Summer Training Pre-Registration Open for the For ME Instructional Programming

Pre-registration is open for the For ME Instructional Programming summer trainings.

Schools interested in registering educators should have a principal or instructional leader complete the form to indicate interest in summer trainings by May 16, 2025. In mid-May, schools that have expressed interest will be contacted to confirm participation and provide attendee details. Additional information on training locations and preparation requirements will be shared then.

Since 2018, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) has adapted and piloted open-source For ME Instructional Programming for early elementary grades, based on Boston Public Schools’ evidence-based Focus Curricula. These programs are developmentally appropriate, interdisciplinary focused, and aligned with Maine’s learning standards.

Pre-K for ME was launched in 2019.
K for ME was launched in 2021.
1st Grade for ME was launched in 2023.
2nd Grade for ME is being piloted in Maine classrooms currently and will be available for the 2025-2026 school year.

While Maine schools are responsible for purchasing instructional materials, lesson plans and supporting documents are freely available on the Maine DOE’s website. Additionally, the Maine DOE provides initial training to support successful implementation.

Informational Overview

An informational overview of the programs was held via Zoom on January 23, 2025. The session covered program structures and materials needed for implementation. Educators unfamiliar with these programs are strongly encouraged to view the recording here.

Summer Training

Educators, schools, and programs implementing For ME programs in the 2025-2026 school year (pre-K to grade 2) are invited to in-person trainings to build program understanding and implementation success.

Who Should Attend:
- School administrators (strongly encouraged)
- Teachers of pre-K, kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade
- Special educators, education technicians, and instructional coaches/curriculum leaders working with pre-K to grade 2 teachers
Training Details:
- Time: Approximately 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day
- Cost: Free
- Schedule:
  - Pre-K for ME Initial Training: July 28 and 29 at Hampden Academy; July 30 and 31 in Falmouth on Mackworth Island
  - K for ME Initial Training: July 28 and 29 in the Augusta/Waterville area (exact location TBD)
  - 1st Grade for ME Initial Training: July 30 and 31 in the Augusta/Waterville area (exact location TBD)
  - 2nd Grade for ME Initial Training: July 30 and 31 in the Augusta/Waterville area (exact location TBD)
  - Refresher Training for Pre-K Teachers:
    One-day refresher trainings will be offered in mid-August (between August 11 and 22) for teachers who have previously completed the initial Pre-K for ME training.

Don’t forget to complete the summer trainings interest form by May 16, 2025!

For additional information about Pre-K for ME, please contact Marcy.R.Whitcomb@maine.gov.

For additional information about K for ME, 1st Grade for ME, and 2nd Grade for ME, please contact Nicole.Madore@maine.gov.

Free Emergent Literacy Facilitator Training for Early Childhood Educators – Application Deadline Extended

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is offering a free professional learning opportunity for educators interested in becoming trained facilitators of professional learning communities (PLC), focused on emergent literacy for children ages 3-6.

The Professional Learning Community (PLC): Emergent Literacy modules support preschool and kindergarten teachers in implementing evidence-based language and literacy strategies. Designed to foster collaboration, these modules guide early childhood educators through discussion, hands-on activities, and reflective practice with peer and facilitator support.

The PLC includes four modules: Print Knowledge, Phonological Awareness, Vocabulary, and Oral Language. Each module consists of three sessions (12 total sessions), with flexible scheduling options. Facilitators will receive comprehensive materials, including a participant guide, a facilitator guide, a PowerPoint presentation, and videos. While groups of six to 12 teachers are recommended, larger groups may be accommodated, if engagement is maintained.

The ideal facilitator will be an educator with a strong understanding of emergent literacy, effective communication skills, and the ability to relate well to adult learners. Experience with group facilitation will be useful for the success of the facilitator.

Facilitators will participate in a day-long training session on May 14 in Augusta (travel costs covered) and a virtual training in early June. Between May and November of 2025, they will be expected to facilitate at least two PLC modules with at least six Maine educators in their regional area. They will be compensated $500 for each module that they facilitate between May and November of 2025. If facilitators want to seek compensation for facilitating more than two modules, they will need to seek prior approval.

This professional learning opportunity is sponsored by Maine’s Preschool Development Grant (PDG), B-5, a collaboration between the Maine Departments of Education and Health and Human Services.

To apply, please complete this application. The deadline to apply has been extended to April 7, 2025.

For additional information, please contact Renee Reilly, Maine DOE PDG Manager, at Renee.A.Reilly@maine.gov.

Registration Open for 2025 Maine Council for English Language Arts Conference

The Maine Council for English Language Arts (MCELA) is hosting its annual MCELA Conference on Friday, March 21, 2025, at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland from 8 a.m. to 4 pm. Registration is open now, and spots are filling fast!

This year’s conference, themed Cultivating Possibilities in Ecosystems of Learning, features an inspiring keynote by Kate Roberts, more than 40 engaging workshop sessions, and a vibrant exhibit hall with 15 vendors offering valuable resources for educators.

Connect with fellow teachers, gain fresh ideas, and leave energized with new strategies to bring back to your students! Find more information and registration here.

If you have questions, please contact MCELA at information@mainecla.org.

Maine Department of Education Expands Kindergarten Entry Inventory Project

During the 2024-2025 school year, more than 30 Maine kindergarten teachers participated in the first phase of the Kindergarten Entry Inventory (KEI) project, funded through Maine’s Preschool Development Grant and designed to help teachers gather valuable insights into children’s development across multiple domains. Since then, these teachers have tested various KEI instruments in their classrooms, using information collected to better support individual learning needs.

Now, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) is preparing for the launch of the next phase of KEI during the 2025-2026 school year. The expansion of this project will pilot KEI instruments in approximately 100 kindergarten classrooms throughout the state. Ultimately, aggregated KEI data will help to strengthen Maine’s early care and education system by identifying trends in growth and areas of continuous improvement.

The Maine DOE is inviting kindergarten teachers to participate in this exciting initiative by applying for a Kindergarten Entry Implementation Specialist position! Kindergarten Entry Implementation Specialists will pilot a KEI tool in their kindergarten classroom during the fall of 2025. Selected participants will receive a stipend for their work. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, participating in training in the KEI tool administration protocol, piloting KEI with students, offering timely feedback, and attending periodic in-person and virtual meetings.

Your expertise and perspective are needed. All interested kindergarten teachers are welcome to complete this application. Applications are being accepted through May 9.

An informational meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 1, from 3:45-4:45 p.m. Please use this link to join.

If you have questions or need additional information about the KEI project, please contact Karen Mathieu, Maine DOE Kindergarten Entry Inventory Specialist, at karen.mathieu@maine.gov.

Making Math Meaningful for All: Applications Open for Math4ME Project

Math4ME is a free, three-year, whole-school project, designed to support all educators (i.e., classroom teachers, special educators, ed techs, and interventionists) to strengthen math proficiency for all learners with a specific focus on increased math proficiency for students with math individualized education plan (IEP) goals.

Administered by the Maine Department of Education (DOE), this project focuses on building positive math school communities and classrooms, mathematical content, and pedagogical skills; and supporting inclusionary practices, increased family engagement, and formative assessment, including the Early Mathematics Diagnostic Interview (EMDI).

For more details about the Math4ME project, check out this informational video.

Applications for the 2025-2026 cohort will be open until April 4, 2025. Please use this link to apply.

A virtual informational meeting will be held on Monday, March 24, 2025, at 4 p.m. Please register here in advance.

For questions or more information, please contact Maine DOE Math4ME Distinguished Educator Susan Hogan at susan.hogan@maine.gov or Maine DOE Interdisciplinary Instruction Specialist Jen Robitaille at jennifer.r.robitaille@maine.gov.

Maine DOE Partners with Culinary Institute of Child Nutrition and RSU 14 to Host School Nutrition Staff Training

On February 18 and 19, Chef Patrick Garmon from the Culinary Institute of Child Nutrition and Chef Ryan Roderick from RSU 14 joined the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Child Nutrition Team to provide in-depth training to school nutrition staff in Maine.

Over these two days of training in Augusta, 35 participants divided their time between hands-on training in the Maine DOE culinary classroom and traditional classroom learning.

In the culinary classroom, participants focused on vegetable preparation methods, proper food handling, food safety, and efficient use of equipment. Time in the classroom was spent learning about organizational techniques to maximize efforts, as well as better ways to market food to students by optimizing their serving lines and making foods served look more appealing.

The event was a wonderful opportunity for the Maine DOE to collaborate with the Culinary Institute of Child Nutrition and local school administrative units (SAUs) to provide cutting-edge and practical training for Maine school nutrition staff. The Maine DOE Child Nutrition Team hopes to provide similar opportunities in the future.

To learn more about the resources and training opportunities provided by the Maine DOE Child Nutrition Team, please visit the team’s webpage or contact the team.

Webinar Series: Promoting Positive Childhood Experiences and Resilience

Maine Youth Thriving is hosting a series of free, virtual (via Zoom) professional development sessions throughout the next ten months in partnership with the Maine Department of Education (DOE) and the Maine Department of Health and Human Service’s Office of Child and Family Services.

These sessions will focus on:

How adverse and positive childhood experiences impact children’s development.
Ideas for how to support a stronger focus on positive experiences and for building resilience for young children.
Strategies for how educators can address compassion fatigue and build their own resilience.

Rotating Session Descriptions

Addressing Compassion Fatigue and Resilience Strategies in Educators and Caregivers – Join this training to explore stress impact and address compassion fatigue by developing strategies that promote resilience and reconnect you with the “why ” of your work.
The Impact of Experience: How Adverse Childhood Experiences and Positive Childhood Experiences Impact Healthy Child Development – Join this training to gain a comprehensive understanding of how both adverse and positive childhood experiences sculpt the foundation of individual development and uncover the transformative potential of PCEs in nurturing the children you work with.

Schedule

Two contact hours are available per session. Registration is required, and links to each session are provided in the table below. There is no cost to attend sessions.

You may find more information here.

Date/Time	Webinar Topic	Registration Link
Monday, March 10, 6-8 p.m.	Addressing Compassion Fatigue and Resilience Strategies in Educators and Caregivers	https://maineresilience.org/event-6048679
Wednesday, May 7, 6-8 p.m.	The Impact of Experience: How Adverse Childhood Experiences and Positive Childhood Experiences Impact Healthy Child Development	https://maineresilience.org/event-6048519
Wednesday, May 28, 6-8 p.m.	Addressing Compassion Fatigue and Resilience Strategies in Educators and Caregivers	https://maineresilience.org/event-6051093
Tuesday, October 7, 6-8 p.m.	The Impact of Experience: How Adverse Childhood Experiences and Positive Childhood Experiences Impact Healthy Child Development	https://maineresilience.org/event-6051085
Tuesday, October 21, 6-8 p.m.	Addressing Compassion Fatigue and Resilience Strategies in Educators and Caregivers	https://maineresilience.org/event-6051095

If you have any questions, please contact Nicole Madore, Maine DOE Early Childhood Specialist, nicole.madore@maine.gov.

Part B of Celebrating Rural Maine Project to Focus on Wabanaki Perspectives

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Interdisciplinary Instruction Team is pleased to announce the distinguished speakers for Part B of the Celebrating Rural Maine project! This three-part professional learning series engages rural educators in a deep exploration of Maine’s history. All teachers are welcome to participate in Part B, regardless of prior participation in other sessions.

Event Details

The series consists of three Saturday colloquiums on March 8, April 12, and May 17, each scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and centered on this year’s theme: “Geography of the Place We Now Call Maine”. These sessions provide a unique opportunity to engage with content experts, master teachers, and colleagues in discussions about Wabanaki studies, outdoor learning, innovative teaching models, and climate education.

Ongoing Engagement with Educational Strategies

Throughout the series, Dr. Mark Hofer (College of William & Mary) and Jessica Fries-Gaither (Albert Einstein Distinguished Fellow, Library of Congress) will demonstrate strategies for integrating primary sources to deepen connections with content.

Why Participate?

These colloquiums offer an engaging, interdisciplinary approach to understanding Maine’s history through geographical, cultural, and historical lenses. Educators will receive five contact hours per session.

Click here to learn more and register.

For more information, please contact Regina Holland, National Council for History Education Program Manager, at regina@ncheteach.org.

The Interdisciplinary Instruction Team is a part of the Maine DOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning.

This opportunity is funded through the Library of Congress’ Teaching with Primary Sources program and presented in partnership with the National Council for History Education.

You’re Invited! Join the Conversation About Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Practices in Maine

Educators across Maine are invited to participate in facilitated discussions this spring regarding Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). These discussions will provide an opportunity for educators to share their experiences, explore best practices, and address challenges in implementing MTSS across academics, behavior, social-emotional learning, and attendance supports.

These virtual meetings offer a space for collaboration, reflection, and contribution to the ongoing development of MTSS in Maine.

There are six virtual sessions available throughout March of 2025, tailored to different grade levels:

Elementary (pre-K through grades 5 and 6): March 4, 6, and 12 (3-4:30 p.m.)
Middle school (grades 5 and 6 through 8): March 18 and 20 (2:30-4 p.m.)
High school (grades 9 through 12): March 26 (2:30-4 p.m.)

Middle school educators (grades 5 and 6 through 8) may choose to attend either the middle or high school sessions, depending on what best aligns with their student population. Educators may register for multiple sessions but must sign up individually for each.

Why attend?

Your voice matters! Join fellow educators to collaborate, share experiences, and drive meaningful improvements in MTSS practices statewide. These discussions will inform future professional development opportunities and school support initiatives, ensuring educators have the tools and resources they need to effectively support every student.

Registration:

Elementary Session #1: March 4, 3-4:30 p.m. – Register here.
Elementary Session #2: March 6, 3-4:30 p.m. – Register here.
Elementary Session #3: March 12, 3-4:30 p.m. – Register here.
Middle School Session #1: March 18, 2:30-4 p.m. – Register here.
Middle School Session #2: March 20, 2:30-4 p.m. – Register here.
High School Session: March 26, 2:30-4 p.m. – Register here.

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is looking forward to your participation and valuable insights, as we strengthen MTSS across Maine! For more information, please contact Andrea Logan, Maine DOE MTSS Specialist, at andrea.logan@maine.gov or 207-592-2011.

Webinar: Innovative Journalism – Educational Resources with Retro Report

Join Maine Department of Education (DOE) Civics Teacher Leader Fellow Breanna Bellefontaine-Krupski as she hosts David Olson, Director of Education at Retro Report, for an informative session exploring the organization’s rich educational resources.

Retro Report is an educational journalism organization that connects historical events with current issues through compelling storytelling and investigative reporting.

Attendees will gain insights into:

How Retro Report supports social studies educators.
Engaging, ready-to-use content and lesson plans for civics instruction.
Professional development opportunities for teachers.

Join this webinar via Zoom on Thursday, February 13, at 3:30 p.m. EST. Registration is not required. You may access the webinar here.

The Teacher Leader Fellow program is part of the Maine DOE Office of Teaching and Learning. For questions, contact Breanna Bellefontaine-Krupski at Breanna.Krupski@maine.gov.