Category: Professional Development

Maine DOE Offers Variety of Literacy Learning Opportunities Aligned to Maine’s Statewide Action Plans

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Teaching and Learning invites educators from across the state to engage in literacy learning opportunities that are thoughtfully aligned to Maine’s statewide Action Plans.

The quieter winter season often offers a natural moment for reflection and growth. These literacy professional learning opportunities are designed to be supportive, practical, and inspiring—an invitation for educators to use the winter months to strengthen their practice, build shared understanding, and invest in the essential work of literacy.

Together, the below offerings form a menu of literacy learning opportunities available throughout the winter and spring of 2026. Educators are encouraged to engage in the experiences that best meet their interests, roles, and local contexts, whether that means participating in a cohort, attending a single workshop, joining virtual support hours, exploring modular professional learning, or taking part in statewide literacy initiatives.

Winter/Spring 2026 Literacy Professional Learning Opportunities:

Maine Solutionaries Project Literacy Cohort

This professional learning opportunity equips middle and high school teachers with training in four high-impact, interdisciplinary literacy practices that foster lifelong literacy and support successful Solutionary Inquiry-to-Action projects. Through engagement with complex texts, text-based discussion and writing, word study, and collaborative performance tasks, this cohort strengthens students’ reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language skills across content areas.

  • Audience: Grades 4-12 educators
  • Format:
    • In-person kickoff session on January 27, 2026, from 8:30-3:30 p.m. at Maple Hill Farm in Hallowell
    • Weekly virtual learning sessions on Tuesdays from 4-5:30 p.m. from February 3 through March 31 (four weeks focused on Solutionary Learning and four weeks focused on literacy integration)

Participants may earn up to 45 contact hours. Educators are encouraged to attend these sessions in pairs. Please use this link to register.

Spring Integrated Literacy Workshops

Please use this link to register for any of the following integrated literacy workshops:

Integrating Literacy with Mapmaking: Renee Keul will explore the connection between literacy and mapmaking by engaging educators in analyzing and creating maps. This workshop models how spatial reasoning, data visualization, and critical thinking support reading, writing, and communication across content areas, reinforcing literacy as a shared responsibility. This workshop strengthens foundational literacy skills such as decoding symbols, building vocabulary, sequencing ideas, and making meaning across texts through hands-on, interdisciplinary learning.

  • Audience: Pk-12 Educators
  • Date: March 6, 2026, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • Location: Osher Map Library in Portland (or virtually via Zoom)
  • Contact Hours: seven hours available

Integrating Literacy with Objects and Writing: Deb Johnson and Ronni Blaisdell will share strategies for using real-world artifacts and natural materials to support foundational reading and writing skills. By modeling object-based learning grounded in authentic texts and materials, this workshop demonstrates how interdisciplinary, hands-on instruction strengthens literacy development across grade levels and content areas. This workshop builds vocabulary, comprehension, and writing stamina through close observation and inquiry.

  • Audience: pre-K-12 educators
  • Date: April 10, 2026, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • Location: Maine Mineral and Gem Museum in Bethel (or virtually via Zoom)
  • Contact Hours: seven hours available    

Reaching Reluctant Readers: Cris Tovani will explore why students disengage from reading and how educators can remove barriers to learning. Grounded in research-based strategies for knowledge building and comprehension, the session equips educators with practical tools to support confident, independent readers across content areas. This workshop addresses engagement, motivation, and access as essential components of effective literacy instruction, particularly for students who are reluctant or struggling readers.

  • Audience: pre-K-12 educators
  • Date: May 15, 2026, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • Location: Camp Chamberlain in Augusta (or virtually via Zoom)
  • Contact Hours: seven hours available          

Virtual Support Hours: Virtual support will be available on Thursdays following each workshop. These sessions are open to all educators, regardless of whether they attended the corresponding workshops, and are designed to support the application of learning through collaboration, reflection, and shared problem-solving.

  • Graphic Novels for Literacy (workshop already occurred)
    January 8 through February 19, 2026, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. – Zoom registration link
    This is an open, collaborative space to explore how graphic novels support comprehension, vocabulary development, and visual literacy across grade levels and content areas. Participants are encouraged to bring questions, classroom experiences, and ideas aligned with the statewide Action Plans’ interdisciplinary vision.   
  • Integrating Literacy with Mapmaking
    February 26 through April 9, 2026, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. – Zoom registration link
    This is an informal space to explore how map analysis and creation can strengthen vocabulary, comprehension, and meaning making across content areas, reinforcing literacy as a shared responsibility. 
  • Integrating Literacy with Objects and Writing
    April 16 through May 7, 2026, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. –Zoom registration link
    This is a supportive forum to reflect on and apply hands-on strategies that build engagement, motivation, and access to literacy through object-based learning and writing.
  • Reaching Reluctant Readers
    May 14 through June 4, 2026, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. – Zoom registration link
    This is an open forum to extend learning from Cris Tovani’s strategies for engagement and comprehension. Educators can share challenges and explore ways to remove barriers to reading and support confident, independent literacy development.

Additional Literacy Learning Opportunities

  • Literacy Modules for Professional Learning: School administrative units (SAUs) may purchase licenses for AIM Steps to Literacy modules or Keys to Literacy modules at reduced costs and then seek reimbursement once educators have successfully completed the modules. Find additional details here.
  • For ME Instructional Programs: An informational session will be held on January 26, 2026, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. for schools interested in adopting the For ME Instructional Programs (Pre-K for ME, K for ME, 1st Grade for ME, and/or 2nd Grade for ME). These programs are grounded in evidence-based literacy practices, are interdisciplinary and play-based, and are aligned with Maine’s learning standards. Additional details and the Zoom link will be shared in January 2026.
  • Read to ME Challenge 2026: Get ready for this year’s Read to ME Challenge, running throughout the month of February! Details will be shared in January 2026. 

For more information about these professional learning opportunities, please contact Maine DOE Interdisciplinary Instruction Team Coordinator Kathy Bertini at Kathy.Bertini@maine.gov.

Titles II-A and IV-A funds received from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) support the implementation of these projects. These projects have an award totaling $99,569.00 of which 38% is federally funded and directly attributed to project implementation. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, ED or the U.S. government.

Maine DOE Offers Variety of Numeracy Learning Opportunities Aligned to Maine’s Statewide Action Plans

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Teaching and Learning invites educators from across the state to engage in numeracy learning opportunities that are thoughtfully aligned to Maine’s statewide Action Plans.

The quieter winter season often offers a natural moment for reflection and growth. These numeracy professional learning opportunities are designed to be supportive, practical, and inspiring—an invitation for educators to use the winter months to strengthen their practice, build shared understanding, and invest in the essential work of numeracy.

Together, the below offerings form a menu of numeracy learning opportunities available throughout the winter and spring of 2026. Educators are encouraged to engage in the experiences that best meet their interests, roles, and local contexts, whether that means joining a professional learning community, participating in a book-based conversation series, applying as a school or school administrative unit (SAU) team, or engaging in interdisciplinary and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics)-focused learning.

Winter/Spring 2026 Numeracy Professional Learning Opportunities:

Maine’s Statewide Mathematics Specialist Professional Learning Community

The Numeracy and Leadership Initiative, hosted by the Association of Teachers of Mathematics in Maine (ATOMIM), in collaboration with the Maine DOE, University of Southern Maine, and University of Maine at Farmington, offers multiple opportunities for educators to build capacity in both numeracy and leadership. One of these is Maine’s Statewide Mathematics Specialist Professional Learning Community (PLC).

  • Audience: Math coaches, lead teachers, interventionists, and department chairs
  • Dates: Participants may choose to attend all sessions or select those that best meet their needs. The Mathematics Specialist PLC will meet on the following dates:
    • January 28, 2026, from 3:30-4:45 p.m. (virtually via Zoom)
    • February 25, 2026, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. (virtually via Zoom)
    • March 23, 2026, from 1-5 p.m. (in-person at the University of Maine at Augusta—limited to 50 participants)
    • April 30, 2026, from 2-5 p.m. (in-person at the University of Southern Maine in Lewiston/Auburn)
    • May 21, 2026, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. (virtually via Zoom)

Please use this link to register.

Math Trauma to Math Triumph: Math Therapy Conversations and Supports

Educators are invited to participate in informal, supportive conversations centered on Math Therapy by Vanessa Vakharia. Participants will discuss the book and explore the implementation of the 5 “Ms” (Mythbust, Moderate, Motivate, Makeover, and Measure) in their classrooms. This series continues learning from the December 5, 2025, in-person event with Vakharia.

  • Audience: pre-K-12 educators
  • Dates: Participants may choose to attend one or multiple sessions. One-hour virtual meetings will take place on the following Wednesdays:
    • January 14, 21, and 28, 2026
    • February 4, 11, and 25, 2026
  • Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.

To participate fully in this opportunity, educators should have attended the in-person workshop and have read—or be in the process of reading— Math Therapy. Please use this link to register.

2026 ATOMIM Spring Conference – Developing Mathematical Reasoning for ALL: Ensuring Everyone Is Counted In!

Join math educators for a full day of learning at the Association of Teachers of Mathematics in Maine (ATOMIM) Spring Conference. The conference will feature keynote speaker Vanessa Vakharia, “The Math Guru,” and a range of engaging sessions aligned to the strands of mathematical reasoning, math leadership, and differentiation, equity, and inclusion.

  • Audience: pre-K-12 educators
  • Date: March 24, 2026
  • Location: Augusta Civic Center (in-person)

Contact hours will be made available to attendees. Please use this link to register.

Unlocking Numeracy

School and SAU teams serving grades 3-5 are invited to apply for a series of five virtual workshops hosted by Dan Finkel, founder of Math for Love, in collaboration with the Maine DOE. This opportunity supports schoolwide efforts to unlock students’ numeracy potential.

  • Audience: Numeracy teams consisting of the principal, two math teachers, and one or two community numeracy/math liaisons
  • Dates:
    • February 3, 2026 – Foundation of Numeracy
    • March 3, 2026 – Classroom Openers for Numeracy
    • April 7, 2026 – Building Numeracy with Games
    • May 5, 2026 – Communicating Numeracy to Families and Teachers
    • May 26, 2026 – Rich Tasks and Purposeful Fluency

Each team will receive a numeracy toolkit, exemplar lessons, and supplies to support a family math night. Participants may earn up to 15 contact hours.

Please use this link to register. Applications are due January 16, 2026.

Deepening Early Numeracy Through Rich Math Talk, Purposeful Games, and Outdoor Place-Based Learning

Teams of pre-K-2 educators will participate in a comprehensive early numeracy initiative hosted by the Maine Math and Science Alliance (MMSA) in collaboration with the Maine DOE. This initiative integrates research-based professional learning, instructional coaching, play- and nature-based approaches, and family engagement to support joyful, meaningful, and developmentally responsive mathematics learning.

  • Audience: pre-K-2 educators
  • Dates: In-person workshops will be taking place on the following dates. (Cohorts are determined by closest location.)
    • Cohort 1 – Portland area: February 9, March 9, and April 6, 2026
    • Cohort 2 – Bangor area: February 6, March 2, and April 3, 2026
    • Cohort 3 – Machias area: February 27, March 27, and April 13, 2026

Virtual coaching sessions will be available to support implementation. Participants may earn 20 contact hours, as well as a $250 honorarium.

Pairs of educators from the same school must apply together through a single joint application, which is due January 16, 2026. Please use this link to register.

STEAM PowerED Maine Professional Learning Cohort

Maine educators are invited to join a four-month STEAM professional learning cohort designed to support interdisciplinary teaching and learning across content areas. In partnership with Creative Generation and the Maine DOE, this cohort will focus on creativity, numeracy, instructional design, technology, and student-centered learning.

  • Audience: pre-K-12 educators
  • Format:
    • In-person kickoff on February 2, 2026, in Augusta
    • Four virtual workshops to follow (in February, March, and April)
    • Asynchronous learning in EnGiNE, the Maine DOE’s learning management system

Participants may earn 26 contact hours, as well as a $500 stipend, over the span of four months: eight hours for the in-person kickoff, four hours of professional learning with Creative Generation, four hours of professional learning with the Maine DOE, and 10 hours for artifact creation. Mileage reimbursement is available to all participants, and lodging is available upon request for anyone traveling more than 50 miles from Augusta.    

Please use this link to register. Registration closes on January 26, 2026.

For more information about any of these professional learning opportunities, please contact Maine DOE Interdisciplinary Instruction Team Coordinator Kathy Bertini at Kathy.Bertini@maine.gov.

Titles II-A and IV-A funds received from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) support the implementation of these projects. These projects have an award totaling $213,8333.62 of which 77% is federally funded and directly attributed to project implementation. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, ED or the U.S. government.

Two-Part Professional Learning Series: Designing High-Quality ILAP Language Goals for Multilingual Learners

Are you looking for a clearer, more confident approach to creating effective language goals for multilingual learners? If so, consider participating in a two-part virtual series, led by Maine Department of Education (DOE) Teacher Leader Fellow Rebecca Carey. Participants will learn how to strengthen their practice surrounding Individual Language Acquisition Plans (ILAPs) by engaging in a clear and collaborative process for creating meaningful, measurable language goals that support and monitor student growth, connecting directly to classroom learning

Every multilingual learner must have an ILAP—a required, school-based plan designed to reflect and support their language development needs. High-quality ILAPs include well-crafted language goals that are measurable, instructionally relevant, and aligned to students’ learning contexts.In these sessions, participants will:

  • Learn effective approaches to developing high-quality language goals.
  • Engage with a variety of WIDA resources to support language goal development.
  • Explore collaborative pathways and approaches for ILAP development.
  • Draft, refine, and receive feedback on language goals with guided support.

These sessions are intended for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teachers, directors/coordinators of multilingual programs, and general education teachers who support multilingual learners. Each session includes one hour of structured learning, followed by 30 minutes of guided workshopping, discussion, and sharing. Participants who attend both sessions will receive three contact hours.

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

  • Monday, January 12, 2026
  • Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Registration is required. Please register here.

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 ESOL State Specialist, at jane.armstrong@maine.gov.

Educators Invited to “Dawnland” Documentary Screenings and Guided Dinner Discussions

The Maine Department of Education (DOE), in partnership with Wabanaki REACH, the Maine Environmental Education Association (MEEA), Wabanaki Alliance, the Upstander Project, Wabanaki Culture Center, Maine Indian Education, RSU 34, RSU 5, and MSAD 44, invites Maine educators, school leaders, and parents to a series of free, in-person events across the state to view the award-winning documentary, Dawnland. These screenings, beginning in January 2026, will be followed by dinner and a discussion.

About the Film

For decades, child welfare authorities removed Indigenous children from their homes to “save them from being Indian.” In the place now called Maine, the first official Truth and Reconciliation Commission began a historic investigation. Dawnland goes behind the scenes, as this historic body grapples with difficult truths, redefines reconciliation, and charts a new course for state and tribal relations.

Dawnland aired on Independent Lens on PBS in November 2018 and 2021, reaching more than 2 million viewers. The film won a national Emmy® Award for Outstanding Research in 2019 and was included on the American Library Association’s list of 2020 Notable Videos for Adults.

Event Details

Dates/Locations:

  • January 27, 2026: Bethel (Telster High School, 284 Walkers Mills Road, Bethel, ME 04217)
  • January 29, 2026: Old Town (Old Town High School, 203 Stillwater Avenue, Old Town, ME 04468)
  • February 9, 2026: Calais (Wabanaki Culture Center, 39 Union Street, Calais, ME 04619)
  • March 9, 2026: Freeport (Freeport Performing Arts Center, 30 Holbrook Street, Freeport, ME 04032)

Time: 5 to 8 p.m.

Audience: Maine educators, school leaders, and parents

Contact Hours: Three hours awarded

Cost: Free (dinner included)

An RSVP is required! Space is limited at each site, so please register here.

To learn more about Wabanaki Studies and ways to engage, please visit the Maine DOE Wabanaki Studies webpage, or contact Brianne Lolar, Maine DOE Wabanaki Studies Specialist, at brianne.lolar@maine.gov.

Second of Three Statewide Professional Learning Days Scheduled for January 16: EngageMEnt – Cultivating Innovative Teaching and Learning

Maine educators are invited to attend a statewide professional learning experience on Friday, January 16, 2026, hosted by the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Offices of Teaching and Learning and Innovation. This is the second of three free, statewide events, designed for educators, ed techs, administrators, and pre-service educators, scheduled for the 2025-2026 school year. The first took place in October, and the third is scheduled for Friday, March 10.

These professional learning days are scheduled to align with the dedicated professional development days of many school administrative units (SAUs). Educators may register for both remaining events or just one. Participants may attend in-person at one of the University of Maine System campuses—University of Maine Orono (UMaine), University of Maine at Farmington (UMF), and the University of Southern Maine (USM)—or join remotely via livestream from anywhere in the state. Educators will also be able to access materials on-demand after the event. All participants are eligible for contact hours.

No matter your role in public education—whether you’re an early childhood educator; a science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) enthusiast; a literacy coach; a pre-service teacher; or someone looking to deepen their practice in inclusive education—there will be something at these events for you. The engaging workshops on offer, crafted by Maine DOE staff, are designed to inspire, energize, and equip educators with the tools required to meet the needs of today’s learners.

Topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Play-based and early childhood assessment
  • Wabanaki Studies integration
  • STEAM and numeracy
  • Literacy through graphic novels
  • UDL (Universal Design for Learning) and MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) frameworks
  • Supporting multilingual learners
  • Technology integration
  • Environmental education

Each professional learning day will start with morning workshops from 9-11:30 a.m., followed by a lunch break (on your own) from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and ending with afternoon workshops from 12:30-3 p.m. There are 50 seats available per in-person workshop session, while the remote option offers unlimited space. Registration is required in advance. You may register here. Those who cannot participate day-of may access asynchronous recordings of sessions here once they are posted.

In partnership with the University of Maine System, this statewide professional learning initiative is made possible through a valued collaboration with UMaine, UMF and USM. The Maine DOE is grateful to these institutions for opening their doors to educators from across the state. This partnership helps to ensure that accessible, high-quality, and regionally grounded professional learning is available to every Maine educator, whether attending in-person or joining remotely.

For questions or more information, please reference this flyer or contact Beth Lambert, Maine DOE Chief Teaching and Learning Officer, at beth.lambert@maine.gov.

Registration Open for School-Based Behavioral Health ECHO© Series

Registration is now open for the School-Based Behavioral Health ECHO©, a free, monthly, case-based learning collaborative for school-based health center staff, school health personnel, and others who care for the health of children in school settings. This opportunity is available through the Maine Pediatric & Behavioral Health Partnership Program and is sponsored by MCD Global Health. Staff from the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of School and Student Supports previously hosted an ECHO© series and will participate in this series as subject matter experts.

This opportunity is part of the School-Based Behavioral Health ECHO© Learning Collaborative, which offers a practical and supportive space for participants to strengthen skills in managing complex student behavioral health needs in school settings. The ECHO© series offers practical strategies, expert guidance, and opportunities to connect with colleagues who are navigating similar situations. Sessions help to integrate behavioral health into everyday primary care workflows in school-based health centers and school health environments.

Why Join?

  • Strengthen confidence in responding to complex student behavioral health needs
  • Bring real-time, expert guidance into your school setting
  • Access short, focused didactics on high-need issues
  • Receive collaborative input on a real de-identified case each month
  • Build relationships with colleagues across Maine
  • Enhance coordination between medical and behavioral health supports
  • Become part of a statewide effort to improve behavioral health access for children
  • Earn free Continuing Education (CE) or Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits

There are six 60-minute sessions slated for this ECHO© series. Each includes a brief, expert-led didactic presentation and a real, de-identified case contributed by participants from schools across Maine. This is a quick and meaningful way to gain fresh insight into situations that you may be managing in practice. If you have a case in mind that you would like to share for consideration, please contact Sherry Billings at sbillings@mcd.org.

Scheduled sessions take place on the second Monday of the month, starting at 3 p.m. Additionally, there is an orientation session slated for Monday, January 5, 2026.

Date Topic Presenter 
January 12Supporting Students with AnxietyMatthew Brown, DO
February 9HIPAA-FERPA Bidirectional Info SharingAlyssa Goodwin, MD
March 9  Confidential Care under Maine LawJonathan Fanburg, MD
April 13Early Grades Regulation and ReadinessLee Sowles, MPH
May 11COPE/CBT Skills in the School ClinicEllen Lauer, DO
June 8Success Stories ShowcaseMaine School-Based Health Champions

For more information or with questions about this opportunity, please contact Maine DOE Director of the Office of School and Student Supports Julie Smyth at julie.a.smyth@maine.gov or Maine DOE Integrated School Health Team Coordinator Emily Poland at emily.poland@maine.gov.

Registration Open for Maine Curriculum Leaders Association Spring Conference, with Focus on MTSS and UDL Integration

The Maine Curriculum Leaders Association (MCLA) will host its annual Spring Conference on Monday, March 30, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Augusta Civic Center. This year’s theme is, “MTSS: The Umbrella for Making UDL Work in Every Classroom.” The event will focus on enhancing coherence between the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL)—a top priority identified through member feedback.

MCLA is pleased to welcome back Dr. Katie Novak, an internationally recognized expert in MTSS and UDL, for a full day of interactive learning. Designed for district leaders, school-based leaders, and instructional coaches, the conference will explore how MTSS provides the systems and structures that allow UDL to flourish in every classroom. Participants will engage in real-world examples, collaborative activities, and practical planning tools that support high-quality, equitable instruction for all Maine students.

Attendees will leave with strategies they can immediately apply to strengthen curriculum, instruction, and assessment within their schools and school districts. The day will offer plenty of flexible learning experiences; there will be numerous opportunities to explore resources, participate in walk-and-talk sessions, join small groups, and, most importantly, apply your learning.

Conference Objectives Include:

  • Examining current MTSS implementation to identify strengths and opportunities.
  • Applying UDL principles to design more inclusive and flexible learning experiences.
  • Developing actionable next steps that advance instructional practices across districts.

Registration Details:

  • $250 for MCLA members
  • $300 for non-members

Districts with an MCLA District Membership may register all staff at the member rate.

For more information or to register, please visit the MCLA Spring Conference registration form or reach out to MCLA at director@mainecla.org.

Maine DOE Recruiting Educators for Statewide Professional Learning Series to Support Multilingual Learners

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is recruiting 120 certified educators to participate in a statewide professional learning series aimed at supporting multilingual learners (MLs) across the state. Ultimately, this cohort is designed to build educator capacity in evidence-based, language-integrated instruction across all grade levels. This project represents a key component of Maine’s coordinated Literacy and Numeracy Action Plans, which emphasize evidence-based instruction, multitiered systems of support (MTSS), aligned supports, and equitable access for all learners.

This professional learning series is being offered in partnership with SupportEd, a nationally recognized leader in ML instructional design and educator development. Through this project, SupportEd experts will help to deepen the integration of the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework, strengthen scaffolding practices, and refine classroom tasks and assessments.

Professional Learning Series Details

This opportunity is open to a wide range of educators across Maine. Classroom and content-area teachers, ML specialists, and 660-certified educators are strongly encouraged to participate, as are school administrative unit (SAU) and school leaders, such as directors or coordinators of ML programs. The series also welcomes any certified educator who is committed to providing equitable, language-integrated instruction and is eager to strengthen their practice in the services provided to MLs.

Participants will engage in high-quality professional learning led by national experts in ML instruction. Throughout the series, educators will receive practical, classroom-ready tools and templates designed to support immediate application in their own settings. They will also benefit from statewide networking and collaboration, build strategies aligned to Maine’s Literacy and Numeracy Action Plans, and contribute to the co-development of new Maine-specific instructional resources that will support ML success across the state.

All professional learning sessions run from 3 to 5 p.m. The commitment is six sessions, with two hours per session.

Elementary Cohort (pre-K-Grade 5)  Secondary Cohort (Grades 6-12)  
Session 1: January 20, 2026 Session 2: February 24, 2026 Session 3: March 18, 2026 Session 4: April 7, 2026 Session 5: May 4, 2026 Session 6: June 3, 2026  Session 1: January 22, 2026 Session 2: February 26, 2026 Session 3: March 20, 2026 Session 4: April 9, 2026 Session 5: May 6, 2026 Session 6: June 3, 2026  

Application Process and Timeline

Educators may apply for this opportunity here: Building Capacity for Multilingual Learners in Schools. Applications are due on December 12, 2025, with notification of selection planned for December 19. Selection will prioritize a broad geographic representation, grade-level balance, and diversity of educator roles across Maine’s SAUs.

For more information, please contact Melanie Junkins, Maine DOE Multilingual and Bilingual Education Specialist, at melanie.junkins@maine.gov.

The Statewide Professional Learning to Strengthen Instruction for Multilingual Learners is funded through Title II/Title IV state reservation funds. 

Maine DOE Launches Family Engagement Office Hour Series Starting October 30

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of School and Student Supports is in year four of a five-year Statewide Family Engagement Center (SFEC) grant. For those interested in learning more about this grant and available upcoming resources, the Maine DOE will be providing a three-part Family Engagement Office Hour series throughout the 2025-2026 school year. The first session will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2025, from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. virtually via Zoom.

SFEC grants provide financial support to organizations that offer technical assistance and training to state education agencies in the implementation and enhancement of systemic and effective family engagement policies, programs, and activities. Through Maine’s SFEC grant, the Consortium for Engaging Families Across Maine (CEFAM) was established. CEFAM is an online resource for educators, families, and students that includes family engagement assessment tools, information about parent advisory team opportunities, trainings to strengthen family engagement and partnership practices, and more.

The Maine DOE Office of School and Student Supports invites educators to join the first Family Engagement Office Hour for an overview of the SFEC grant, including what has been accomplished in the first three years of the grant, feedback received from more than 800 parents/caregivers in Maine, and resources available in the final two years of the SFEC grant. This content is applicable to administrators, teachers, and any school staff member seeking to strengthen relationships, partnerships, and engagement with families. The remaining two Family Engagement Office Hour sessions (at dates to be announced in the winter and early spring) will share information in response to requests by educators who attended the first Office Hour session, as well as updates and opportunities to continue supporting family engagement efforts.

Please register in advance for the October 30 Family Engagement Office Hour. Upon registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details about how to join the meeting. 

If you have questions or ideas about family engagement needs in your school administrative unit, please contact Maine DOE Director of the Office of School and Student Supports Julie Smyth at julie.a.smyth@maine.gov.

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.