Category: News & Views

Wabanaki Studies Website Revamped to Include Curriculum, Units, Lessons, Activities, and More!

After months of collaboration between Wabanaki advisors and educators from across the state, under the direction of the Wabanaki Studies Specialist, Brianne Lolar (Panawahpskek), the website has been revamped to include a plethora of new resources.

Some of the many features include:

  • Links to 7 Wabanaki Studies MOOSE (Maine Online Open-Source Education platform) modules with accompanying resources
  • Additional Wabanaki Studies curriculum, units, lessons, and resources
  • Traditional Knowledge Keepers Directory
  • Wabanaki Studies Specialist office hours sign up
  • Resource database
  • Monthly spotlight with new resources

This work is deliberately designed to be taught year-round. As with all great, meaningful teaching, it is interdisciplinary, connecting with topics that are already being taught, and strengthens learning. Spend some time with all of the resources and find ways to teach this in a deliberate way throughout the entire year. Reach out to the Wabanaki Studies Specialist, Brianne Lolar to share the great things you are already doing, things you have learned along the way, and ways you and your students have grown!

https://www.maine.gov/doe/innovation/wabanakistudies

Maine DOE Selects Claire Ouellette of Caribou and Ryan Hafener of Hampden for United States Senate Youth Program

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is pleased to announce that Claire Ouellette, a student at Caribou High School, in Caribou, and Ryan Hafener, a student at Hampden Academy, in Hampden, were both selected for the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). They will each be attending USSYP’s Washington Week in Washington, D.C. during the first week of March where they will meet with the Senate leaders and the Senate parliamentarian and historian; a justice of the Supreme Court, the President, officials from the Departments of State and Defense and other executive agencies, a foreign ambassador to the U.S. and senior members of the media. They are also each awarded a $10,000 scholarship to any undergraduate institution of their choosing.

Photos of Claire Ouellette accepting the honor:

Claire Ouelette with her Superintendent Jane McCall, her Social Studies teacher Allison Ladner (who nominated her), and Principal Jamie Selfridge
Claire Ouelette with her parents Josh and Karen Ouelette
Claire Ouelette with Beth Lambert of the Maine DOE, Trisha House from Senator Collins’ office, and Jordyn Madore from Senator King’s office.

Photos of Ryan Hafener accepting the honor:

Ryan Hafener with Beth Lambert from the Maine DOE and Edie Smith from Senator King’s office.
Ryan Hafener with his Principal Reg Ruhlin

The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) provides a yearly opportunity for two students from each state, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education Activity, to gain an in-depth view of the United States Senate and the federal government as well as a deeper understanding of the interrelationship of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. The overall mission of the program is to help instill within each class of USSYP student delegates more profound knowledge of the American political process and a lifelong commitment to public service.

The selection process for this prestigious award is rigorous and competitive and began when teachers and principals nominated qualified students this past fall. Once nominated, students had to complete an application and write an essay on a significant issue they would like the U.S. Congress to consider.

Based on the quality of their essay, ten students were selected as finalists. Those 10 students came to The Margaret Chase Smith library in Skowhegan where they were interviewed by a distinguished panel of judges including Chuck Mahaleris, Constituent Services Representative for Senator Susan Collins; and Ben Tucker, Regional Representative for Senator Angus S. King, Jr. Additionally, they were asked to write and deliver a four-minute senate simulation speech. At the end of the day, both Claire and Ryan rose to the top.

Media Release: New Initiative Provides Welcoming Libraries to 26 Maine Schools, 900 Books to Bangor Schools

Books Highlight Themes of Diversity and Highlight Immigrant and New American Families

In front of hundreds of fourth and fifth grade students at Bangor’s Fairmont School, the Maine Department of Education (DOE), I’m Your Neighbor Books, the Maine Community Foundation, the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, and school officials announced the delivery of 900 books featuring immigrant and new American families for all Bangor schools. The books contained in these Welcoming Libraries are shelved on Maine-made book carts and promote themes of diversity, immigration, and creating welcoming environments for all.

The Maine DOE and I’m Your Neighbor Books also announced a new PINE Project, which will provide no-cost Welcoming Libraries to an additional 16 schools across Maine. Each library contains 60 books allowing immigrant and New American students to see themselves and their families reflected in what they are reading and providing all students with picture books featuring stories of immigrant families and the diversity of America.

The announcement event featured a student-led reading of I’m An American, written by Darshana Khiani and illustrated by Laura Freeman. The book is included in the libraries and highlights the diverse cultures that make up the United States and the ways we define what it means to be American.

“We’re excited to partner with I’m Your Neighbor Books to bring these libraries to schools across Maine and support teachers in bringing this content to life in their classrooms. As Maine welcomes more immigrant and New American families, it’s incredibly important that students see themselves and their families represented in the books in their school libraries. These books also encourage all students to create a welcoming environment and appreciate the incredible diversity in our communities and nation,” said Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin.  

“In recognition of Bangor becoming an official refugee resettlement city, two Maine foundations stepped forward to fund immigration-themed book collections for Bangor Schools. With a $25,000 grant award from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation and a $10,000 Community Building grant award from the Maine Community Foundation, I’m Your Neighbor Books is placing 90 books and a book cart engraved with the invitation, ‘Read to Welcome. Read to Belong.’ in each Bangor School,” said I’m Your Neighbor Books Executive Director Kirsten Cappy.

Educators from across the state applied to receive these Welcoming Libraries and to participate in a series of 2024 workshops hosted by I’m Your Neighbor Books. The workshops will use the cart’s picture books to further teacher training on social emotional learning and the themes embedded in the books. Stories featuring the emotional resiliency of Immigrant and New Generation families will form the basis for exploring the resiliency of all Maine students.

The picture books on the carts include a set of discussion questions created by I’m Your Neighbor Books. The inclusion of those questions in this and other Welcoming Library projects led the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) to officially commend the Welcoming Library for “building a stronger culture of welcoming and belonging” in US schools.

The collaborative work of the educators selected from 16 Maine schools and the workshop leaders will culminate in a series of professional development videos that I’m Your Neighbor Books and the Maine Department of Education will use with educators in Maine and share across the nation.

The 16 Maine schools selected for the PINE Project include Fourteenth St. School in Bangor, Biddeford Intermediate School, Kate Furbish Elementary School in Brunswick, Central Community Elementary School in Corinth, Mast Landing School in Freeport, George B Weatherbee School in Hampden, Jonesport Elementary School, Thomas J McMahon Elementary School in Lewiston, Sebasticook Elementary School in Newport, Oxford Elementary School, Pembroke Elementary School, East End Community School in Portland, Gerald E. Talbot Community School in Portland, C.K. Burns School in Saco, Mt. View Elementary School in Thorndike, and Canal Elementary School in Westbrook.

The book carts were designed by Lewiston’s Edgewise Design and manufactured in Lisbon Falls by Orion Woodshop. Engraving on the cart invites students to “Read to Welcome” and “Read to Belong” and welcomes students with the phrase “I’m Your Neighbor” in ten languages.

ESSERF (CRRSA and Emergency) funds received from the US Department of Education (USDOE) supported the implementation of this project. The project has an award from the Maine DOE totaling $119,041.16.

EF-M-39B Adult Education Subsidy Report Due Soon

The EF-M-39B Adult Education report is due on December 15, 2023. All public school administrative units (SAUs), excluding public charter schools, must report even if there are no pupils to report. Data entered into this report is based on the number of Resident Students from SAUs who are attending Regional Adult Education Programs. Students attending Adult Education Programs under Superintendent Agreements are reported by the attending SAU. This report is only intended to include students aged 16-20 years old who have exited regular education and are alternatively taking Adult Education courses. This report covers the reporting range from July 1st to December 30th of adult education students, courses, and credits/hours.

  • Reporting Period: 7/1-12/31
  • Open Date: 12/1
  • Due Date: 12/15

If you have questions about this report please contact MEDMS.Helpdesk@maine.gov or call 207-624-6896

Volunteer Maine Celebrates New and Retiring Community Service Leaders

(Pictured: Dedimus Justice Heather Priest administers the oath of office to three Commission appointees. Pam Proulx-Curry of Old Town [L], Necole Janczura of Cushing [C], and Diane Lebson of Camden [R])

The Maine Commission for Community Service (MCCS), also known as Volunteer Maine, recently celebrated the contributions of five community service leaders who completed terms on the Commission. At the same time, the Commission welcomed five new members appointed by Governor Janet Mills and witnessed the swearing-in of two leaders reappointed for three-year terms.

The Commissioners are a diverse, bipartisan group of citizens, who represent at least one of the 25 volunteer service sectors named in the Commission’s statute. The board is charged with ensuring Maine’s community and volunteer service sector can effectively tackle critical local needs. The Commission awards AmeriCorps grants and oversees training and technical assistance for community volunteer leaders.

The following have been reappointed for 3-year terms:

  • Pam Proulx-Curry of Old Town (left in the photo), Executive Director of Maine Multicultural Center in Bangor. Proulx-Curry is the Chair-elect of the Maine Commission for Community Service.
  • Diane Lebson of Camden (right in the photo), CEO and Co-founder of Evergreen Philanthropic Solutions. Lebson is the Chair of the Communications Task Force.

The following are newly appointed to the Maine Commission for Community Service by Governor Janet Mills:

  • Necole Janczura of Cushing Business Development Officer for First National Bank
  • Kelly Day of Westbrook, Director of Volunteer Services for Catholic Charities Maine
  • William Sedlack of Scarborough, Executive Director of the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust
  • Matthew Williams of Ellsworth, City Planner for the City of Ellsworth
  • Michael Williams of Greenbush, County Manager for Piscataquis County

Honored for their service on the Maine Commission for Community Service:

  • Phil Bosse of Winthrop, a retiree from U.S. Senator Susan Collins staff
  • Nate Rudy, now a foreign service officer with the State Department
  • Zakk Maher, Community Development Manager for the City of Auburn
  • Ed Barrett of Lewiston a retired City Administrator in Lewiston
  • Robert Meinders of Benedicta, a retiree from USDA

Volunteer Maine, the Maine Commission for Community Service, builds capacity and sustainability in Maine’s volunteer sector by funding service programs, developing volunteer managers and service-learning practitioners, raising awareness of the scope and the impact of the volunteer sector, and encouraging an ethic of service.

First 10 Community School Informational Session

Has your elementary school and its community partners been interested in collaborating to support children and families in your community? Have you wondered about the positive outcomes such partnerships can afford? If so, the First 10 Community School model may be just such an opportunity to consider.  Join the Maine Department of Education for an informational session to:

  • learn more about the First 10 Community School model,
  • consider being part of an ongoing First 10 Community School pilot, and
  • obtain answers to questions you have about the model.

An informational session will be held on December 14 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. A link to register for the session can be found below. The session will be recorded and shared if you are unable to attend the live presentation.

Developed by Education Development Center, First 10 Community Schools bring together school systems, early childhood programs, and community partners/agencies to improve care and education for young children and their families throughout the first 10 years of children’s lives.  This model works to improve teaching and learning, deepen partnerships with families, and provide comprehensive services for children and families.  Typical First 10 practices include, but are not limited to:

  • fostering engagement of families with schools and community partners,
  • providing play and learn groups linked to elementary schools,
  • coordinating connections to health and social services,
  • connecting child care providers with elementary schools,
  • improving the quality of early childhood programs,
  • coordinating the transition to kindergarten,
  • conducting joint professional learning among early childhood, pre-k and elementary teachers, and
  • aligning and improving elementary grade curriculum and instruction.

Information about First 10 Community Schools can be found on the Maine Department of Education’s First 10 webpage and on Education Development Center’s First 10 webpage.  For more information, reach out to Lee Anne Larsen, Director of Early Learning, at leeann.larsen@maine.gov or Sue Gallant, First 10 Community School Consultant, at Sue.Gallant@maine.gov.

Registration is Now Open for the 2024 Maine School Winter Wellness Summit, Give Roots to Wellness!

By mid-school year school personnel are ready for a pick me up that provides information, experiences, resources, and tools to care for one’s self and others. The Maine Department of Education, Office of School and Student Supports, Employee Health Promotion and Wellness Program is pleased to be able to offer the 2024 Maine School Winter Wellness Summit, Give Roots to Wellness! School leaders and employees from across the State are invited to register for this event.

Thursday, January 25 and Friday, January 26
The Samoset Resort in Rockport

This event is open to individuals and teams in schools interested in worksite health promotion and wellness as well as community members supporting schools.

The goal of the Winter Wellness Summit is to inspire and empower participants to take care of their personal health, and to create healthier, more supportive, and safer school environments for all. The Summit agenda supports the promotion of health improvement to enhance well-being and academic achievement.

This year’s agenda includes three educational and inspirational keynote presentations, engaging workshops on personal wellness practices and positive and healthier school environments, worksite wellness program planning, and network opportunities with colleagues and professionals from across the State who value health promotion and wellness.

The cost of the two-day event is $150/person for early bird (through December 22nd) and $175/person for standard registration (after December 22nd) inclusive of five meals. Accommodations are on your own, but we have secured a block of rooms at an excellent rate below the State per diem rates! All the details can be found on the Winter Wellness Summit webpage.

See the agenda.

Register for the Summit and get more info here.

Direct questions to susan.berry@maine.gov.

Maine Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance Announces 2023 Teachers of the Year and Honor Award Winners 

Every November outstanding professionals in the fields of health education, physical education, adapted physical education, and recreation are recognized during the Maine Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (Maine AHPERD) Annual Conference. This year the following four educators were named as the 2023 Maine AHPERD Teachers of the Year and honored during the Award Banquet at the Samoset Resort.

Awards were presented to a community partner and two individuals who are recognized as strong supporters of the mission of Maine AHPERD and the field. This year’s awardees were:

Additionally, six students were recognized as the 2023 Outstanding Future Professionals in health and physical education hailing from five Maine institutes of higher education.

Pictured L to R: Sarah Wentworth - University of Maine at Orono, Zachery Creekmore - St. Joseph's College, Brecken Sargent - University of Maine at Presque Isle,(Maine AHPERD President Kayla McGee), Tyler Calhoun - University of New England, Jonah Sautter - University of Maine at Farmington, Jacob Mulligan - University of Maine at Orono
Pictured L to R: Sarah Wentworth – University of Maine at Orono, Zachery Creekmore – St. Joseph’s College, Brecken Sargent – University of Maine at Presque Isle, (Maine AHPERD President Kayla McGee), Tyler Calhoun – University of New England, Jonah Sautter – University of Maine at Farmington, Jacob Mulligan – University of Maine at Orono

Check out the MaineAHPERD website for highlights and resources from the conference.

 

Two Maine Educators Explore How Artificial Intelligence (AI) can Benefit Adult Learners on their Career Journey

(Pictured: Sierra Melanson, Turner Adult Education Program; Dr. Thea Ducrow, AI Expert; and Kate Points, York County Adult Education Program)

Sierra Melanson (College and Career Success Coordinator at Central Maine Community College) and Kate Points (York County Career Advancement and Navigation Specialist) attended a Maine Development Career Association (MCDA) conference about Artificial Intelligence (AI) hosted at BerryDunn early this month. Sierra and Kate work for two Adult Education programs that help adults on their career journeys; the College and Career Success Coordinators and Career Advancement and Navigation Specialists. As part of the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, the College and Career Success Coordinators are placed at each Maine Community College and help learners achieve their career goals related to workforce, certificate, and associate programs at the colleges. The Career Navigators help people in their communities to take the next step in their careers and they work with local employers.

Thea Ducrow, Ph.D., an expert in AI, presented Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work. She shared that the world is a fundamentally different place than it was in November, 2022. There were diverse opinions concerning AI in the room; some educators and professionals were concerned and worried about how AI would impact the workforce while others felt neutral or excited. What Dr. Ducrow shared was informative and practical for educators, career development professionals, as well as workers.

“There will be a critical point in time where the accumulation of AI capabilities will make certain roles obsolete while creating new ones,” said Dr. Ducrow. She encouraged the audience to take a “Creative AI Leadership Approach” by being proactive rather than reactive, to combine ideation and the science of data, and that AI can help career development professionals understand patterns and insights to drive innovation.

A few of the key points of guidance that Dr. Ducrow offered job seekers included “embrace digital proficiency –be an early adopter, understand data – learn data analytics regardless of one’s field, and gain practical real-world experience – anyway one can volunteer, pursue an internship, part-time jobs, etc.” Dr. Ducrow emphasized the importance of hands-on work experiences as they are foundationally relational and AI will not change the importance of relationships.

Fortunately, in Maine there are myriad opportunities for workers to gain meaningful work experiences; a few include workforce programs at Adult Education, Maine Department of Labor apprenticeships, and paid work experiences for young people through the Maine Career Exploration program. Resource experts like Sierra and Kate are available to help make those connections. The CMCC Success Coordinator, Sierra Melanson, notes that she plans to try ChatGPT to help learners in creating personalized career and academic plans based on what the student is studying or looking to study.

“The piece that struck me most from the conference was how ubiquitous AI will become in the next few years,” said Kate Points, York County Adult Education Career Navigator. “For my work with participants, it’s important to start addressing AI as a digital literacy skill as ‘regular folks’ will need proficiency with it, just like they currently need proficiency with word processing or spreadsheets.  For my own work, helping adults take the next step in their career, I think it will be helpful in learning about career fields I might not be familiar with.  I’m really interested in the possibilities!”

Across Maine, there are digital literacy classes available for learners looking to increase their digital knowledge and skills. Please contact your local Adult Education if you’d like to learn more.

Since the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan took effect in October 2021, the Mills Administration has delivered direct economic relief to nearly 1,000 Maine small businesses, supported more than 100 infrastructure projects around the state to create jobs and revitalize communities, and invested in workforce programs estimated to offer apprenticeship, career and education advancement, and job training opportunities to 22,000 Maine people. For more about Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, visit maine.gov/jobsplan.

To read the bios of Maine’s College and Career Success Coordinators, and learn more about the programs.

 

Mt. View High School Educators are Leveraging Maine DOE’s ConCEPT Pilot Program to Help Meet their Academic Needs

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Interdisciplinary Instruction Team is offering a pilot program developed by listening to educators’ needs and creating the opportunity for them to choose their professional learning adventure. In an effort to make this program available to more schools and educators across Maine, we are sharing some examples of the ways that Mt. View High School educators are using ConCEPT to meet their unique needs:

  • Using Executive Functioning for the SAT – SAT prep courses tend to focus on filling in gaps in learning and practicing how to take the test, but educators at Mt. View High School are taking a different approach. Along with filling in conceptual gaps in math and English, students will be working to understand how to take a test from an executive functioning perspective. By teaching students how to utilize working memory, plan and prioritize the test, organize their time, and reflect, educators can prepare students academically and cognitively for the test.
  • Developing Student Disposition – Another team will be working to support student engagement and social development through student dispositions. All students can use practice with dispositions like responsibility, communication, or self-reflection, but this program aims to create groups of students that can focus on dispositions that need improvement.
  • Ownership and Place-based Learning – A group of educators is looking to help students see a connection between taking ownership of their classroom space and the environment. By focusing on empathy, a sense of place, student voice, and reflection, these educators want to support students to see how the skills they use to take care of the small space they use every day can be transferred to the outside world, specifically Maine’s environment.
  • Applying Academic Concepts to Real-world Problems – A group of math, science, and English teachers are working to create an interdisciplinary, dual-credit engineering class. Through student-focused inquiry in the form of genius hours, students will apply academic concepts to real-world problems. This interdisciplinary class will be designed to cover high school credit requirements in multiple subject areas and as a college credit through the University of Maine.

These programs are supported through the ConCEPT pilot program through the Maine Department of Education. Mt. View educators are excited about this program because it allows them to meet with educators they rarely work with, the professional learning “caters to the needs of educators and students,” and they “feel the support of the DOE.”

If you are interested in learning more about ConCEPT, please visit the ConCEPT web page or e-mail Maine DOE Interdisciplinary Instruction Team Coordinator Kathy Bertini at Kathy.bertini@maine.org