skills. These activities help them to enter classroom learning with greater focus and engagement.

Kennedy explains that her curriculum “makes it possible for students to practice physical movement in the space constraints of a typical classroom.” Kennedy added that most movement practice takes place right in her health classroom, with desks and wobble stools still in place.

While the physical benefits for students are visible, Kennedy says the most impactful part of her work is what she calls the “hidden work” of co-regulation.

“Within each lesson, I aim to co-create a balanced environment using precise language while modeling behaviors and responses,” she said. “By far, the most beneficial impact of what I do is in the hidden work of co-regulating students’ nervous systems to be in their parasympathetic branch. To foster each learner’s sense of belonging, calm, and safety, I must take the lead by being in a regulated state—no matter how challenging the situation.”

This intentional approach helps students to feel safe, grounded, and ready to learn—skills they can carry far beyond the classroom.

Here is what a few of Kennedy’s students had to say:

“Having Health and Wellness lessons at Pond Cove Elementary School has helped my wellness by teaching me about what would be a ‘once in a while’ choice and what is a ‘healthy, everyday’ choice,” fourth-grade student Levi B. said.

“Being healthy benefits you for your whole life!” fourth-grade student Henry F. said.

“All the areas of health that make up wellness, like physical, mental, emotional, social, environmental, and family, have been put into my brain. All of it together makes it one strong idea of what wellness is. It helps me be more careful with my body, my brain, and my choices,” fourth-grade student Winnie W. said.

“Health is like a really good friend. If you don’t have one, your happiness can go down,” fourth-grade student Chaz S. said.

“Learning about 5-2-1-0 helps me to be my ‘healthy self’ in health and everywhere else!” second-grade student Robin B. said.

“I like 5-2-1-0 because it keeps me healthy and happy!” second-grade student Hazel W-H. said.

Kennedy said she hopes that the Pond Cove’s curriculum is a model that could inspire other districts to bring health education and wellness more fully into their elementary schools.

By embedding movement, mindfulness, and emotional regulation into everyday instruction, Kennedy is helping students to build strong foundations for lifelong health—and demonstrating the powerful role that dedicated health education can play in the early grades.

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) celebrates the work happening at Pond Cove and encourages other districts to explore how a dedicated elementary-level Health and Wellness curriculum can support the whole child.

This story was written in collaboration with Pond Cove Elementary School. To submit a good news story to the Maine DOE, please fill out the good news submission form.

Recognizing National School Bus Safety Week from October 20-24, 2025

From October 20-24, 2025, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) is recognizing National School Bus Safety Week, an annual observance dedicated to promoting the safety and well-being of the millions of students who depend on school transportation safety.

Eighty percent of Maine students ride school buses to school every school day. This important week serves as a powerful reminder of the shared responsibility among drivers, students, parents, caregivers, educators, and communities to ensure that every child’s journey to and from school is safe. Schoolbus safety should be everyone’s priority, every day.

As such, the Maine DOE would like to share the following information from the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS):

This year, we unite under the theme: “Safe Stops. Stronger Communities.” Every stop is a chance to protect lives. When we choose safety, we’re not just preventing crashes; we’re strengthening the very communities we love. Together, we can protect every journey, ensuring safety at every stop!

Every school day, millions of children take their seats on a yellow school bus—the safest way to and from school. Yet, safety doesn’t stop at the bus doors. It requires every driver, every lawmaker, every community member to take responsibility. When red lights flash and the stop-arm is extended, we all have one simple choice: Stop.

NASDPTS reports that drivers illegally pass stopped school buses more than 39 million times each year. Each violation represents more than a statistic—it is a moment when a child’s life is in danger. While we’ve seen progress with a 13% reduction in violations this past year, far too many risks remain on our roadways.

Please find a NASDPTS – National School Bus Safety Week PSA for sharing purposes here.

A Space for Teens, Built by Teens: The Belfast Teen Center

In the middle of downtown Belfast, a new space has opened its doors. It is made for teenagers, by teenagers and is aptly named the Belfast Teen Center. In a time when it has become increasingly difficult for young people to find a safe, welcoming place to hang out, this is a rare and vital resource: a community hub where teens can gather after school.

The idea grew from conversations at Belfast Area High School. Nadejda Stancioff, a school social worker, recalled how a handful of students experiencing homelessness described feeling isolated in their individual experiences. She asked if they would be interested in getting together as a group, and they agreed to that idea. That small gathering quickly helped the teenagers to feel less alone. This group went on to serve as an advisory board for But Still I Am One, a local nonprofit dedicated to empowering young adults who are experiencing homelessness in Waldo County.

The students had plenty of ideas for how to better support youth like themselves, but one issue stood out above the rest: the need for a space to gather. They pointed to a critical gap in their day—the hours between school dismissal and bedtime when many had nowhere to go. Their vision was simple but powerful; they wanted a space within walking distance from school where teenagers could hang out, do homework, charge their phones, and grab a snack or a hot meal. The space would not be limited to teens experiencing homelessness; it would be open to anyone who wanted a place to go.

One of the students in this group pitched the idea as an Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO) project—a center for teenagers that she called, “Freely You.” In this ELO, this student conducted community organizing, event planning, and marketing, culminating in a trial run consisting of a one-night event that she organized and hosted. Her vision quickly gained traction; what began as a student-led ELO grew into a full-fledged community project.

“I think it’s so important that this is a project that grew organically from student efforts. Kids had the ideas, and a few adults got interested and took the idea seriously,” Solomon Heifets, the Belfast ELO Coordinator, said. “Then, a few more adults and a few more students got involved, and it has very quickly snowballed into a true community collaboration.”

Stancioff said she imagines the Belfast Teen Center as a one-stop shop—always staffed by caring adults—where teenagers can find toiletries, food, warm clothes, and other essentials. For Stancioff, the project feels energizing and full of possibility. Her focus is on ensuring that it is sustainable.

Stancioff shared that a lot of the inspiration for the Belfast Teen Center came from The Landing Place in Rockland, a resource hub that also began in response to community need. The Landing Place provides transitional housing for youth from 18 to 25 years old and offers essentials like free clothing and food.

“I’m excited about having a similar space in Belfast; something that can be a true resource hub,” Stancioff said. “For example, when a student needed a backpack, I called the Belfast Teen Center, and they had one right there in their care closet.”

Much of the center’s momentum has come from community support. In the spring of 2025, a group of students, school staff, and local residents began meeting biweekly to form the Teen Center Board, which includes community members like Chris Battaglia, co-owner of Torchlight Media, who offered the use of his downtown studio as the center’s physical home, and Janet Proulx, a member of First Baptist Church in Belfast, who helped to coordinate volunteers from her congregation to provide regular hot meals for visiting teenagers. Other community members, namely Barbara Gage and Neva Allen, offered to operate under the umbrella of But Still I Am One, while working to incorporate the center as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Sarah Carey, an interior designer, volunteered her time to work with several groups of students to design the center. Once she had gathered all of their input, she ordered and donated furniture based on their suggestions.  


“There are nice people, and it’s safe,” Caleb Curtis-Dufresne, a junior at Belfast Area High School, said about the center.

In Belfast, teenagers have not had a dedicated space of their own since The Game Loft closed in February of 2025. While the Belfast Free Library and Waldo County YMCA remain welcoming, neither space was created specifically for teenagers. At the Belfast Teen Center, two adults are always present to ensure safety and support—but the center itself belongs to the teenagers. They decide how it functions, what activities take place, and how it grows.

The center provides consistent support—warm meals, basic resources, and caring adults who show up—creating a hub where youth feel comfortable and free to be themselves. Edward “Orange” Newcombe, a sophomore at Belfast Area High School, described it as “a place where you can be open, and you can be yourself.”

“It’s important because it’s a place where you can be free from responsibility, and it makes it easy to relax because it’s a dedicated space to just relax,” Ash Richards, a senior in the area, shared about the center.

The Belfast Teen Center’s open house, held on June 10, was well attended by families, students, and community members. Torchlight Media partnered with students to make a short promotional video for the open house. This fall, the center formally opened on Wednesdays from 2-6 p.m., with the goal to expand hours in future years.


Anna Walker, the center’s director, emphasized the importance of listening closely to teenagers’ ideas, as  they plan themed nights like “Pizza and Puzzles” or watercolor painting sessions.

“The goal is to create a place that’s safe, welcoming, and truly designed for teens,” Walker explained. “It’s somewhere they can just show up as they are, have a meal, and know they’re supported.”

Looking ahead, Walker said she envisions a sustainable, youth-led community hub at the heart of Belfast, where every teenager feels resourced, supported, and inspired.

“We want it to be more than just a hangout,” Walker said about the center. “It should be a cozy, creative space where teenagers feel empowered to shape their own experiences, build confidence, and discover new possibilities.”

Over time, Walker and her colleagues hope that the Belfast Teen Center will grow into a permanent downtown home, consistent and innovative, woven into the fabric of the community, ensuring that teens remain a priority in Belfast for generations to come.

The community is invited to stop by the Belfast Teen Center on Wednesdays between 2 and 6 p.m. Anyone interested in connecting with or supporting the center can contact Anna Walker directly at thebelfastteencenter@gmail.com.

Belfast Area High School was an awardee of Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan grants, which started in 2022 and supported 26 programs across Maine, covering 13 counties, as well as the Maine DOE ELO Expansion grant 2.0, which started in 2025. For more information about ELOs, visit the Maine DOE website or contact Maine DOE ELO Coordinator Lana Sawyer at lana.sawyer@maine.gov.

Additionally, every Maine school administrative unit (SAU) has a McKinney-Vento liaison who supports students who are experiencing homelessness. For questions about McKinney-Vento rights and services, please contact Maine DOE McKinney-Vento Specialist Signe Lynch at signe.lynch@maine.gov or find your local liaison using the Maine McKinney-Vento Contact Lookup.

Register Now for the 2025 Fall Alternative Education Association Conference

The Alternative Education Association (AEA) of Maine has announced that its fall conference will be held on Friday, November 14, 2025, at the Marti Stevens Learning Center in Skowhegan from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the theme “Connection!”

The 2025 Fall AEA Conference will showcase inspiring alternative education success stories from around the state. It will also feature engaging breakout learning groups and regional connection meetings. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, share, and connect with fellow educators committed to student success through alternative pathways.

  • Cost: The 2025 Fall AEA Conference is $75 per person. (Lunch will be provided and is included in the cost.)
  • Date and Time:Friday, November 14, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Location:Marti Stevens Learning Center (140 Academy Circle, Skowhegan, ME 04976)

Please click here to register.  Registration must be completed by November 6, 2025.

With questions, please contact Tristen Hinkle, AEA President, at thinkle@msad54.org or Tracey Menard, AEA Vice President, at menart@portlandschools.org.