Category: Professional Development

Explore Innovation in Action: Maine DOE Fall Peer-to-Peer Learning Tour Registration Now Open

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Innovation is pleased to announce that this fall, there will be several opportunities for educators to engage in peer-to-peer learning that highlights innovative educational programming!

Are you an educator interested in exploring immersive learning experiences for your school and students? The Office of Innovation’s Mobile Learning Van is conducting various Learning Tours throughout the school year, and we’d love for you to join us! On each tour, we visit a school that is engaging in innovative learning programs for its students, and we invite educators across the state to see the programs in action and collaborate on all aspects of implementation.

This work stems from $16.9 million in  Rethink K-12 Education Models Funding from the U.S. Department of Education. Maine was one of 11 states to receive that funding in August of 2020 and used it to launch the Rethinking Responsive Education Ventures (RREV) project, a multi-pronged solution with a primary goal of generating innovative remote learning models to provide equitable access to high-quality remote (out-of-the-classroom) learning opportunities for all students. The Office of Innovation is continuing the momentum of this work by offering Learning Tours and fostering peer-to-peer professional learning.

The Learning Tour space is limited to 10 additional Maine educators at each location. If you are interested in joining us on any Learning Tour, please register here or contact Elaine Bartley, Maine DOE Innovative Research and Design Director, at elaine.bartley@maine.gov. You may also contact Elaine with any questions. Additionally, keep an eye on our website for future Learning Tour opportunities!

The current list of tours and events scheduled for the fall of 2025 includes:

St. George Municipal School
October 28, 2025
9 a.m.-2 p.m.

St. George Municipal School was a RREV awardee. Through its innovative pilot, it has created the first pre-K-grade 8 Career and Technical Education (CTE) curriculum in the nation. It also used part of its funding to help build the Grace Innovation Center—the first pre-K-adult CTE center! On October 28, we will get the opportunity to see its new Makerspace building, see the learning in action, and talk to teachers and students.

Kennebunk High School (Alternative Education)
December 2, 2025
9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Kennebunk High School (KHS) was a RREV awardee through its Alternative Education program. During this Learning Tour, we will discuss conducting independent projects with students; tour the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust, where KHS students have helped to create an immersive learning space; and observe an alternative education program in action.

Princeton Elementary School (Technology Education)
December 9, 2025
8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Princeton Elementary School technology educator Donna Netzer was a recent Maine DOE Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) ambassador. During this tour, we will observe and discuss technology integration in the math classroom. We will explore showcase products, experience recommended technology tools, and share numerous resources. There will also be an opportunity to stay longer and participate in an after-school tech group that will be working with the technology available in the Maine DOE Mobile Learning Van. Students will explore interviewing and broadcasting skills!

Special Outdoor Learning Day Event at MeANS
October 27, 2025

In addition to our Learning Tours, the Office of Innovation will be co-hosting the upcoming Outdoor Learning Day in collaboration with the Maine Environmental Education Association (MEEA) on October 27, 2025. This event is happening at the Maine Academy of Natural Sciences (MeANS), which was also a RREV awardee. Experienced educators will model lessons for a wide variety of grade levels and subject areas, with time for debrief and discussion after each lesson. Attendees will be able to view outdoor learning infrastructure at MeANS and participate in conversations about funding outdoor learning, safety planning, and behavior management. Use this link to register for the event. We hope to see you there!

Monthly Arts Integration Office Hours Available Starting in November

Do you have questions about arts integration? Are you looking for fresh ideas to make your lessons more engaging? Join Maine Department of Education (DOE) Arts Integration Teacher Leader Fellow Joshua Chard each month for an informal drop-in, virtual office hours—an open space to explore creative connections between the visual and performing arts and your teaching.

Bring your questions, ideas, or even your curriculum to collaborate on natural, seamless ways to integrate the arts into your classroom. Whether you are just getting started or are ready to expand what you already do, this is a space to brainstorm, problem-solve, and get inspired.

Arts Integration Monthly Office Hours will be held the first Tuesday of each month from 4-5 p.m.
Join the conversation via Zoom here. (There is no need to register in advance).

Session Dates

  • November 4, 2025
  • December 2, 2025
  • January 6, 2026
  • February 3, 2026
  • March 3, 2026
  • April 7, 2026
  • May 5, 2026
  • June 2, 2026

If you can’t make office hours or have other questions, please contact Joshua at joshua.chard@maine.gov to schedule another time. He’s available by appointment, Monday through Thursday, from 2:15-5 p.m.

Asynchronous Professional Learning Opportunity: Exploring the Question Formulation Technique (QFT)

Starting October 21, 2025, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Teaching and Learning invites educators to explore the Question Formulation Technique (QFT), developed by the Right Question Institute.

In education, answers matter, but the ability to ask the right questions builds critical thinking and fosters deep learning. The QFT is a practical and structured method for generating, refining, and using questions to drive learning.

This free professional learning opportunity will be available through EnGiNE, the Maine DOE’s online learning platform. Participants will progress through two online modules per week for approximately four weeks, engaging with readings, asynchronous videos, and discussion prompts. The experience concludes with the design of a lesson using the QFT.

Educators who wish to delve further into the QFT can join an optional virtual learning community, with support available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. These sessions provide opportunities to practice the QFT collaboratively, share ideas, and apply it in authentic contexts.

Please complete this form to register for the QFT EnGiNE course. Registration will close on October 20, 2025. Following registration, an email with instructions on how to set up an EnGiNE account will be sent to the email address submitted in the registration.

Together, we will connect the QFT with object-based learning and deep conceptual thinking, equipping educators with powerful strategies to spark curiosity and inquiry in their classrooms. Course participants can earn up to 12 contact hours.

For more information, please contact Maine DOE Interdisciplinary Instruction Specialist Heather Martin at Heather.Martin@maine.gov.

Reminder to Register for the Maine Green Schools Symposium on November 7

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is thrilled to announce Maine’s first-ever Green Schools Symposium—a groundbreaking event celebrating climate education and sustainability leadership across Maine’s schools. It will take place on Friday, November 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Thomas College in Waterville.
 
This unique, statewide gathering will bring together school leaders, educators, youth, environmentally-focused nonprofit organizations, and private entities for a full day of networking, resource sharing, and cross-sector collaboration. Please register here and attend to hear inspiring stories of school-led sustainability efforts and explore practical tools for improving energy efficiency, cutting facilities costs, and creating healthier learning environments.
 
The Symposium will offer four workshop tracks:
 
Leadership
Engage with students, principals, and superintendents, as they share innovative case studies of sustainability efforts across the state. Breakout sessions will explore tangible strategies to drive change at both the school- and school administrative unit-levels.
 
Facilities
Receive hands-on guidance from facilities managers to explore cost-effective, sustainable infrastructure solutions—from clean energy systems to waste reduction to green campus design.
 
Learning Resources
Discover age-appropriate, interdisciplinary approaches to climate education and pathways to integrate classroom learning with school facilities and operations. Breakout sessions will offer practical strategies to build and expand outdoor learning programs. 
 
Career Pathways
Meet industry professionals to learn about green trades and professional development opportunities in Maine. Breakout groups will help attendees to identify their skills and discover how to align them with Maine’s green career opportunities. 
 
Limited funds are available to subsidize the cost of substitute teachers and transportation for schools to reduce financial barriers to attending the Symposium. Please contact Lucy Van Hook at Lucy.Van-Hook@maine.gov, if financial assistance is needed to attend the Symposium. Contact hours for Maine educators will be available.
 
We look forward to celebrating and advancing climate education and resiliency in Maine schools with you on November 7 in Waterville.

Monthly Professional Learning Community for Civics Teachers Launching in October

Attention, Maine civics and government educators! Join Maine Department of Education (DOE) Teacher Leader Fellow Breanna Bellefontaine-Krupski for a monthly civics professional learning community (PLC) group that will launch in October.

The Civics PLC is open to all civics educators in Maine, from elementary through high school. Meetings will be held on the third Thursday of each month at 4 p.m. via Zoom.

Goals of the PLC:

  • Connect with civics educators across Maine to share ideas, feedback, and strategies.
  • Discuss the needs of civic education at all grade levels.
  • Partner with Maine civic organizations to build classroom-to-community connections.
  • Explore opportunities for professional development in civics-related fields.
  • Earn up to seven contact hours (one hour per meeting).

Please sign up here. Registration is limited to 30 teachers. Monthly attendance is encouraged but not required. Registration will close on Friday, October 10, 2025.

Meeting dates:

  • October 16, 2025
  • November 20, 2025
  • December 18, 2025
  • January 15, 2026
  • *no meeting in February*
  • March 12, 2026 *second Thursday of the month*
  • April 16, 2026
  • May 21, 2026

This is the second year that Breanna Bellefontaine-Krupski has served as the Maine DOE Civics Teacher Leader Fellow. Having participated in civics-focused PLCs in the past, she has gained some of the best professional development and classroom strategies from like-minded peers across the country. She looks forward to leading this group during the 2025-2026 school year!

For further information or questions, please contact Breanna Bellefontaine-Krupski at breanna.krupski@maine.gov.

Registration Open for 15th Annual Maine PBIS Conference

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) and the Maine Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) State Team are excited to announce that registration is now open for the 15th Annual Maine PBIS Conference, which will take place on Thursday, November 13, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Augusta Civic Center. Early-bird pricing is available through October 15, 2025.

This annual event brings together educators, school and district leaders, and student support professionals from across Maine to celebrate their progress and deepen their practice in building positive, equitable school climates where every student can thrive.

This year’s conference will feature a keynote address from Dr. Steve Goodman, a nationally recognized leader in schoolwide systems of support. Dr. Goodman’s keynote is titled, “Better Together: Integrating Academics and Behavior Support in MTSS.”


Dr. Goodman is a research specialist at the University of Connecticut, a partner with the Center on PBIS, and a co-investigator with the Integrated Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Research Network. He previously served as director of Michigan’s MTSS Technical Assistance Center and currently serves on state, national, and international advisory boards for the implementation of MTSS.

With more than 65 publications and extensive experience working with educators across the nation and in ten other countries, Dr. Goodman will bring powerful insights into how schools can integrate academic and behavioral supports within an MTSS framework to ensure the success of all students.

About the Conference

For 15 years, the Maine PBIS Conference has provided a space for educators to share successes, learn from one another, and explore new strategies to improve student outcomes. Participants gain tools and inspiration to enhance their PBIS implementation and foster school cultures grounded in safety, support, and belonging.

Educators are encouraged to register early and join colleagues from across the state for this day of professional learning, collaboration, and celebration.

Please visit the Maine PBIS Conference website to register or learn more about how you can contribute to the conference’s success.

With questions, please contact the Maine PBIS team at pbis@maine.edu.

Mainely Play LAB Kicks Off in Brewer This Fall: Two Days of Play-Powered Learning for Early Educators

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Early Learning Team is excited to offer a new professional learning opportunity for early childhood educators called the Mainely Play LAB. This dynamic, hands-on event will be held at Jeff’s Catering and Event Center in Brewer on October 27 and 28. It is designed for administrators, teachers, instructional coaches, and support staff working in pre-K through grade 2 in Maine. The deadline to apply is Friday, October 6, 2025.

The Mainely Play LAB offers participants the opportunity to:

  • Explore developmentally appropriate, play-based strategies that spark curiosity and deepen learning.
  • Align classroom practices with Maine’s standards, curriculum frameworks, and assessment goals.
  • Build joyful, engaging learning environments that balance creativity, play, and academic rigor.

Over two in-person days, participants will engage in practical learning, collaborative problem-solving, and leave with actionable tools to strengthen their classrooms and programs.

Schools must apply in teams of three to eight members spanning pre-K through grade 2. Each team must include:

  • At least one administrator (e.g., principal, assistant principal, curriculum leader, etc.)
  • At least two classroom teachers (from the same grade or across different grade levels)

Schools are encouraged to include additional educators such as allied arts teachers, instructional coaches, school counselors, special educators, English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teachers, and educational technicians.

Participatingschools will be eligible for a financial incentive to support, including:

  • Travel costs (including mileage and lodging for individuals traveling 75 or more miles one way)
  • Substitute coverage
  • Implementation of new strategies and materials

The incentive will range from $5,000 for teams of three to five members to $7,000 for teams of six to eight members. Please note: To receive this incentive, the team administrator must attend both days.

Apply here now! The application closes after Friday, October 6. Each team should designate a team lead to serve as the primary contact. The Maine DOE anticipates accepting between 20 and 30 teams with complete applications on a first-come, first-served basis, depending on team size.

If your school currently uses the For ME instructional programs in one or more grades, please reach out before applying. For further information or questions, please contact the following Maine DOE staff members:

Educators Invited to ‘Counted Out’ Film Screenings and Guided Dinner Discussions Across Maine

This October, the Maine Department of Education (DOE), in partnership with the Association of Teachers of Mathematics in Maine (ATOMIM) and the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance (MMSA), invites educators and school leaders to a series of free, in-person events across the state to watch the film “Counted Out” and participate in a dine-and-discuss event with fellow educators.

These engaging evenings include a screening of the award-winning documentary “Counted Out,” a casual meal, and guided small-group discussions. Together, participants will reflect on how math instruction can either empower or exclude—and how we can make math education more inclusive, relevant, and equitable for all Maine learners.

About the Film

“Counted Out” explores the biggest crises of our time—political polarization, racial and economic inequity, public health, and climate change—through an unexpected lens: math. The film challenges educators to consider how math can be both a gatekeeper and a gateway, and how rethinking its role in society can lead to transformational change in education and beyond.

Event Details

  • Dates/Locations:
    • October 7: Deer Isle, Freeport, North Berwick
    • October 8: Gardiner
    • October 9: Brewer, Caribou, South Paris, Thorndike
  • Time: 5 to 8 p.m.
  • Audience: Maine educators and school leaders
  • Contact Hours: 3 hours awarded
  • Cost: FREE (includes dinner)
  • Registration Deadline: September 30, 2025

An RSVP is required! Space is limited at each site, so please register using the links below.

Tuesday, October 7, 2025

  • Deer Isle/Hancock and Washington Counties
    REACH Performing Arts Center, Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School
    249 North Deer Isle Road, Deer Isle, ME 04627
    • Contact: Justine Appel at justineappel@atomim.org
    • RSVP here.
  • Freeport/Cumberland County
    Freeport Performing Arts Center
    30 Holbrook Street, Freeport, ME 04032
    • Contact: Beth Hayden at bethayden@atomim.org
    • RSVP here.
  • North Berwick/York County
    Noble High School
    100 Noble Way, North Berwick, ME 03906
    • Contact: Amanda McIntire at amanda.mcintire@atomim.org
    • RSVP here.

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

  • Gardiner/Kennebec County
    Gardiner Area High School
    40 West Hill Road, Gardiner, ME 04345
    • Contact: Stephanie Houdlette at shoudlette@msad11.org
    • RSVP here.

Thursday, October 9, 2025

  • Caribou/Aroostook County
    Caribou Performing Arts Center, Caribou High School
    308 Sweden Street, Caribou, ME 04736
    • Contact: Perrin Chick at pchick@mmsa.org
    • RSVP here.
  • Brewer/Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties
    Brewer Performing Arts Center
    92 Pendleton Street, Brewer, ME 04412
  • Thorndike/Waldo, Knox, Lincoln, and Sagadahoc Counties
    Mount View Complex
    577 Mount View Road, Thorndike, ME 04986
    • Contact: Glen Widmer at glenwidmer@atomim.org
    • RSVP here.
  • South Paris/Oxford, Androscoggin, Franklin, and Somerset Counties
    Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School Auditorium
    256 Main Street, South Paris, ME 04281
    • Contact: Courtney Pierce at courtney.pierce@atomim.org
    • RSVP here.

Why Attend?

  • Explore how math connects to social justice, civic engagement, and real-world problem solving.
  • Discuss how to reduce math anxiety and promote mathematical confidence.
  • Connect with other educators and leaders across regions.
  • Walk away with actionable ideas for reimagining math instruction.

Registration is open now through September 30! Each event is limited in size, and seats are filling fast. Secure your spot today and join this statewide conversation about math, equity, and educational transformation.

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Maine DOE to Host ‘For ME’ (Pre-K through Grade 2) Professional Learning Communities During 2025-2026 School Year

The Maine Department of Education (DOE), in collaboration with teacher leaders from across the state, is once again offering professional learning communities (PLCs) for educators and caregivers implementing the For ME programs, which include Pre-K for ME, K for ME, 1st Grade for ME, and 2nd Grade for ME.

These monthly virtual PLCs are designed to deepen understanding of program design and implementation. Participants will explore units and components in greater depth through real-world examples, shared practices, open discussion, and student work. Whether you are new to a program or have been using it for several years, these PLCs offer valuable support for teachers, ed techs, instructional coaches, and other staff.

Pre-K for ME PLCs
Sessions will be held virtually from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month:

  • October 6, 2025
  • November 3, 2025
  • December 1, 2025
  • January 5, 2026
  • February 2, 2026
  • March 2, 2026
  • April 6, 2026

K for ME, 1st Grade for ME, and 2nd Grade for ME PLCs
Sessions will be held virtually from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month:

  • October 14, 2025
  • December 9, 2025
  • February 10, 2026
  • April 14, 2026

Registration

While regular attendance is encouraged, participants do not need to commit to every session. Access details will be provided upon completion of registration. 

Please register by Friday, September 26, 2025. You may do so using the following links:

Questions?

Beyond the Cohort: Supporting Maine High Schools in Building a Culture of Constructive Dialogue

The Can We? Project, based at Waynflete School, has announced Beyond the Cohort—a yearlong professional learning initiative designed for Maine high schools interested in embedding constructive dialogue as a core part of school culture.

Since 2018, the Can We? Project has supported cohorts of high school students across the state in learning how to engage with differences with respect and empathy. Beyond the Cohort expands this mission by focusing on educators, empowering them with the tools, mindsets, and practices needed to bring constructive dialogue into classrooms and school communities at large.

This new offering provides structured opportunities for teachers to develop and practice the skills of facilitating dialogue across a range of learning environments. The goal is to help schools create environments where students can talk openly and thoughtfully about complex issues that matter to them and their communities.

Beyond the Cohort will be led by veteran educators Derek Pierce and Lowell Libby, both deeply experienced in designing inclusive and responsive school cultures:

  • Derek Pierce is the founding principal of Casco Bay High School in Portland and a former English teacher who helped launch Poland Regional High School.
  • Lowell Libby served as Upper School Director at Waynflete School from 1991-2021 and co-founded the Can We? Project in 2018. His career began with the Upward Bound program at the University of Maine at Farmington.

This program will be hosted by Mt. Ararat High School, a long-time public school partner of the Can We? Project, and will include collaboration with other participating schools across Maine.

Schools and educators interested in joining this statewide movement toward dialogue-rich education are encouraged to reach out and learn more.

For more information, or to express interest in Beyond the Cohort, please contact
John Holdridge, Director of the Can We? Project, at jholdridge@waynflete.org.