Maine DOE Seeks Participants for Climate Education Action Plan Task Force

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) wants your help designing the future of climate education in Maine. If you are a teacher, student or young adult (under 30), school administrator, or education partner, consider filling out the interest form below to be a part of the Maine DOE Climate Education Action Plan Task Force.

Based on a recommendation from the Maine Climate Council, this task force will bring together stakeholders from across the state with a wide range of perspectives. The task force will discuss the challenges facing climate education in public pre-K – 12 schools and develop an action-oriented plan for stakeholders to address those challenges. The action plan will focus on curriculum, resources, plans, and policies that might be restructured, supported, or built.

This work will build upon the work of the Maine Climate Council, the Maine Environmental Literacy Plan, and other state work throughout the country. This process will be public, and there will be several opportunities for comment and feedback for anyone not on the taskforce to contribute to the work.

The Basics:

The task force will be comprised of 20-25 stakeholders from throughout the state of Maine and serving in a variety of roles: teacher, school/district leadership, partner organizations such as community-based nonprofits, workforce development, and youth. Stakeholders will be selected based on a breadth of perspectives including region and role.
This task force will meet seven times from early April to early June. The schedule is detailed below.

Outcomes:

4-6 defined and detailed challenges/goals with 2-5 action steps for each goal for stakeholders to undertake within a defined timeline.
Published as the Maine Climate Education Action Plan (3-5 pages)
4-year timeline for climate education action for a variety of stakeholders.

Timeline:

Date	Time	Location
Tuesday, April 9th	3:30 – 5:00 pm	Virtual
Tuesday, April 23rd	9:00 am – 3:00 pm	In Person – Augusta
Monday, May 6th	3:30 – 5:00 pm	Virtual
Monday, May 20th	3:30 – 5:00 pm	Virtual
Tuesday, May 28th	3:30 – 5:00 pm	Virtual
Tuesday, June 4th	9:00 am – 3:00 pm	In Person – Augusta
To be determined	3:30 – 5:00 pm	Virtual

For more information as well as updates before and during this process, please visit this link: Climate Education Action Taskforce and Plan | Department of Education (maine.gov)

Statewide Student Writing Contest Winners Announced by MCSTOYA and MCELA

The Maine County and State Teachers of the Year Association (MCSTOYA), in partnership with the Maine Council of English Language Arts (MCELA), has announced the winners of the second annual Student Writing Contest that showcased the outstanding talent of students and the incredible impact of teachers in Maine.

“The Student Writing Contest aims to lift students’ voices in recognizing teachers’ impact on their lives in ways both small and large,” MCSTOYA and MCELA said in a joint statement. “In only our second year, the submissions exceeded our expectations. We are touched by the stories of caring and supportive teachers from across our state and from every grade span.”

After careful consideration, the judges have selected the following students as the winners:

PK-2

1st Place: Giles Urwin, Grade 2, The Center for Teaching and Learning, Edgecomb
2nd Place: Avery Barnett, Grade 2, Elm Street School, Mechanic Falls
Honorable Mentions:
- Po Salko, Grade 1, Kate Furbish Elementary School, Brunswick
- Brenden Onyon, Kindergarten, Poland Community School
- Anais Hernas, Grade 2, Daniel W. Merritt School, Addison

Grades 3-5

First Place: Adeline Inman, Grade 5, The Center for Teaching and Learning, Edgecomb
Second Place: Abisag H. Castillo Marrero, Grade 4, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Brunswick
Honorable Mentions:
- Arthur Douglas, Grade 5, Oxford Elementary School
- Josie Mains, Grade 5, Oxford Elementary School

Grades 6-8

First Place: Isla A. Litton, Grade 8, Cape Elizabeth Middle School
Second Place: Arianna Brooks, Grade 8, Bruce M Whittier Middle School, Poland
Honorable Mentions:
- Ruby Glenn, Grade 7, Coastal Christian School, Waldoboro
- Zabina Zimmermann, Grade 8, Cape Elizabeth Middle School

Grades 9-12

First Place: Jocelyn Davis, Grade 9, Oak Hill High School, Wales
Second Place: Sebastian Milstein-Jones, Grade 9, Casco Bay High School, Portland
Honorable Mentions:
- Shukri Ibrahim, Grade 9, Casco Bay High School, Portland
- Nataly Fitzpatrick, Grade 12, Nokomis Regional High School, Newport

“We are incredibly proud of all the students who participated. Teaching can be so incredibly hard, and on really tough days, you can start to question yourself and whether or not you make a difference. But how can you not be uplifted by the words of these students,” said Heather Webster, Co-chair of the Writing Contest Committee.

Our youngest writers in grades PK-5 share:

“He shows us things in little steps…”

“[she] makes me feel safe/by knowing me so well.”

“She changed my life, made me think smarter…”

Students in grades 6-12 echo these thoughts in more complexity:

“She makes you feel seen in a room jammed with people.”

“He pushed me to my limits…every day he was in class he taught me a new life lesson.”

“[She] saved me, my spark, and life and she has continued to help me guide myself…to become the person I am today and dream to be.”

And of course, the sentiment that shines through every submission is “all I want to say is, truly, thank you.”

The winners will receive Amazon Gift Cards in the amounts of $125.00, $60.00, and $30.00, and their work will be featured on the MCELA website.

MCSTOYA and MCELA extend their gratitude to the judges for their time and dedication in evaluating the entries. Additionally, we thank all the participating schools, teachers, and students for contributing to the success of this contest.

AmeriCorps NCCC’s Summer of Service Program

Volunteer Maine (Maine Commissioner for Community Service) shares that AmeriCorps NCCC has announced that its “Summer of Service” program is returning this year. This shorter summer session returns with projects focused on climate mitigation, affordable housing, and the option to serve where the need is greatest.

Deploy to Aurora, Colo., or Vinton, Iowa, for three months of training and service. Program benefits include food, lodging, a modest living allowance, uniforms, and program-related travel expenses are all covered by AmeriCorps NCCC. In addition, members will receive a post-service education award.

Explore Summer of Service opportunities here (PDF) or visit the AmeriCorps Summer of Service website.

For more information about volunteer opportunities in Maine visit Volunteer Maine’s website.

Opportunity for Students in Grades 8 – 11: Applications Open for FEMA Youth Council

Do you know any teens who want to build leadership skills while making a difference in their community? The United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is now accepting applications for its Youth Preparedness Council.

The Youth Preparedness Council supports FEMA’s commitment to involve youth across the U.S. in preparedness-related activities. It also provides youth with an opportunity to present their perspectives, feedback, and opinions to FEMA officials. Youth Council members regularly meet with FEMA staff and attend the annual Youth Preparedness Council virtual summit.

The Maine Department of Education encourages you to share this opportunity with students in grades 8 – 11.

Learn more by visiting the Youth Preparedness Council | FEMA.gov

Seeking Student Submissions for MLTI Student Conference 2024 T-Shirt Design Competition

The Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) Learning Through Technology team is seeking student artwork for this year’s in-person MLTI Student Conference that will be held at UMaine on May 23rd. Past winners from Gray-New Gloucester High School, Waterville Junior High School, Auburn Middle School, and Southern Aroostook Community School have been able to see their designs exist beyond their computer screens. This contest is open to all students in MLTI school districts.

This year’s theme is “Camp MLTI,” so judges will be looking for an entry that focuses on camping. This t-shirt will be worn by more than one thousand students and educators who will be joining us at this annual event. The winners will be recognized during the event. Submissions are due no later than February 1^st. Winners will be announced within two weeks of submission.

Click here for more information, including the submission guidelines and link to submit.

For questions about the MLTI Student Conferences, please contact the MLTI Project Manager, Bethany Billinger, bethany.billinger@maine.gov

Media Release: Hampden and Caribou Students Selected for United States Senate Youth Program

Students to Attend Washington Week Trip, Receive $10,000 Scholarship

Maine high school students Ryan Hafener and Claire Elizabeth Ouellette were selected to represent Maine during the 62nd annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) Washington Week from March 2-9, 2024. Ryan Hafener of Hampden and Claire Ouellette of Caribou were selected from among the state’s top student leaders to be part of the 104 national student delegation. Each delegate will also receive a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study.

The USSYP was created by Senate Resolution 324 in 1962 and has been sponsored by the Senate and fully funded by The Hearst Foundations since inception. Originally proposed by Senators Kuchel, Mansfield, Dirksen and Humphrey, the Senate leadership of the day, the impetus for the program as stated in Senate testimony is “to increase young Americans’ understanding of the interrelationships of the three branches of government, learn the caliber and responsibilities of federally elected and appointed officials, and emphasize the vital importance of democratic decision making not only for America but for people around the world.”

Each year this extremely competitive merit-based program provides the most outstanding high school students – two from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity – with an intensive week-long study of the federal government and the people who lead it. The overall mission of the program is to help instill within each class of USSYP student delegates more profound knowledge of the American political process and a lifelong commitment to public service. In addition to the program week, The Hearst Foundations provide each student with a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history and public affairs. All expenses for Washington Week are also provided by The Hearst Foundations; as stipulated in Senate Resolution 324, no government funds are utilized.

Ryan Hafener, a senior at Hampden Academy, serves as the student representative on the Maine state Board of Education and co-chairs the Maine Department of Education’s Student Cabinet. He has interned in the Office of Policy and Government Affairs at the Maine Department of Education and currently interns for a state-level legislative campaign committee. Ryan is an alumnus of a climate policy intensive run by Maine’s governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future focused on workforce development in the clean energy sector. He is the president of the Hampden Academy Student Council and serves as a student representative on the Regional School Unit 22 School Board. Ryan is a member of the National Honor Society and serves on the GLSEN National Student Council, which is an an LGBTQ+ education nonprofit. In 2022 and 2023, he participated in Seeds of Peace, an international leadership and peacebuilding organization that brings together youth from areas of conflict. Ryan plans to major in political science or international affairs at Bowdoin College. He hopes to continue his work on political campaigns in the future to help fight for the issues he and so many champion: education, human rights, infrastructure, and delivering for rural communities.

Claire Ouellette, a senior at Caribou High School, serves as the president of the Student Council and National Honor Society. She is a band section leader, varsity cheerleading captain, Senior Class vice president, Key Club treasurer, and Tri-M Music Honor Society vice president. She has been named English Student of the Year and AP U.S. History Student of the Year, and been awarded for both Math and Performing Arts Academic Excellence. Claire is very active in community service including Relay for Life, Little League, Vacation Bible School, Wintergreen Art Center, Athletic Boosters, and the Caribou Community School Music Program. She is currently employed at a local daycare. She hopes to major in accounting at the University of Maine and return to her hometown area.

Chosen as alternates to the 2024 program were Nina Dabas, a resident of Winslow, who attends Maine School of Science and Mathematics and Nathaniel Wayne, a resident of Brunswick, who attends Brunswick High School.

Delegates and alternates are selected by the state departments of education nationwide and the District of Columbia and Department of Defense Education Activity, after nomination by teachers and principals. The chief state school officer for each jurisdiction confirms the final selection. This year’s Maine delegates and alternates were designated by Pender Makin, Commissioner of Education.

During the program week, the student delegates will attend meetings and briefings with senators, the president, a justice of the Supreme Court, and leaders of cabinet agencies, among others.

In addition to outstanding leadership abilities and a strong commitment to volunteer work, the student delegates rank academically in the top one percent of their states among high school juniors and seniors.

Now more than 6,100 strong, alumni of the program continue to excel and develop impressive qualities that are often directed toward public service. Among the many distinguished alumni are: Senator Susan Collins, the first alumnus to be elected U.S. senator; Secretary of Transportation and former Mayor of South Bend Indiana, Pete Buttigieg, the first alumnus to be appointed as a cabinet secretary; former Senator Cory Gardner, the second alumnus to be elected U.S. senator and the first to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives; former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, the first alumnus to be elected governor; former Chief Judge Robert Henry, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit; former Ambassador to West Germany Richard Burt and former presidential advisors Thomas “Mack” McLarty and Karl Rove. Additional notables include former Lt. Governor of Idaho David Leroy, former Provost of Wake Forest University Rogan Kersh, military officers, members of state legislatures, Foreign Service officers, top congressional staff, healthcare providers and other university educators.

Members of the U. S. Senate Youth Program 2024 annual Senate Advisory Committee are: Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, the 2024 USSYP Democratic Co-Chair and Senator John Barrasso, M.D. of Wyoming, the 2024 USSYP Republican Co-Chair. The full USSYP Senate Advisory Committee consists of the vice president of the United States and the Senate majority and minority leaders who annually serve as the program’s Honorary Co-Chairs; two senators, one from each party, serving as acting Co-Chairs who each have keynote speaking roles, and an eight-member bipartisan Senate panel, four senators from each party, who lend their names in support. Serving on the Advisory Committee for the upcoming program are: Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Senator Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts, Senator Alex Padilla of California, Senator John Boozman of Arkansas, Senator Katie Britt of Alabama, Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota and Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina.

For more information please visit: http://www.ussenateyouth.org

Commissioner Makin Meets with Westbrook High School Future Teachers Academy Students

Commissioner Pender Makin met with the inaugural class of the Future Teachers Academy at Westbrook High School this week. The Academy allows students to explore the teaching profession while still in high school. The experience includes a faculty-directed seminar to explore issues around teaching and education and field-based experiences in school settings. Students spend time every week with a host teacher and prepare and teach their own lesson plans.

Students in this initial cohort are gaining classroom experience in first grade, fourth grade, fifth-grade physical education, ninth-grade science, and ninth-grade social studies.

The Academy provides students with hands-on experience in Westbrook classrooms to explore the ins and outs of teaching, college credit, and a special diploma certificate. Students will continue to receive mentoring support once they graduate, opportunities for student teaching while in college, and the promise of an interview for a Westbrook teaching position when they are ready to pursue their career in education.

The Westbrook Teachers Academy is a fantastic example of Maine “grow your own” efforts to build and sustain the teacher workforce and nurture the passion that students have for teaching.

Maine DOE Selects Claire Ouellette of Caribou and Ryan Hafener of Hampden for United States Senate Youth Program

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is pleased to announce that Claire Ouellette, a student at Caribou High School, in Caribou, and Ryan Hafener, a student at Hampden Academy, in Hampden, were both selected for the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). They will each be attending USSYP’s Washington Week in Washington, D.C. during the first week of March where they will meet with the Senate leaders and the Senate parliamentarian and historian; a justice of the Supreme Court, the President, officials from the Departments of State and Defense and other executive agencies, a foreign ambassador to the U.S. and senior members of the media. They are also each awarded a $10,000 scholarship to any undergraduate institution of their choosing.

Photos of Claire Ouellette accepting the honor:

Claire Ouelette with her Superintendent Jane McCall, her Social Studies teacher Allison Ladner (who nominated her), and Principal Jamie Selfridge

Claire Ouelette with her parents Josh and Karen Ouelette

Claire Ouelette with Beth Lambert of the Maine DOE, Trisha House from Senator Collins’ office, and Jordyn Madore from Senator King’s office.

Photos of Ryan Hafener accepting the honor:

Ryan Hafener with Beth Lambert from the Maine DOE and Edie Smith from Senator King’s office.

Ryan Hafener with his Principal Reg Ruhlin

The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) provides a yearly opportunity for two students from each state, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education Activity, to gain an in-depth view of the United States Senate and the federal government as well as a deeper understanding of the interrelationship of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. The overall mission of the program is to help instill within each class of USSYP student delegates more profound knowledge of the American political process and a lifelong commitment to public service.

The selection process for this prestigious award is rigorous and competitive and began when teachers and principals nominated qualified students this past fall. Once nominated, students had to complete an application and write an essay on a significant issue they would like the U.S. Congress to consider.

Based on the quality of their essay, ten students were selected as finalists. Those 10 students came to The Margaret Chase Smith library in Skowhegan where they were interviewed by a distinguished panel of judges including Chuck Mahaleris, Constituent Services Representative for Senator Susan Collins; and Ben Tucker, Regional Representative for Senator Angus S. King, Jr. Additionally, they were asked to write and deliver a four-minute senate simulation speech. At the end of the day, both Claire and Ryan rose to the top.

Maine Student Writing Contest: Share About a Teacher

Maine’s County and State Teacher of the Year Association (MCSTOYA) in partnership with the Maine Council for English Language Arts (MCELA) Association have announced their second annual student writing contest. The prompt is “share about a teacher who made a positive difference in your day, week, year, or life.”

To learn more about the writing prompts and rules for this contest, visit https://www.mainecela.org/student-writing-contest.html at MCELA’s website. The contest closes on December 22, 2023.

Download a flyer that you can print out.

For more information or questions, reach out to Maine County and State Teachers of the Year Association Board Member Heather Webster, heather_webster@msad40.org and/or Maine Council for English Language Arts President
Patti Forster, patti.forster@fivetowns.net.

The Telling Room’s Statewide Writing Context is Now Open

The Telling Room’s annual creative Writing Contest invites youth from all over Maine, ages 6 – 18, to show off their writing. This statewide contest runs from mid-October through November each year. A panel of professional writers and youth selects one grand prize winner, a winner from each of Maine’s 16 counties, and submissions are considered for publication in The Telling Room’s annual anthology. Click on the link below for more information about how to submit.

PRIZES

The Grand Prize Winner will receive a $250 award, will be published in our spring anthology, and may be published in other publications and media.
One County Winner will be selected from each of Maine’s 16 counties. Each County Winner will receive a $50 award, will be published in our spring anthology, and may be published in other publications and media.

Submissions close on November 30, 2022.

For more information and to make a submission visit The Telling Room website.