Category: Professional Development

MEDIA ADVISORY: Computer Science Day to be Held 8/13 in Augusta

What: The Maine Department of Education, the Maine State Library, Project Login, and the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance will be hosting Computer Science Day. Attendees can join presentations, hear from panelists from multiple industries, and visit booths with hands-on learning opportunities. The goal of the day is to offer participants the opportunity to explore how computer science skills can be learned in formal and informal learning settings, and how those skills can be applied in current and future jobs in Maine.

Who: The event is free and open to the public to attend. Educators and students from K-12 schools, higher education partners, businesses with employees engaged in computer science work, non-profits, informal learning providers, and companies that have computer science education products will spend the day networking, sharing their experiences with others, and learning from each other.

Where: Maine State House (Hall of Flags), Maine State Library (Atrium), and Various Committee Rooms in the Maine State House

When: Monday, August 13th from 9am – 4pm

  • 8:30 am – Registration begins and continues throughout the day (Hall of Flags and Maine State Library Atrium)
  • 9:00 am – 3:00 pm – Presentations, Panels, Hands-on learning at tables (various spaces)
  • 3:00 pm – Closing Event (Hall of Flags)

Schedule Highlights:  

  • 10:00am – 10:45am – Student Panel, Legislative Council Chambers, Maine State House. Students from local schools will share their experiences with Computer Science education, as well as programing and coding projects.
  • 1:00pm – 1:45pm – Higher Education Panel, Legislative Council Chambers, Maine State House. Faculty and students from Maine colleges and universities will discuss learning opportunities, potential career pathways, and resources available related to Computer Science.
  • 2:00pm – 2:45pm – Education and Business Partnerships Panel, Legislative Council Chambers, Maine State House. Panelists will discuss ways that businesses and school communities can create stronger connections that result in a better understanding of career pathways, experiential education opportunities, and an awareness of the skills needed in the workforce.
  • 3:00pm – 3:45pm – Closing Event, Hall of Flags, Maine State House. Host organizations will share ways to connect to resources and continue to engage in learning about Computer Science while participants who have completed the activities for the day enjoy some ice cream!

More information:

Members of the media are welcome to attend. For further questions contact, Maine DOE Director of Communications Rachel Paling at rachel.paling@maine.gov or call 624-6747.

Schedule for Computer Science Day Now Available

Please plan to join us in Augusta for Computer Science Day at the Capital on August 13th from 9am to 4pm, hosted by Maine DOE, the Maine State Library, Project Login, and Maine Math and Science Alliance. Students, educators and businesses can all benefit from exploring how computer science skills can be learned in formal and informal learning settings, and how those skills can be applied in current and future jobs in Maine.

The day will include presentations and booths with hands-on learning activities. More information can be found below and will continue to be updated over the next few weeks!

For more information or questions, contact any of the following event organizers:

 

Understanding Maine DOE Data: A Workshop for School and District Leaders

WhyDataMatters-003.pngAre you a school or district leader that wonders why the Department collects certain data sets and what they are used for? Get the answer to this question and more by attending a workshops led by Paula Gravelle of School Finance and Charlotte Ellis of the Data Team. These are targeted sessions for school and district leaders, they will be about data use and policy, not data entry.

Topics Covered:

  • How does the State calculation work for funding public education (PreK-12)?
  • What data is important for the Essential Programs and Service (EPS)?
  • What data is important for Accountability?
  • What are the deadlines for submitting data?
  • Should I certify even if the data is wrong?
  • How does my data effect other districts?
  • What if I have an error in my data, can it be corrected?
  • What type of student data impacts the subsidy calculation?
  • Why do I have to do certifications?

Workshop Sessions Details:

  • August 7, Caribou High School 9:30-11:30 AM
  • August 8, Ellsworth Elementary/Middle School 9:30-11:30 AM
  • August 9, Brewer High School 9:30-11:30 AM
  • August 20, Cony High School (Augusta) 9:30-11:30 AM
  • August 21, Mt. Ararat Middle School (Topsham) 9:30-11:30 AM
  • August 22, Mt. Blue High School (Farmington) 9:30-11:30 AM
  • August 23, Gorham High School 9:30-11:30 AM

Please join Maine DOE School Finance Consultant, Paula Gravelle and Data Manager, Charlotte Ellis to understand why data matters.

Register for one of the workshops here: Workshop Registration Link

New School Nurse Orientation Registration

If you hired a new nurse for your school over the summer be sure to encourage them to attend the New School Nurse Orientation, a specialized program designed to help nurses transition into the educational setting.

Some of the topics included will be an introduction to School Nursing including a professional framework, scope and standards and certification requirements, resources, a review of Maine’s Nurse Practice Act, medication administration, and screening requirements. There will be two more days covering different topics for new School Nurses scheduled later in the school year.

  • Date: September 28, 2018
  • Time: 8:30am-3:00pm
  • Location: Camden National Bank Ice Vault Arena, Whitten Road, Hallowell
  • Cost: FREE
  • Registration: Register now for the New School Nurse Orientation Registration

If you have any questions, please contact Emily Poland, RN, School Nurse Consultant for the Maine Department of Education at 207-624-6688 or Emily.poland@maine.gov.

Register Now for Computer Science Day on August 13

The Maine Department of Education, Maine State Library, Project Login, and Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance are partnering to host Computer Science Day this summer. We’ll explore how computer science skills can be learned in formal and informal learning settings, and how those skills can be applied in current and future jobs in Maine. We hope to create more connections, partnerships, collaboration, and access to resources between educators, students, non-profits and businesses.

Participants can join presentations, hear from panelists from multiple industries, and visit booths with hands-on learning opportunities. Here are some of the organizations who will be presenting:

Apple, Microsoft, CashStar, Sphero Edu, Pi-Top, Thomas College, University of Southern Maine, University of Maine RiSE Center, Husson University, Wonder Workshop, Tyler Technologies… and many more!

  • Date: Monday, August 13th from 9am – 4pm
  • Location: Maine State House (Hall of Flags), Maine State Library (Atrium), and Various Committee Rooms in the Maine State House
  • Attendees: Open to the public. Educators have the opportunity to earn up to 7 contact hours for attending.
  • Cost: Free!
  • Registration: Computer Science Day Registration Link

For continued updates visit the Computer Science Event page.

For more information or questions, contact any of the following event organizers:

CS Day Handout

Commissioner’s Conference Highlights and Feedback Survey

On June 27th and 28th the Maine Department of Education held the 107th Commissioners Conference at the Augusta Civic Center. District administrators and stakeholders state-wide attended to participate in and attend sessions on a range of topics including Career and Technical Education, Student Behavior and Student Health, Educator Workforce, Certification, Regionalization, ESSA and School Improvement, Priorities and Goals of the Department and more.

This year’s Keynote speaker was the highly-esteemed speaker, consultant and former Commissioner of Education, Duke Albanese who delivered a powerful message called “Fulfilling the Dream of a Prosperous Maine: Getting There Requires a Focus on Education and Effective Leadership for Learning, Citizenship, and Opportunities for All Maine Students”.

A special thank you to all who presented and attended!

2018 Commissioner’s Conference Feedback Survey

Please take a moment to fill out the 2018 Commissioner’s Conference Feedback Survey.

Highlights from the 2018 Commissioner’s Conference

Commissioner Hasson presented a video as part of his introductory address. In keeping with the Maine DOE’s commitment to put students first, Commissioner Hasson posed a series of questions to the 2018 DOE Summer Interns, who are or have been Maine students themselves, to get their insight on their education. View the 2018 Commissioner’s Conference Introduction Intern Video.

Below are images taken during the 2018 Commissioner’s Conference.

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Math4ME Accomplishments and Update

The Maine Department of Education’s Office of Special Services is pleased to report the accomplishments of the Math4Maine (Math4ME) project, and announce plans for scaling up. Currently, the initiative is concluding the second year of implementation and planning for year-3.

Maine’s State Systematic Improvement plan, a requirement of the federal Office of Special Programs, Math4ME is designed to implement evidence-based professional development to improve math proficiency of students with disabilities in grades 3-8 and to improve instructional practices of teachers of these students.

Math4ME training is grounded in hands-on activities and interactive professional learning experiences that allow participants to gain a deeper understanding of core concepts of mathematics and strategies. Program content includes operations with whole numbers, fractions and decimals, and algebraic and geometric reasoning; problem solving skills and processes; and assessment, diagnostic probes, and formative feedback.

The Maine DOE developed a 5-day training module that includes a 3-day summer training and 2 training days during the school year. Throughout the year, teachers receive support from the Department, differentiated according to teacher experience in the program. All teachers receive support cycles, which include classroom observation and written feedback. In addition, participants have access to many resources, including a Math4ME Informational Padlet Website and a monthly newsletter.

Over the last two years, the project has trained two cohorts that comprise 34 teachers, 1 teacher mentor, and 3 district math coaches. These participants represent 17 schools from 7 School Administrative Units (SAUs).  To date, findings on the effectiveness of Math4ME on student and teacher performance has been positive. Year-1 student data shows that students taught by a Math4ME-trained teacher performed better on the Maine Education Assessment for math compared to students who were not taught by Math4ME trained teachers. In addition, teacher surveys and evaluation results indicate that the training has had a positive impact on teachers’ knowledge and equipped them with multiple ways to represent mathematical ideas.

Math4MEFeedback from Math4ME participants and an administrator include:

“The Math4ME work has allowed me to view math in a whole new way. I find that I am less focused on a student’s ability to solve a problem correctly and more focused on understanding and exploring that student’s decision making process in solving the problem. This allows students to understand and appreciate the work they do in class, as well as give them the real-world skills they will need in the future. It has also helped me to evolve as a teacher, to take a step back and ask myself what I want students to get out of a lesson. I would highly recommend the Math4ME program to all. – Shannon Wooten, Teacher, Greene Central School

“Math4ME has trained me how to strategically question students in order to get them thinking mathematically.  Math4ME training and resources provide the insight teachers need to encourage mathematical behaviors such as logical thinking, testing conjectures, and meaningful reflection while problem solving.” – Bridgette Ortiz, Teacher, Bowdoinham Community School

“The feedback from my teachers has been extremely positive. They love having the coach come into their classroom to observe and offer feedback. The rich 1-on-1 discussions about their mathematical teaching practices that followed the lessons were some of the best professional development they have ever experienced.” – Danielle Harris, Principal, Leeds Central School

A Cohort 3 training is scheduled for August with teachers and coaches from returning schools as well as participants from three new schools from two SAUs. The Office of Special Services will continue to support scale up of Math4ME by building the infrastructure and capacity needed to improve math proficiency for Maine children with disabilities and improve the instructional practices of their teachers.

For more information, please contact Jayne Chase (jayne.chase@maine.gov) or Cheryl Tobey (cheryl.tobey@maine.gov).

Maine DOE Initiates Electronic Registration System

In an effort to control cost and improve services, the Maine DOE is now using the standard electronic event registration system. Like many organizations that require electronic registration for professional development opportunities and meetings, the Maine DOE system requires payment at the time of registration. Discover, MasterCard, and Visa are all accepted forms of payment. Links to registration will now appear on invitations to participate.

The event registration system eliminates the time consuming paper registration system which includes collecting purchase orders, invoicing schools, and waiting for payment. The system simplifies the human hours and resources required to provide necessary and meaningful opportunities for Maine educators to access information and training with the Department.

This system update is a cost effective measure which enhances DOE specialists’ ability to provide continuing support and honors the intention of federal funding sources which are meant to be reimbursements. In practice, this change enhances accountability and fiscal responsibility.

Please note that purchase orders will no longer be accepted and all attendees will need to use a credit card.

 

Register Now for the 2018 Commissioner’s Conference

The Maine Department of Education is still accepting registrations for the 107th Annual Commissioner’s Conference on June 27 – 28 at the Augusta Civic Center in Augusta. Developed in collaboration with the Maine School Superintendents Association, this year’s working agenda is attached below, highlights include:

  • Keynote speaker Duke Albanese – The highly-esteemed speaker, consultant and former Commissioner of Education will deliver a powerful message called “Fulfilling the Dream of a Prosperous Maine: Getting There Requires a Focus on Education and Effective Leadership for Learning, Citizenship, and Opportunities for All Maine Students”.
  • Discussion and meeting topics including: Career and Technical Education, Student Behavior and Student Health, Educator Workforce, Certification, Regionalization, ESEA/ESSA, School Improvement, Priorities and Goals of the Department and more.
  • The Annual Awards & Recognition Banquet

Conference Information  Register here

  • 2-day – Wednesday and Thursday – $170.00
  • 1-day – Wednesday (6/27) – $105.00
  • 1-day – Thursday (6/28) – $65.00

*Registration includes all sessions, meals and materials Resources

Registrations are intended for School Officials, Educational Organization staff, Higher Education Officials, and State Board of Education members.

For more information about the conference, please contact Georgette Valliere at 624-6605 or Georgette.Valliere@maine.gov.

Civil Rights Training: Addressing Bullying Behavior, School Culture & Bias

This training is provided through the US DOE, Office for Civil Rights.

Those who should attend: principals, assistant principals, Title IX coordinators, school counselors, and other school staff who are invested in fostering safe and welcoming schools in Maine. 5.5 contact hours given.

Date: June 26, 2018
Time: 8:00am – 2:30pm
Location: Bangor High School, Peakes Auditorium
Cost: FREE

The training will include 3 sessions:

  • Beyond Bullying
    As schools work to successfully prevent and intervene in acts of bullying, they are often challenged by bullying behaviors that cross the line into civil, civil rights, or criminal law violations.  Guidance from the US DOE and US DOJ will be viewed and discussed. Participants will examine federal statutes that prohibit bullying and harassment based on protected classes, and receive information relative to possible criminal law implications when bullying behaviors cause mental or physical injury to targeted students. This session will examine the legal ramifications of “deliberate indifference” with regard to failure to address bullying in their schools. 
  •  Advancing as Culturally Responsive Educators
    Culture plays a role in everything we do – it is an essential part of how we learn. It plays a role not only in communicating and receiving information but also in shaping the thinking process of groups and individuals. Culturally responsive teaching acknowledges, responds to, and celebrates fundamental cultures and offers full, equitable access to education for students from all cultures. As culturally responsive educators, we recognize the importance of including students’ cultural identities in all aspects of learning, thereby enriching classroom experiences and keeping students engaged.  Participants will be provided with opportunities to examine culture – their own culture and the cultures of the students they serve. 
  •  How to Speak Up at School
    Have you ever found yourself in the uncomfortable circumstance where someone, such as a student, parent or colleague, uses biased language or stereotypes in school? Based on Teaching Tolerance’s publication, How to Speak Up at School, this session is designed for educators who want to develop the skills to speak up themselves and who want to help their students find the courage to speak up, too. When someone makes a biased statement, we must act quickly! Using video scenarios, participants will learn to use four techniques (interrupt, question, educate, and echo) to respond to biased language in the moment, from any source, in any situation.

Agenda

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Beyond Bullying
10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Break
10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Advancing as Culturally Responsive Educators
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Lunch – on your own
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Advancing as Culturally Responsive Educators (continued from morning session)
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.  How to Speak Up at School

Register here.

If you have questions, please contact April Perkins, Director of ESOL/Bilingual Programs at april.perkins@maine.gov or (207)624-6627.