Category: Professional Development

eWorkshop: Virtual Professional Learning Community for Administrators 

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) welcomes all school and SAU-level administrators to participate in an eight-part virtual professional learning community (VPLC) this fall. The VPLC will center on the WIDA asynchronous eWorkshop “School Improvement Planning for the Equitable Education of Multilingual Learners.” This eWorkshop will introduce school leaders to leadership principles and practices to provide equitable educational opportunities for multilingual learners, based on a distributive leadership model.  

Participants will complete the eWorkshop independently and then come together with their colleagues and facilitator Robin Fleck, ESOL Consultant, to reflect and discuss what they have learned. The eWorkshop includes eight modules that take about 45 minutes each to complete. 

During the eWorkshop, participants will have an opportunity to explore effective leadership practices that aim to:  

  1. create and maintain an inclusive, school-wide learning environment focused on multilingual learners;  
  2. promote effective instructional practices for multilingual learners;  
  3. leverage multiple resources and build capacity for staff to meet the needs of multilingual learners; and  
  4. collaborate with families and the local community to enact school improvement solutions.  

Videos, readings, and opportunities for reflection, as well as suggestions and resources for team planning activities are included. At the end of the eWorkshop, participants will be introduced to the WIDA SIS, an online- school improvement assessment tool that can be utilized in the school improvement process to prioritize learning opportunities for multilingual learners. 

If you’re interested in participating in this VPLC, submit your contact information and scheduling preferences here. Recognizing the challenges of an administrator’s calendar, we will schedule the sessions between mid-September and mid-November, according to the availability of everyone who would like to participate. 

There must be a minimum of eight registrants in order for the VPLC to be held. If you have any questions, contact Robin Fleck at robin.fleck@maine.gov.  

 

Extended Learning Opportunities Conference Hosts Over 120 Attendees from Across the State

The Maine Department of Education (DOE), in partnership with JMG, recently held an Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs) Conference at the University of Maine Orono for Maine ELO Grant recipients. Over 120 professionals from 57 different districts, community organizations, and business partners attended the conference, which took place over the course of three days. Attendees had the opportunity to attend sessions on how to develop their ELO programs, reflect on their current programs, and network with others in the field each day.

Attendees learned important skills throughout their time at the conference, attending breakout sessions, activities, and meetings that provided them with the skills necessary to build or strengthen their ELO programs. Breakout sessions covered a wide range of topics including how to market ELOs as a community wide initiative and build connections with other schools, how to build strong pillars that can lead to a sustainable, supportive program, the best strategies for supporting students in virtual ELOs, and best practices for building a network of community partners. Breakout sessions also covered concrete skills such as building ELO syllabi that retain school culture, standard achievement, and skill mastery, how to assess ELO and student success, and how to use the ELO learning management system.

Educators in breakout sessions
Educators in breakout sessions
Educators working in small groups during breakout sessions
Educators in breakout sessions

Some attendees expressed the value provided to them by taking part in the conference, sharing they now feel more comfortable and confident in helping students take on ELOs. One educator shared that they look forward to bringing this opportunity back to their Special Education students, while another was grateful to feel validated in their work thus far and to have gained new perspectives on ELOs. Many attendees also shared their appreciation for the new network of people and resources they now have access to, thanks to the conference.

Virtual Workshop Series for New ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) Teachers

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) invites educators to participate in a series of virtual workshops on topics related to serving multilingual learners and managing an English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program. While the sessions will be targeted to the needs of new ESOL teachers, all are welcome! More experienced ESOL teachers, and others whose work relates to the topics listed, will also find information of value and benefit from connecting with colleagues across Maine.

See the list of sessions below for dates and topics of focus. Sessions will be held from 3:00-4:00pm every other Thursday. Participants should plan to attend all sessions in the series, to the extent possible. Contact hours will be available for participation in the sessions. Ideally participants, as a cohort of learners, will develop and sustain a professional connection beyond the bi-weekly sessions.

The workshops will be facilitated by Rebecca Carey, Maine DOE ESOL Consultant, and will feature guest speakers during some sessions. If you have any questions, contact Rebecca at rebecca.carey@maine.gov.

Register HERE to receive the Zoom links.

Session 1 – Thursday, September 1, 2022

  1. Welcoming newcomers and families
    • Ways to support your registration process/registration staff
    • Ways to access interpreting and translating services
    • Elements of a culturally responsive school setting
    • Essential information to share with newcomers
  2. Identifying English learners
    • Language Use Survey
    • ELP screeners
    • LAC meetings
    • Entering multilingual learner data into the student data system
      • Steps and important dates
  3. Reviewing state expectations
    • Timeline for identification
    • Service provision guidance

Session 2 – Thursday, September 15, 2022

  1. How to effectively use the LAC meeting
    • Timeline
    • Members
    • Gathering information
    • Learning opportunities for the team
  2. ILAP
    • Purpose
    • Examples
    • Using the WIDA ELD Standards
  3. How to have effective parent conferences/communications
  4. Student data system revisited for October 1st student count readiness

Session 3 – Thursday, September 29, 2022

  1. Supporting Multilingualism
    • Leveraging primary languages in the classroom
    • Asset-based approach
      • Creating student profiles
      • Activities: Getting to know students
    • Uses for instruction
  2. Identifying available resources
    • Maine DOE multilingual learners webpages
    • Maine DOE ESOL & bilingual programs resources Padlet
    • Maine DOE ESOL Listserv
    • Free WIDA self-paced eWorkshops

Session 4 – Thursday, October 13, 2022

  1. Understanding acculturation and how to support students in this process
    • Strategies for culturally responsive teaching
  2. Questions/needs of the group

 Session 5 – Thursday, October 27, 2022

  1. Preparing students for ACCESS for ELLs and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs testing
  2. Preparing your colleagues, administrators, and testing space for ACCESS for ELLs and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs administration

Maine DOE Hosts Early Elementary Educators for Summer Instructional Program Training

Over a four day period from August 1-4, the Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) Early Learning Team, in collaboration with seven Maine teacher leaders and a consultant from the Boston Public Schools, hosted over 130 Maine educators in two day trainings on the Maine DOE’s interdisciplinary instructional programs:  Pre-K for ME, K for ME, and 1st Grade for ME.  During the trainings, teachers learned about and explored the program components through hands-on simulations and interactive activities.

1st Grade for ME pilot teachers explore studio components
1st Grade for ME pilot teachers create science journals
1st Grade for ME pilot teachers explore studio components

Over the past 5 years, the Maine DOE has worked with a consultant from the Boston Public Schools and Maine educators to pilot Boston’s Focus Curriculum–an interdisciplinary, developmentally appropriate, whole child focused instructional program.  The pilot process has enabled the Maine DOE to align the programs with Maine’s Early Learning and Development Standards (MELDS) and Learning Results and to make enhancements to the programs that support Maine’s context.  Pre-K for ME and K for ME are open-source and available on the Maine DOE’s website.  1st Grade for ME is being piloted in 5 schools during the 2022-23 school year during which time 14 first grade teachers will be implementing the program and providing feedback to guide adaptions.  Additionally, 2 Maine educators are writing the science portions of 1st Grade for ME.  1st Grade for ME should be available as an open-source resource in August of 2023.

K for ME training participants experience the story telling/story acting component of K for ME
Boston Public Schools consultant, Melissa Luc, working with Kindergarten teachers

For more information about Pre-K for ME, K for ME, and/or 1st Grade for ME, please reach out to Nicole Madore, Early Childhood Specialist (Nicole.Madore@maine.gov) or Lee Anne Larsen, Director of Early Learning (leeann.larsen@maine.gov).

Maine DOE Consultants and Teacher Leaders at the Pre-K for ME training
Maine DOE Consultants and Teacher Leaders at the Pre-K for ME training

WEBINAR: The Role of School Administrators in Supporting School Safety Efforts

The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Safe and Supportive Schools and its Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center will host a Webinar on Friday, August 26, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET. This Webinar will highlight the role of school administrators in supporting school safety efforts at the local level.

The objectives of this 60-minute Webinar are to

  • Demonstrate the importance of developing a collaborative planning team to support emergency operations plan (EOP) development, as outlined in Step 1 of the six-step planning process detailed in the Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans.
  • Discuss the role that school administrators — including principals, vice principals, and other school leaders — play in implementing the National Preparedness System mission areas before, during, and after a potential emergency.
  • Share resources to strengthen efforts around overall plan development.

Register on the REMS TA Center Website to participate in the Webinar!

Presenters:

  • Ocali Charter High School – Elizabeth Brown, Principal
  • Hudson City School District – Michael Sedlak, Unit Principal
  • REMS TA Center – Janelle Hughes, Project Director

Questions About the Event?

Contact the REMS TA Center Help Desk at 1-855-781-REMS [7367] or info@remstacenter.org from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.

Can’t make the live event? This Webinar will be archived on the REMS TA Center Website within 7 business days.

2022 Maine Educator Summit Draws 400 Educators to Augusta

More than 400 educators from across Maine gathered at the Augusta Civic Center for the first annual Maine Educator Summit. The theme for the Summit was Supporting Resilience, Responsiveness, and a Renewed Approach to Education with more than 58 professional learning presentations on a range of topics including interdisciplinary instruction, student wellbeing, school safety, engaging with community, “grow your own” solutions to build the educator workforce, extended learning opportunities, and more.

The Summit also provided an opportunity for educators to connect, build community, and learn from and with one another.

Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin and inspirational speaker Randy Judkins delivered keynote addresses to the educators.

“It’s extremely important for educators and school leaders to be able to have a space to come together, to network and share ideas, to learn new strategies, and to strengthen their professionalism and resilience as they are about to enter a new school year,” said Makin on the importance of the Summit.

One educator shared that they left feeling as though their enthusiasm for teaching was renewed and they held a greater sense of community and comradery while another shared that they were grateful to have connected with people who can help them implement the practices they learned about at the summit in their classrooms, schools, and districts.

Check out some of the media coverage from the event featuring teaching interviews:

While this is the first official Educator Summit, the Maine DOE looks forward to planning and hosting a summit each year moving forward.

IN-PERSON TRAINING: Amplifying Students’ Voices in the Transition Process: Outcome-Oriented Planning using Person-Centered Approaches

We can promote success for our students by partnering with them to understand their visions for the future and amplify their voices in the transition planning process. But how can we provide a structure for students to articulate their visions? How can we make time for students to engage in the experiences they need to achieve their future goals among other instructional priorities?

This training will provide strategies for assessing and promoting career pathways through education, work experiences, and other predictors of post-school success. You will engage in community resource mapping with other training participants using case studies to identify and plot resources within your communities. The session will culminate in each participant’s creation of an individualized action plan to bring back to your school, agency, or community with support from the trainers and other participants.

Date and Time: Thursday, September 22, 2022, 10:00am-2:00pm ET

Location: University of Maine at Augusta campus

Presenters: Josh Taylor (UMaine), Janet May (UMaine- Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies), and Gina Oswald (UMaine-Farmington)
Cost: $75.00

Register today! Once you register, you will receive an automated email confirming your registration, with directions to the training site.

Questions: Contact Lara Enein by email at lara.enein@umb.edu

WEBINAR: Outcome-Oriented Planning for Transition-age Youth

Transition planning is critical to ensuring that students’ educational experiences result in success after graduation. But transition planning can also be a daunting task for educators and other practitioners. What are the right pathways to get our students where they need to be? Where do we begin? This session will discuss how we can use person-centered and backwards planning to anchor transition to the outcomes students want for themselves. You will learn practical strategies for engaging students and families through reframing the transition planning process to develop students’ career potential. In this webinar, you can connect and share ideas with other practitioners through small group discussions in breakout rooms. Presenters will also host interactive Q&A discussions.

Date and Time: Tuesday, August 30, 2022, 2-3:00pm ET Location: Online (Zoom)

Presenters: Josh Taylor (UMaine), Janet May (UMaine- Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies), and Gina Oswald (UMaine-Farmington)

Cost: $25.00

Register today!  Once you register, you will receive an automated email confirming your registration. We will send reminders closer to the event date with the webinar URL link.

Questions: Contact Lara Enein by email at lara.enein@umb.edu.

WEBINAR: The Role of School Mental Health Professionals in Supporting School Safety Efforts

The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Safe and Supportive Schools and its Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center will host a Webinar on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET. This Webinar will highlight the role of mental health professionals in supporting school safety efforts at the local level.

The objectives of this 60-minute Webinar are to

  • Demonstrate the importance of developing a collaborative planning team to support emergency operations plan development, as outlined in Step 1 of the six-step planning process detailed in the Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans.
  • Discuss the role that school mental health professionals — including mental health coordinators, counselors, and others — play in implementing the National Preparedness System mission areas before, during, and after a potential emergency.
  • Share resources to strengthen mental health professionals’ efforts around climate assessment, behavioral threat assessment, continuity of teaching and learning, and overall plan development.

Register on the REMS TA Center Website to participate in the Webinar!

Presenters:

Mobile County Public Schools

  • Denise Riemer, LCSW, Mental Health Services Coordinator

REMS TA Center

  • Janelle Hughes, Project Director

Questions About the Event?

Contact the REMS TA Center Help Desk at 1-855-781-REMS [7367] or info@remstacenter.org from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.

WEBINAR: Graduation Reporting

The Maine Department of Education Data Team is holding a Graduation Reporting webinar Tuesday August 9th at 10am. We will be discussing the graduation certification report and related procedures for validating and clearing up any issues on the report. This certification is due by August 30th, so attendance is strongly encouraged for those charged with validating this report. Please follow the “Join Live” link at the time of the training to join us. Thank you.

Join Live

If you have any questions, comments or concerns regarding this webinar please contact the MEDMS Helpdesk at MEDMS.Helpdesk@Maine.gov or (207) 624-6896.