Summer professional development opportunities for social studies teachers

This summer the Maine Department of Education is hosting three different professional development opportunities for social studies teachers including sessions specific to elementary teachers. The eleven dates range from June to August in five locations around the state to give everyone a chance to join us!

See below for more information or to register. Contact the DOE Social Studies Specialist Joe Schmidt (joe.schmidt@maine.gov) with any questions.

Summer Symposium:

A group of teachers have been working with me throughout this school year to learn more about best practices in social studies and how to incorporate those practices into their classrooms. These teachers have completed their last session and some are looking to provide FREE regional professional development opportunities to share their learning and experiences. With teachers from Portland to the County, there is the potential for a training to take place near you!

The Dover-Foxcroft Symposium will take place from 8:30am-12:00pm at SeDoMoCha Middle School on Friday, June 29th. Click HERE to register.
The Poland Summer Symposium will take place from 8:30am-12:00pm at Bruce M. Whittier Middle School on Friday, August 17th. Click HERE to register.

Forum 2017: Inquiry – LAST CALL!

For those that were unable to attend Forum 2017: Inquiry last summer, I am going to hold one last FREE session before moving on to Forum 2018: Disciplinary Literacy (see below). Forum 2017: Inquiry LAST CALL will take place in Augusta at the Cross Building on June 28th from 9am to 4:00pm. Click HERE to register. Participants will have the opportunity to win door prizes!

Forum 2018: Disciplinary Literacy

Are you interested in learning more about DISCIPLINARY LITERACY in the social studies classroom? Join the Maine DOE Social Studies Forum 2018 in August with sessions in Augusta, Bangor, Portland, and Presque Isle. Each location will have one day focused on pK-6 Elementary teachers and one day focused on 6-12 Secondary teachers.

*NOTE* You will only need to attend one session as the elementary/secondary sessions are not sequential and the four locations will have the same training.

This FREE workshop will walk teachers through current research about disciplinary literacy in social studies, provide resources to examine current practices, and provide time and support for the creation of your own unit that can be used in the upcoming school year. Teachers are encouraged to bring members of your department/district and use the day to update current units of instruction with research based best practices. See below for locations and dates and click HERE to register. Participants will have the opportunity to win door prizes!

Presque Isle/UMPI – 8/6-8/7
Portland/Maine Historical Society – 8/14-8/15
Augusta/Cross Building – 8/21-8/22
Orono/UMO – 8/28-8/29

For more information or questions contact, Joe Schmidt, Social Studies Specialist for the Maine Department of Education at (207) 624-6828 or joe.schmidt@maine.gov

The Maine Event: Fostering Equity and Justice for Youth conference, June 28-29 in Bangor

The Positive Youth Development Institute and the Collaboration for Perpetual Innovation has a premiere staff development opportunity for educators, youth serving professionals, and volunteers.

This locally organized, national conference will address education equity and justice issues paramount to adults and students. Presentations will focus on student voice and choice, new approaches to discipline, and school-wide practices of inclusion for all students. The content will be linked school climate, bullying prevention, discipline disparities, and requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act.

Keynote presenters will be Shakti Butler, PhD, President and Founder of World Trust Educational Services, Inc.; Michael D. Clark, MSW, Director of the Center for Strength-Based Strategies; and the cast of Maine Inside Out, in their performance, Love is Alternatives to Incarceration.

In addition, full-day training opportunities are available on June 27, including:

Youth Mental Health First Aid (NAMI: Maine)
Nurturing Social Trust Through Meaningful Dialogue (Cindy Carraway-Wilson, Youth Catalytics)
Building Trauma-Sensitive Schools (Kathleen Guarino, American Institutes for Research)
Programs that Matter: Positive Outcomes Through Proven Practices (Margaret Jones, Maine Afterschool Network & Bolster Collaborative)

A discount provided by PYDI-CPI is available for teams of five or more from the same school district.

For more information about The Maine Event: Fostering Equity and Justice for Youth, visit the conference website here.

For questions related to the conference, contact Donna Duffey, Conference Manager at 800-294-4322 or duffey.donna47@gmail.com, or Sarah Ricker, Maine DOE Student Assistance Coordinator at sarah.ricker@maine.gov or 207-624-6685.

Looking for Educator Leaders who are “Designing for Learning with Technology”

The Learning Through Technology team at the Department of Education is looking for educator leaders! The theme for next year is: “Designing for Learning with Technology.” We want educators to learn from other educators and to build a network of educators who can leverage technology to get to better learning outcomes for all students.

There are a variety of different opportunities to lead: online learning facilitators; leaders of learning labs, dine and designs, and regional events; and creators of digital artifacts (blogs, short videos, webinars, etc.). More information about each position, stipends, and contact hours can be found here: http://maine.gov/doe/mlti/educatorleadership/index.html

Applications are due June 4th by 12:00pm and can be found here: http://maine.gov/doe/mlti/educatorleadership/index.html

A webinar will be available to go over these opportunities and answer any questions folks might have as they complete applications:

Thursday, May 17th, from 3:30-4:30pm

To join via video conference: https://zoom.us/j/934994748
To join via phone: 1-408-638-0968 (Meeting ID: 934 994 748)

The Department is looking for a wide-variety of educators to be leaders from:

regions across the state
all different content areas
all different grade levels.

We would like representation from each of the different educator roles – for example:

administrators
teachers
librarians
technology integrators

The Department would like to hear from educators who have:

created environments where innovative teaching and learning can thrive,
leveraged technology to make sure all students can participate in the learning to their fullest potential
shown the generosity of spirit to share their work with others
inspired others as they design learning opportunities for their own students.

Please share this opportunity with other educators!

For further information or questions, please reach out to Amanda.Nguyen@maine.gov

LTT Educator Leader Poster v.5

Computer Science Day: Save the date and invitation to present

The Maine Department of Education, Maine State Library, and Project Login are partnering to host Computer Science Day this summer. The event will be open to the public, applications for presentations are now being accepted.

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

Activities: Attendees can join presentations, hear from panelists from multiple industries, and visit booths with hands-on learning opportunities

Topics that will be explored include: What is Computer Science? What is it not? Where do we see it both in Maine and in our everyday lives? What is the skill set our students need to be successful in an evolving workforce that is coming to rely more and more on Computer Science? How can we foster more partnerships, collaboration, and access to resources between educators, non-profits and businesses? What resources exist to help educators integrate computer science into their teaching and learning practice?

Presenters: K-12 schools, Higher Education, Businesses with Employees Engaged in Computer Science Work, Non-Profits, Informal Learning Providers, Companies that have Computer Science Education Products, etc.

If you are interested in presenting at Computer Science Day, please submit the following application by June 4th, 2018!

Application to present: http://bit.ly/csday2018presenters

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

Amanda Nguyen, Maine Department of Education, Digital Learning Specialist (Amanda.Nguyen@maine.gov)
Jamie Ritter, Maine State Library, Maine State Librarian, (James.Ritter@maine.gov)
Jason Judd, Educate Maine, Program Director, Project>Login (jason@educatemaine.org)

Concussion training program to be held June 22

Concussion training for school staff has been a requirement since 2012 pursuant to 20-A MRS § 1001. The Department of Education has partnered with the Maine Concussion Management Initiative (MCMI) as well as the Maine Principals’ Association to promote policy development, trainings for staff, and increased awareness and improved management of concussions.

MCMI will be holding a training program on June 22 in Waterville at Colby College. It is appropriate for athletic administrators/directors, school nurses, coaches, athletic trainers, physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. More information and instructions for registration can be found at: https://mcmi-colby.org/page-18087

For more information contact MCMI – Membership and Education Committee – Chair Jan Salis at jsalis@aol.com (207) 577-201.

Registration for 2018 School Nurse Summer Institute is now open

Registration for 2018 School Nurse Summer Institute is now open. This year’s theme is, “The 21^st Century School Nurse: Making a Difference Today & Preparing for the Future” and provides Maine School Nurses with increased knowledge of evidence-based best practices of current complex medical, social, and emotional needs of children from preschool through 12th grade.

Location: Bates College

Dates: Tuesday July 24 – Thursday July 26, 2018

For more information visit: http://www.maine.gov/doe/schoolhealth/professional/index.html or you may contact Emily Poland, School Nurse Consultant at Emily.Poland@Maine.gov, 207- 624-6688.

Register Here

2018 Summer Literacy Institute

The Maine Department of Education invites educators to register for the 2018 Summer Literacy Institute. Proven Practices: Accelerate Student Literacy with Visible Learning is a two-day event that builds from Dr. John Hattie’s ground-breaking research which identifies effectiveness of strategies and influences on education. Drawing from materials developed by Doug Fisher and Nancy Frey, certified consultants Marisol Thayre and Olivia Amador-Valerio will help participants better understand how to:

apply the most effective Visible Learning practices highlighted by John Hattie’s research;
enhance close reading and small group instructional practices to honor surface, deep, and transfer level learning; and
use resources effectively to support continuous learning progress.

Content will be drawn from Text Dependent Questions: Pathways to Close and Critical Reading (K-5 and 6-12), Teaching Literacy in the Visible Learning Classroom, and Engagement by Design as well as other Fisher and Frey texts.

The Institute will be on August 7 & 8 at Jeff’s catering in Brewer.

Read more about this learning event. Register today as seats are limited. For more information, contact morgan.dunton@maine.gov.

Registration now open for 2018 Commissioner’s Conference

Registration is now open for the 107th Commissioner’s Conference for Superintendents.

Location: Augusta Civic Center

Dates: Wednesday, June 27 – Thursday, June 28, 2018

2018 Highlights:

The keynote speaker will be Duke Albanese, a nationally sought-after adviser and speaker on educational issues. His career in education has spanned over forty years, including service as the Commissioner of Education for the State of Maine (1996–2003) and a long tenure as the superintendent of schools for the Messalonskee School District in the Belgrade Lakes Region of Maine.
Discussion and meeting topics include: Career and Technical Education, Student Health/Safety, Educator Workforce, Certification, Regionalization, and much more.
This year’s conference will include a cracker barrel session where conference attendees will have a chance to talk informally with Commissioner Bob Hasson and other staff members of the Maine Department of Education.
The Annual Awards & Recognition Banquet.

Download a draft agenda.

Register here »

Find additional resources including pricing, lodging options, further details about registration, including guest registration, and more on the Maine DOE Commissioner’s Conference webpage.

Synergy summer training survey

The Maine Department of Education’s Help Desk staff is preparing for a summer training session and feedback is needed to ensure the training needs of Data Managers, Superintendents, CTE Directors, Tech Directors and others entering student data for the State Synergy System are addressed.

Please take a few moments to answer the following survey so we can better understand the training needs those entering student data for the State Synergy System.

DOE Summer Training Survey »

For further information and questions, please contact the Data Help Desk at 207-624-6896 or medms.helpdesk@maine.gov.

Edward Little High School teacher selected for Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship Program

High School teacher Erin Towns from Edward Little High School in Auburn, Maine has been selected as one of this year’s Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellows in recognition of her commitment to geographic education. The 2018 Fellows, a group of 40 highly respected educators from the United States and Canada, will embark on global expeditions on board the Lindblad Expedition ships for a hands-on experience for professional development.

Starting later this year, the 2018 Fellows will begin their 10 to 17 day expeditions to locations including the Canadian High Arctic, Antarctica, Southeast Alaska, Arctic Svalbard, Norway, Iceland, Greenland and the Galápagos Islands. Accompanied by Lindblad-National Geographic expedition experts, ranging from undersea specialists to National Geographic photographers, the Fellows will experience landscapes, cultures and wildlife unique to their regions of exploration.

For more information about Ms. Towns and the other fellows, check out the Grosvenor Teacher Fellows website.