The Pine Project. This first-in-the-nation Maine DOE initiative aims to foster inclusive school environments by helping readers to explore themes of immigration, diversity, and belonging.
In September, every school administrative unit (SAU) in Maine received a Welcoming Library: Pine Collection, made up of 30 picture books that reflect the diverse experiences of immigrant families and their children. Embedded in these books are social-emotional learning (SEL) discussion questions that educators can refer to when facilitating impactful classroom conversations. Alongside the library, The Pine Project also offers a professional learning series, which features self-guided training for educators on how to use these books to teach critical skills like self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship building, and responsible decision-making.
The Pine Project professional learning modules follow the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) framework. Educators are encouraged to engage with the modules sequentially, taking time for reflection, deeper thinking, and personal engagement before advancing to the next module. The training focuses on key themes like identity, agency, belonging, collaborative problem-solving, and curiosity, featuring insights from leading Maine educators, as well as immigrant and first-generation authors.
You can access The Pine Project’s free professional learning modules here.
Melanie Junkins, Multilingual and Bilingual Education Specialist with the Maine DOE, and Kirsten Cappy of I’m Your Neighbor Books are leading The Pine Project. Content creators include lead educator Michelle Amato, consulting educator Melissa Guerrette, and project assistants Ange Ishimwe and Dhananji Rathnayake. Other team members are Michelle Amato, Aris Ayala Cruz, Dezh Azaad, Abusana Micky Bondo, Xavier Botana, Kirsten Cappy, Leonarda Carranza, Louise El Yaafouri, Melissa Guerrette, Ange Ishimwe, Terry Catasús Jennings, Francie Latour, Anne Sibley O’Brien, Muon Thi Van, Andrea Wang, and M.O. Yuksel.
The Pine Project represents a significant advancement in promoting equity and understanding in Maine schools. Educators are encouraged to fully utilize these resources, revisiting unfamiliar topics as needed and exploring the concepts further using the available online tools.
What our Maine school-based participants are saying about ECHO:
“I am better able to understand the trauma responses that children exhibit at school. I understand that children are often not in control of their own behavior, and they need adults to help them learn the lagging skills.”
“I gained a toolkit of strategies to use with challenging behaviors. We are implementing PBIS in our district, and I feel the ECHO sessions will help me implement that more effectively with students who present challenging behaviors.”
“It helped me remember to connect and consult with others—even across the state. There are people who will help.”
“I became more aware of resources available in the community and gained greater confidence in my abilities to navigate complex situations. Collaborating with a team of experienced colleagues boosted my confidence in my practice.”
(An example of the Welcoming Libraries: Pine Collection, which will be accessed by every public school in Maine.)
This first-in-the-nation initiative exploring themes of immigration, diversity, belonging, and acceptance was kicked off today at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center.
Westbrook, ME – In collaboration with the award-winning Maine nonprofit I’m Your Neighbor Books, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) held The Pine Project’s Welcoming Libraries Celebration, marking the start of this first-in-the-nation initiative. Welcoming Libraries are collections of picture books exploring themes of immigration, diversity, and belonging, curated to foster inclusive communities.
“We know the power of a story. We know the power of books to help transport readers and help them identify with others, feel more connected, feel included in their communities, and feel a sense of belonging. Each story in the Welcoming Libraries: Pine Collections reflects that power of being included,” said Maine DOE Associate Commissioner for Public Education Megan Welter. “We know that through this initiative, readers will get to immerse themselves in wonderful stories and, at the same time, provide educators with the tools to create an even more welcoming and inclusive environment for all students.”
The Pine Project, initiated by the Maine DOE, has evolved from a small-scale initiative to a statewide program. Initially, the project comprised 16 libraries that went to as many Maine Schools. Now, through a collaboration with I’m Your Neighbor Books, the Maine DOE has expanded the project to include all public schools in the state and incorporate professional development. This expansion extends the project’s benefits to students and educators throughout Maine, providing every Maine school administrative unit with a Welcoming Library: Pine Collection.
Every collection includes 30 books and a Maine-made bookshelf. Each book includes discussion questions developed by Maine educators and community leaders to facilitate conversations in the classroom.
Some of the educators who worked on the Pine Project. (Courtesy of I’m Your Neighbor Books.)
“I didn’t realize how complex the subject of immigration was because I am an immigrant myself. It was my lived experience. But now, seeing students enjoying reading these books and hearing the conversations they inspire, I understand,” said Ina Demers, an educator involved with the project, who has already had a chance to read some of the curated books to her students.
“It’s super inspiring and exciting and energizing and really gives a sense of hopefulness about growing our capacity for truth-telling and welcoming and creating a sense of deep, deep, deep belonging,” said Francie Latour, author of Auntie Luce’s Talking Paintings, one of the books included in Welcoming Libraries: Pine Collection. “We know that belonging is really tied to our ability to learn. It is hard to learn and thrive in school if we don’t feel safe, and belonging gives us that feeling of safety.”
The Pine Project’s Welcoming Libraries Celebration featured a full cast reading of “I’m an American” by Darshana Khiani, performed by fifth graders from Westbrook Middle School. One parent who came to watch her son read shared that the Pine Project made her feel like she and her family truly belonged in Maine.
“I love seeing everyone here. It’s nice,” the parent commented. “After coming here from the Congo seven years ago, it is finally feeling like home.”
The Pine Project has been entirely Maine-based. The collections have been curated by I’m Your Neighbor Books, a Maine nonprofit, containing books by Peaks Island author Anne Sibley O’Brien and audiobook-enhanced titles provided by Portland’s AudioFile Magazine. The libraries sit on a bookshelf designed by Biddeford’s Nomak Design, manufactured by Lisbon Falls’ Orion Woodworking, and topped with signage from South Portland’s Banacom Sign. Martin’s Point Health Care Volunteers packed each set of books and bookshelves with custom packaging designed by Biddeford’s Volk Packaging.
“To have the opportunity to do something with such a strong public mission statement was like a dream come true for us,” said Katie Clark of Nomak Design.
“Maine is a special place for craftsmen and artisans, so it feels good to give my time to make quality products that are a part of Maine’s culture,” said Ryan Cathcart of Orion Woodshop.
The Pine Project also includes free professional learning, designed by the Maine DOE and I’m Your Neighbor Books, to aid educators in utilizing the libraries in their schools.
Westbrook Fifth Graders Perform a Full Cast Reading of “I’m An American.”
“The professional learning is a self-guided training to use the featured picture books to teach self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making,” said project lead Melanie Junkins, Maine DOE
Multilingual and Bilingual Education Specialist. “This is not a curriculum. Instead, this is an application of the Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) framework.”
“This project aligns with the CASEL framework in lots of ways. First of all, it is specifically intended to encourage welcoming communities and to help students have a greater sense of belonging,” explained CASEL Director of Policy Andrew Tucker. “In general, the CASEL framework is about belonging. It’s about creating these communities where students can acquire important lifelong competencies like self-awareness and self-management. [The Pine Project] allows for social awareness in a huge way because it helps students understand the life experiences of other people. It helps them to talk amongst themselves and build the relationship skills they need to understand somebody else’s perspective.”
In November of 2020, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) launched SEL4ME. This FREE PreK-12th grade, Collaborative for Academic and Social Emotional Learning (CASEL)-aligned, trauma-informed web-based resource provides equal access to social emotional learning (SEL) resources for all Maine schools. The online platform of 450 modules for social emotional learning assists educators in embedding SEL practices into daily routines to ensure that youth of all ages in all Maine regions are equipped with the knowledge of the 5 Key Elements of SEL – Self Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationships, and Responsible Decision Making. Since the launch of this resource, over 135 schools have accessed these modules, with more than 90,000 logins during COVID 19 (2020-2022).
Advisory Team Purpose:
The Maine DOE is currently recruiting members for our SEL4ME State Advisory Team. As a critical partner in Maine’s education field, we invite you to serve in an advisory capacity to share your expertise. We will work to review SEL4ME modules, making informed improvements to the efficacy of this resource with updates to meet current knowledge about supportive SEL practices and cultural responsiveness. Alignment with Maine’s whole student approach is of the utmost importance, and we are seeking a diverse advisory team to support this effort. Essential to this team’s success is the involvement of educators, community members, and other stakeholders representing all regions of Maine.
Members:
The Advisory Team will include up to 20 members, including early childhood, early and upper elementary, middle, and high school educators and local—and state-level organizations. We are seeking participants from all regions of Maine.
Advisory Team Expectations:
Commitment is from June 2024 to August 2024. There will be two levels of Advisory Team participation:
Level 1 Team comprised of school personnel will review all grade-level modules in each of the 5 competencies aligned with CASEL and recommend the best 5 modules from each competency area for review by Level 2 Members. * The goal is for each grade level to have up to 25 modules in total.
Review modules and deliberate asynchronously, with July 12th as the deadline for submission.
Forward recommendations for Level 2 consideration.
Level 2, comprised of community organizations/parents/educators, will require a deeper level of engagement – synthesizing preliminary recommendations made by Level 1 participants – with compensation at a higher rate:
Review Level 1 recommendations and identify the modules—up to 25 per grade level PreK-12—encompassing the core competencies that CASEL identified.
Attend 5 virtual meetings (1.5 hrs. each) to determine the final selection of modules.
Attend the first asynchronous meeting on July 18th (with subsequent meetings determined by the team).
Compensation:
Participants will receive a stipend upon completion of all advisory work. If desired, they may apply to be part of both Level 1 and Level 2 teams.
Level 1:
Up to 13 members
Total commitment is10.5 hours
$45/hour
Deadline for submission of selected modules: Friday, July 12th @ 5:00 PM
Level 2:
Up to 10 members
Total commitment is 8.5 hours
$50/hour
Deadline for Level 2 work: on or before Aug. 16, 2024
To indicate your interest in becoming a member of the 2024 SEL4ME Advisory Team, please complete the following form by June 8th:https://forms.office.com/g/a8RHL0Q0Cx
American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds from the US Department of Education (DOE) support the implementation of this project. The project has an award totaling $10,000, of which 100% is federally funded and directly attributed to project implementation. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by the USDOE or the U.S. Government.
Maine schools will celebrate the 4th annual International Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Day celebration on March 8, 2024, and the week leading up to it.
We know that Maine schools are doing amazing things to cultivate the social and emotional learning of all of their students and we want to share that collective success with the nation. With that in mind, this year we are asking you to participate in this national effort by sharing your SEL highlights during the school year and beyond and/or share your school’s 2024 SEL Day activities and initiatives by filling out this form.
Submissions received from this form will help Maine come together as a state to recognize the amazing work of Maine schools at a national level to be included on the SEL4US Leader Board. Together, let’s make Maine a shining example of SEL excellence!
You can also share your #SELdayME2024 highlights during the week of March 8th by posting to your school’s social media and tagging Maine DOE, using #SELday or #SELdayME2024 and tag the Maine DOE at @MaineDepartmentofEducation1 on Facebook and @mainedepted on Instagram.
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is excited to share information on the 4th annual International Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Day, Friday, March 8th. The theme of this year’s event is Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Leaders. Want to join in the celebration? Start making your plans now!
Compete against other teams. Maine DOE’s SEL4ME team expects to be at the top of the leaderboard that day. Is anyone up for the challenge? Learn more about the badges here: Badges | SEL Day
In addition to these national efforts, Maine DOE is encouraging educators to connect the SEL theme to Youth Art Month, being celebrated throughout March. Consider how to showcase student artwork, music, dance, poetry, videos, essays, or more by encouraging participation. Showcase your selections on district media and tag us @mainedoe or #SELDay.
As you consider your SEL Day participation, please be mindful of inclusivity for all students, families, and educators. Some questions for your planning team to consider:
How can activities be framed to support inclusion for all?
What is needed to ensure that timely and accurate translations are available for multilingual families?
How can activities be designed to provide access for all reading abilities?
What barriers might there be to participation, and can those barriers be proactively addressed?
Please join the Maine DOE for SEL Day Toolkit Office Hours.
We will use this time for Maine educators to collectively explore the #SELday Toolkit and to share ideas, activities, and events for SEL Day celebration.
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) recognizes the importance of supporting student mental health. Data from the U.S Center for Disease Control and the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey reflect increased student mental health needs.
In 2023, Maine DOE received a five-year Expanding Access in School Environments (EASE) grant to increase school-based mental health staff and services in Maine schools. The Maine DOE will spend the next year providing opportunities to the current workforce of school counselors and school social workers to build upon their expertise and to promote evidence-based practices in Maine schools. This emphasis on school-based mental health workforce development strengthens the quality of mental health services in schools.
The following scholarship opportunities are being presented to school counselors and school social workers working in Maine schools:
With the goal of increasing the number of school counselors benefiting from access to their professional communities, Maine school counselors (up to 31) will be given scholarship opportunities to obtain full membership in the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). This membership opportunity will connect more Maine school counselors with their professional community, providing access to additional networking, training, evidence-based practice resources, and research. Eligible ASCA members will also be able to pursue national school counselor certification through ASCA. Once the application is created, it will be distributed through a Maine DOE school-based mental health listserv.
With the goal of increasing the number of nationally certified school counselors (ASCA) supporting Maine schools, the Maine DOE will provide scholarships to qualified school counselors (up to 10) to participate in the ASCA national certification process. At this time, ASCA has reported that Maine does not have any ASCA national certified school counselors working in Maine schools. Once the application is created, it will be distributed through a Maine DOE school-based mental health listserv.
With the goal of increasing the number of school social workers benefiting from access to their professional communities, Maine school social workers (up to 31) will be given scholarship opportunities to obtain full membership in the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA). This membership opportunity will connect Maine school social workers with their professional community, providing access to additional professional networking, training, evidence-based practice resources, and research. Eligible members will also be able to pursue advanced national certification through the SSWAA National Certified School Social Work process. Once the application is created, it will be distributed through a Maine DOE school-based mental health listserv.
With the goal of increasing the number of nationally certified school social workers (SSWAA) supporting Maine schools, the Maine DOE will provide scholarships to qualified school social workers (up to 10) to participate in the SSWAA National Certified School Social Work process. This advanced national certification process requires applicants to link their school practices with the national school social work practice model. This funding support may result in a 1000% increase in National Certified School Social Workers in Maine schools and place Maine among the national leaders in national school social work certification. Once the application is created, it will be distributed through a Maine DOE school-based mental health listserv.
To be eligible for these opportunities, school counselors and school social workers must meet the eligibility requirements for each individual activity, be employed as a school counselor or school social worker in a Maine school, hold 075 certification from the Maine Department of Education (school counselors), or hold a valid social work license from the Maine Social Work Licensing Board (school social workers). Interested school counselors and school social workers must use the forthcoming application to request access to these scholarship opportunities. Each of these opportunities will be provided on a first come, first serve basis.
In early 2023, The Maine Pediatric and Behavioral Health Partnership, a partnership between The Department of Health and Human Services, Northern Light Acadia Hospital, and MaineHealth, used ECHO® Methodology to connect 125 participants across Maine, including teachers, ed techs, school nurses, social workers, counselors, and administrators to specialists in child and adolescent mental health.
Each of the six ECHO sessions contained a brief high-yield didactic presentation and provided a structured forum for those working in Maine schools to bring forward complicated behavioral health cases for exploration and review.
As a learning collaborative, we were reminded of mental health promotion skills we were already using and gained new ideas to put into action. We addressed the needs of our student population by learning from each other using case-based methodology.
As a result of the learning collaborative, MCD Global Health created the Mental Health Promotion Toolkit. A collection of helpful resources can be found inside. These materials provide information on mental health promotion, tips for addressing health disparities, and roadmaps for implementing innovative strategies to improve mental health and substance use prevention efforts in schools.
Through a partnership with Spirit Series, the Maine Department of Education is offering SpiritCorps, a three-week, project-based, narrative writing and self-discovery program designed for students from 7th to 10th grade. First-time participating schools receive 100% funding through January 1, 2024, thanks to a federal ARP grant. Openings for the fall remain available on a first-come, first-served basis!
The SpiritCorps experience–as students identify, craft, record on video and share with their classmates personal stories of Courage, Conscience or Compassion–is often profound, building self-efficacy and strengthening connection at a moment when mental health crises and alienation plague our youth.
Here are some examples of the power of the SpiritCorps experience:
At Camden Hills Regional High School, Patti Forster & Her 10th Graders Find Self-Compassion with SpiritCorps
Powerful data collected last year by SpiritCorps shows strong academic and social-emotional gains, as do comments like these from students who have felt the influence of this program on their lives:
“I learned that my story is important and interesting… It helped me learn that other people are struggling with the same things I am and made me feel less alone.” – Bobby, 8th Grade, ME
“Doing SpiritCorps, I’ve learned what it actually means to be compassionate and courageous not just for myself, but for others as well.” – Sara, 10th Grade, ME
“This gave me the chance to really open up around my pain… It helped me let go, just a little, which means a lot to me. Thank you SpiritCorps!” – Randy, 8th Grade, ME
And partner teachers say this about the impact of SpiritCorps:
“I would absolutely recommend SpiritCorps to any educator. It was easy to use, fun and so well organized. It was great! It was so easy from an educator’s perspective to integrate this curriculum into my classroom…And it was a masterclass in self-reflection.” – Scott Arritt, Gr. 7 & 8 ELA, Durham Community School
“By providing an authentic audience and utilizing the peer feedback process, kids who do not consider themselves writers find that their voice has value and their stories are worth telling. And kids who love to write get expert advice on how to hone their craft. Time after time, our students produce their best writing of the year, hands down, during the SpiritCorps program.” – Sarah Abbott, Gr. 5-9 ELA, Noble Flex
“For those who engaged deeply in the process, writing stories about real compassion for themselves or others, this experience was truly a “gift to themselves”. I saw students forgiving a parent for hurting them and forgiving themselves for how they hurt themselves with their own thoughts. A truly powerful gift. A bonus to this experience is how it helped them see their classmates in a different light.” – Patti Forster, Gr. 10 ELA, Camden Hills Regional High School
To learn more, watch our brief video Introduction to SpiritCorps. For further information and/or to schedule an engagement at your school, email Dr. Christina O’Neal, Director of Program Partnerships for SpiritCorps, at coneal@spiritseries.org.
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is offering Read Them Your Way book studies on two different titles this spring and summer.
The Social Emotional Playbook, written by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey and Dominque Smith is described by publisher Corwin as an “interactive playbook (which) provides the language, moves and evidence-based advice you need to nurture social and emotional learning in yourself, your students and your school.” The book is divided into six modules. This text is designed for educators.
This Is Your Brain On Stereotypes written by Tanya Lloyd Kyi and illustrated by Drew Shannon is described by publisher Kids Can Press as being, “an essential overview of the science behind stereotypes, from why our brains form them to how recognizing them can help us be less biased…This timely and hopeful book addresses the issues of discrimination, racism, sexism, ableism, and homophobia and offers concrete suggestions on how to make change. It uses scientific inquiry and loads of relatable and interesting examples to explore these uncomfortable topics in age-appropriate ways. Chapters, sidebars, and colorful illustrations break the text into manageable chunks. Besides the many ways this book could be used to inspire frank and in-depth discussions on the importance of addressing stereotypes and bias, it also links to many science and social studies curriculum topics. Backmatter includes an extensive list of sources, suggestions for further reading and an index.” This text is designed for educators and is recommended for students 11 and up.
Read Them Your Way
Choose to organize a professional community read. Maine DOE facilitation of a live, interactive, inquiry based discussion is available. Discussions of The Social Emotional Learning Playbook would be facilitated over six weeks, one week per module. Discussions of This Is Your Brain On Stereotypes would be facilitated over one session.
Read individually, at your own pace, and post your thinking on a shared jamboard with other education professionals across Maine. Comment on the thoughts of others w/ MDOE moderation.
Read on your own and join in a live discussion.
One session LIVE, interactive, inquiry based discussions of The Social Emotional Learning Playbook will be hosted by the MDOE at 4pm on 6/1, 6/29, 7/20 & 8/17. Register here. Breakout groups will be by module, as engagement allows.
One session LIVE, interactive, inquiry based discussions of This Is Your Brain On Stereotypes will occur at 4pm on 5/31, 6/28, 7/19 and 8/16. Register here. Breakout groups will be used depending on engagement.
Contact hours are available for all opportunities.
Maine DOE Newsroom 