Maine Students Showcase their Marketing and Hospitality Skills at DECA Conference

Maine DECA (formerly Distributive Education Clubs of America) held their annual Career and Development Conference in Auburn at the Hilton Garden Hotel on Friday February 11th.

DECA, an association of marketing, hospitality, finance, and entrepreneur students, prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management from high schools and colleges around the globe.

During the DECA Conference, students from Oxford Hills Regional Technical Center competed in marketing and hospitality categories for a chance to earn a seat at the International Career and Development Conference in Atlanta in April. FOCUS training provided workshop activities and team building for an action packed day.

Maine Department of Education Maine School Safety Center’s Wendy Robichaid was one of five judges that helped out at the conference.

Congratulations, Maine DECA!

students seated facing each other at hotel conference room

Maine Celebrates School Counselor of the Year with a Surprise Assembly at Alfred Elementary

Pictured left to right: Kelly Weaver, MESCA Board chair; Jaclyn Chaplin, Counselor of the Year; Nicole Breton, MESCA board of Directors

The Maine School Counselor Association (MESCA) recently announced the 2022 Maine School Counselor of the Year as Jacklyn P. Chaplin, the School Counselor at Alfred Elementary School in RSU 57. The Maine School Counselor of the Year Award (SCOY) is a program of MESCA that honors school counselors who are running a top-notch, comprehensive school counseling program at either the elementary, middle, or high school level.

“I strongly believe that a school counselor plays an important role in helping students have a positive school experience,” Mrs. Chaplin wrote. She has advocated for the profession and supported students through a comprehensive and data-driven model. She has implemented aspects to create a 5th grade Peer Helper Program. “This leadership program has several components that provide fifth graders with an opportunity to be role models in the school while also enhancing their leadership, decision-making, empathy, and communication skills,” Chaplin said.

Mrs. Chaplin earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Maine and obtained her master’s degree in counselor education from Rivier College. She has been working as a school counselor since 2004. She has been at Alfred Elementary School since 2005 and has also been the school counselor at Shapleigh Memorial School and Lyman Elementary School in RSU 57.

“Jackie serves all stakeholders for the greater good of our community. I say community as opposed to school because she has single-handedly helped to make Alfred Elementary a second home for all, where every student and staff member feels safe and at home,” said Mrs. Poulin, the Principal of Alfred Elementary.

Mrs. Kim Raymond, the school counselor at Leroy H. Smith School in RSU 22, was Maine’s 2021 SCOY and was recently honored in Washington, D.C. Mrs. Chaplin will have several speaking engagements and event appearances in the year ahead. She will be invited to a formal Gala in Winter 2023 and honored at the American School Counseling Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, in Summer 2023.

The Maine School Counselor of the Year is announced as part of National School Counseling Week (#NSCW), celebrated annually during the first full week in February. This year, the Maine School Counselor Association has events planned from February 7 through February 11th to celebrate National School Counseling Week. For more information, view the MESCA website.

Please contact MESCA Board Chair Kelly O’Brien Weaver for more information: kweaver@rsu22.us.

President Biden Honors Two Maine Teachers with Highest U.S. Award for Science and Mathematics Teachers

This week, President Joe Biden named 104 teachers as recipients of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) for the 2020 awards cycle. Among the awardees are two outstanding Maine K-6 science teachers: Michele (Mickie) Flores who teaches at Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School in Deer Isle and Cindy Soule who teaches at Gerald E. Talbot Community School in Portland.

Mickie Flores is in her 36th year of teaching and currently teaches 6th and 7th graders at Deer Isle-Stonington where she alternates years of instruction between a focus on life science, physical science, and earth science. Flores was also the 2015 Hancock County Teacher of the Year through Maine’s Teacher of the Year Program

Cindy Soule is in her 20th year of teaching with all but one year in Portland. She began her career in special education and shifted to being a classroom teacher nearly fifteen years ago. She is currently a 4th grade teacher. Soule is also the 2021 Maine Teacher of the Year and 2020 Cumberland County Teacher of the Year through Maine’s Teacher of the Year Program.

The PAEMST award was established in 1983 and each year the awards criteria alternates between kindergarten through sixth grade and seventh through twelfth grade teachers. Award recipients represent schools from all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) schools, and the U.S. territories.

Nominees complete a rigorous application process that allows them to demonstrate deep content knowledge and their ability to adapt to a broad range of learners and teaching environments.

A panel of distinguished mathematicians, scientists, and educators at the state and national levels assess the applications before recommending nominees to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Teachers are selected based on their distinction in the classroom and dedication to improving STEM education.

The National Science Foundation (NSF), which manages PAEMST on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), provides each recipient $10,000. Award recipients also receive a certificate signed by the President. For more information, please visit www.paemst.org.

South Portland Adult Education Offers ‘Survival English’ to New Mainers on Site

Pictured: Simon Mayingi, teaching a group of “New Mainers” in the conference room at the South Portland Howard Johnson Hotel last month.

Prior to the pandemic, South Portland (SoPo) Adult Education had been offering English learning classes for several years in a donated space in the West End of South Portland for new Mainers living in that area who needed to learn English. This was in addition to evening classes offered at South Portland High School.

More recently, with the influx of new Mainers arriving here to live, SoPo Adult Ed has been trying something new to help break down barriers for some who may not be able to make it to South Portland High School for evening classes.

Like many people who are seeking to extend their education or even take on full or part-time work, transportation and childcare can be an enormous barrier. Knowing this is the case for many of the new Mainers living in temporary housing in South Portland, the SoPo Adult Education Program collaborated with the Howard Johnson, a location providing temporary housing, to arrange a space to offer basic English to residents on a weekly basis.

“Maybe the best description of the English being offered is, “Survival English,” said South Portland Adult Education Director David Morrill. “Greetings and introduction, recognizing signs and the English word associated with it,” he added.

“Opportunities to gain some basic English skills are an important part of supporting Maine’s newest residents to thrive here,” said April Perkins, Maine Department of Education World Languages & ESOL/Bilingual Programs Specialist. “Removing potential barriers, like transportation and childcare, shows a true commitment to solutions-oriented thinking and responding to the in-the-moment needs of these valued community members. The work South Portland Adult Education is doing is planting the seeds necessary for successful transition to life in Maine – including future employment, academic pursuits, and civic engagement.”

In addition to SoPo Adult Ed’s efforts to provide flexibility in educational offerings for Maine’s new residents, the community of South Portland is providing many other services, community health, social services, in addition to South Portland School Department and surrounding school districts who have been busy transitioning younger new Mainers into the schools.

Marissa, SoPo Adult Ed. Instructor teaching English, July of 2021

Read more about this effort in the local news:

https://www.pressherald.com/2022/01/24/portland-officials-ask-for-help-as-number-of-asylum-seekers-continues-to-grow/

https://www.pressherald.com/2021/12/24/room-at-the-inn-a-south-portland-hotel-goes-all-out-to-help-asylum-seekers/?rel=related

Maine School-Based Community Service Projects Honored with Spirit of America Education Tribute

Spirit of America, a public charity which honors volunteerism in Maine, recently announced six school-based community service projects and two people as winners of its Education Tribute.

The Spirit of America Education Tribute award honors a local person, project, or group for commendable community service. The people and projects nominated for the award are school-wide projects and people that promote teamwork and cooperation, and involve youth, families, and community members.

Maine Spirit of America’s appointed committee or School Districts selected the following winners:

Barbara Astbury – a bus driver at MSAD 11 who dedicated her 40+ year career to driving school buses.
Monmouth Academy & Monmouth Memorial School in RSU 2 – Students participating in student government worked together with community partners to “Stuff the Bus” for the food pantry and help the Cotrell Taylor fund for families in need during the holidays.
Amanda Condon – a School Resource Office (SRO) for the Saco School Department’s Prek through middle school students who embodies the best qualities of a female leader and role model. Read more about Officer Condon here.
Laynee’s Sole Purpose – a project started by 8-year-old Laynee Kirby from Caribou Community School that aims to provide shoes for kids in need. Read more about the project here.
Lewiston High School’s “The Store Next Door” Project – Since 2006, Lewiston High School has created in-depth supplemental services to help eliminate barriers to education for youth and families experiencing high mobility and homelessness by addressing students’ basic needs. Read more about The Store Next Door on their website or Facebook Page.
Maine FFA Association’s Homelessness and Food Insecurity Project – a valuable statewide community project that gave FFA students the opportunity to address issues of homelessness and food insecurity. Learn more about the project here.
Piscataquis Community Elementary School’s “Behind the Mask” Project – a group of students and educators from Piscataquis Community Elementary School published a book called “Behind the Mask.” Almost all of the content was written and/or drawn by the kids. They presented the books to individuals and organizations who helped the school get through a difficult year (2020-2021 school year) during a school assembly. Read more about the project here.
Re-Designing Saco Middle School Entrance – a project that brought together art, science, community service, and social emotional learning for 6th grade Saco students by having them redesign the entrance to their school with a mosaic garden. Read more about the project here.

To learn more about Spirit of America and their Education Tribute, visit their website: https://spirame.org/.

Carrabec Community School P.E. Class Individualizes Learning Through New Heart Rate Monitors

Physical Education at Carrabec Community School looks more colorful as students’ wrists glow with a mix of blue, yellow, and red. The glow comes from the new heart rate monitors that students are using as part of Heidi Day’s Physical Education class. The monitors use colors to indicate students’ heart rates as they play and learn through Physical Education.

“The goal in this process is to make the learning personal and relevant to each individual. This system should help the students make the connection between the perceived rate of exertion and their heart’s ability to adjust to the intensity they are putting forth,” said Heidi.

Students have learned the drill. They come to class, get their assigned heart rate monitors, log them in by holding them on a scanner attached to Heidi’s computer, and keep an eye on the color. As students exercise, their heart rate data is saved on the monitor. Once the class is over, students put their monitors back on the scanner to upload their heart rate data. An e-mail is sent to them and their parent/guardian with the amount of time they spend in blue, resting heart rate, yellow, target heart rate, and red, max heart rate. Students then use a spreadsheet on their laptops to record the number of minutes in each category.

“Students will set appropriate personal goals and work weekly to achieve those standards. The spreadsheet allows tracking that averages the time the student has spent in the resting, target, and max heart rate zones. This process becomes a means of self-assessment for my students, making their experience in physical education personal and success achievable,” Heidi explained.

The heart rate monitors are working well, and students are excited by what color their monitor is, but Heidi has worked hard for that excitement. Last year Heidi attempted to integrate the monitors, but found the process overwhelming.

Heidi explained, “I love technology. However, I am limited in my skill set as well as my patience when trying to implement something new. I feel like it takes me three times longer than it should, and I get so frustrated I tend to avoid the trouble altogether.” But through perseverance and help from the MLTI 2.0 ambassador program, Heidi has found success.

“Honestly, without [the Ambassador’s] help, I don’t believe I would have been able to implement this addition to my class. He has been there to troubleshoot through the challenges, making changes and adjustments as necessary, allowing me to still focus on my students. Ask for help!  I’m so glad I did!  I am excited to have this new process in place, but I know with all the daily tasks I have to complete, there would be little chance of me learning it all on my own and implementing it without support!”

This story was written and coordinated by MLTI Ambassador Erik Wade as part of the Maine Schools Sharing the Success Campaign. To learn more, or to submit a story or an idea for a story, email rachel.paling@maine.gov.

South Portland Students’ Poetry Featured in Community Celebration of ‘Hope and Light’

The South Portland community celebrated the season of light and hope at the Millcreek Tree Lighting Celebration last month, featuring students from South Portland School Department reading poetry.

Hosted annually by South Portland Parks and Recreation, South Portland/Cape Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce, and South Portland Human Rights Commission, the event showcases over 5 miles of lights that are strung around the various trees that grace Millcreek Park in the City of South Portland.

Families and community members enjoyed an outdoor evening wandering around Millcreek Park, listening to high school musicians sing festive tunes, warming themselves by fire pits, taking selfies with Santa, and greeting neighbors as they sipped hot cocoa and ate popcorn.

This year, the theme of light and hope was beautifully represented in the poem and essay selected to be shared that evening. Be The Light, by Mahoney Middle School student Sarah Beth Lupien and Hope and Light, by South Portland High School student Landinha Josefina were read to the crowd. Other poems which earned honorable mention were Imagine… by Victoria Mambu (written in Portuguese and English), Light and Hope by Eme Brown, and Little Firefly by Gretchen Hanley.

This year’s new element was a visual art piece introduced by the South Portland Human Rights Commission. Sputnik Animation, in collaboration with local artists Pedro Vazquez, James LaPlante, Cindy Thompson and Joe Goodwin, introduced a 20 ft. tall fabric structure which could be seen from every corner of Millcreek Park. Authentic images of light and hope from cultures around the world were aslo projected onto a screen throughout the evening. The event also collaborated with South Portland Bus Service to provide free city bus rides, to help families attend the event.

“How amazing for these students to get the chance to express themselves and their cultures through art, leadership, and performance,” said Deqa Dhalac, Maine Department of Education Family Engagement/Cultural Responsiveness Specialist. “At a time when the pandemic has separated us in so many ways, it is so wonderful to see schools and community groups look for ways to stay connected through it all.”

The evening culminated with presentations at the gazebo by outgoing mayor Misha Pride, president of the South Portland/Cape Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce Alice Goodwin, as well as poems on the theme of light and hope shared by South Portland students. DJ Genius Black helped the crowd share in some collective positive energy to turn on the decorated trees around Millcreek Park.

BE THE LIGHT

Sarah Beth Lupien
Student at Mahoney Middle School

Hope is a smile
Hope is a conversation between strangers
Hope is a laugh
Hope is a positive message: Be kind, love always
Hope is a light in the dark

Light is “I’m here for you”
Light is “It will be okay”
Light is “I’ll help you”
Light is “We’ll get through this together”
Light is saying “I love you” and meaning it

So be the sun
Rise every day
And when darkness surrounds you
Find a way to shine again

So be the moon
Light up the sky
And when you can’t find your light
May other help you shine again

When you find yourself in a sea of storms
Find your power, find your hope
Find the courage to find your light
Because the light will not come
Because the light does not come
The light is already there
You are the light
So be the light
Find the hope
Be the light

Hope and Light

Landinha Josefina
Student at South Portland High School

What is hope? It is said that hope gives us the strength that we all need to overcome our sadnesses and troubles. Hope is a belief that we all must have, believing that something good will happen, something that will brighten our present and future, something that will make us happy and something that will lighten up our day. Hope comes anytime and any day to lighten up our life. Throughout the pandemics last year we didn’t get the chance to gather here like we are today and that is what I call hope.

Imagine…

Victoria Mambu
Student at Memorial Middle School

The destruction
the extinction
What it means to us
the hunger
the thirst
Imagine being in your home
and suddenly not returning
To leave the place
where you could recreate
and be reborn
only because of a being
who does not know how to live
nor understands what survives.
Knowing that the same air
the animal emanates
You also breathe

Imagine…

A destruição
a extinção
o que isso significa para nós
fome
sede
imagina você estar no seu lar
e de repente não voltar
deixar o lugar
de onde podia procriar
e renascer
só por causa de um ser
que não sabe e compreender
o que sobreviver
saber que o mesmo ar
que você respira
o animal também transpira

Light and Hope

Eme Brown
Student at Mahoney Middle School

I am walking through the Park
I see lights everywhere
Those lights give me a spark in my eye
A spark that tells me to find faith and hope
It took me a while to find it,
But eventually I did.

I have faith we will get through the pandemic together
I have hope we will have the best holiday season ever
Although we have to battle the pandemic
We will defeat it together.

Bright holidays to all
And to all of us
A hopeful night.

Little Firefly

Gretchen Hanley
Student at South Portland High School

We’ve traveled long and far
Worked tirelessly and hard
But even the strongest seemed weak at times
After all, we were blindly climbing, searching for a sign
So many fell, begging to stay
To hold on, at least until day
All that we’ve done, those who were lost
Some gave up, some couldn’t go on
We were swallowed by the dark
But through the eclipse we saw a spark
One brave soul lit the night
It wasn’t much, just a small simple light
A single firefly lead the way
A single firefly kept us awake
But that single firefly turned into more
What started with one, soon became four
Suddenly a million lights danced through the sky
So shine your light little firefly
It started so small
But it kept us alive

MEDIA RELEASE: Maine Honors 11 Inspirational School Employees Through RISE Award

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) today announced the state finalists for the Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award.

In two special outdoor gatherings held today at East End Community School (Portland Public Schools) and Marcia Buker Elementary School (RSU 2), Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin presented Maine’s two State-level Honorees each with certificates and flowers and thanked them for their service. Award nominators and members of their school community were also present to show their gratitude and share inspirational messages about how these individuals have impacted their community.

Created by Congress in 2019 and overseen by the U.S. Department of Education, the RISE Award honors classified employees in the education workforce who provide exemplary service. The Maine DOE in coordination with the Office of Governor Janet T. Mills has selected 11 finalists from a pool of over eighty exceptional nominees submitted from across Maine by local educational agencies, school administrators, professional associations, nonprofits, parents/caregivers, students, and community members.

“As the daughter of a longtime public school teacher, I know how hard our teachers work every day to provide a quality education. These last few years have brought even greater challenges, and I am grateful to teachers across Maine who have risen to the occasion to educate our children and keep them safe,” said Governor Mills. “On behalf of all Maine people, I sincerely congratulate our RISE award winners on this well-deserved honor, and I thank them for all they do for our state.”

“Today I have been privileged to honor and recognize two of the thousands of heroes who are ensuring that Maine children have access to safe and successful schools,” said Commissioner of Education Pender Makin. “These dedicated staff members support teachers and families, and ensure that the health, safety, nutritional and academic needs of students are met day after day. Without their dedication and hard work, our schools, our communities, would falter. I urge all Maine people to join me in recognizing these two individuals, and in thanking our entire education workforce, who continues to rise above and deliver on behalf of their students.”

RISE nominees demonstrate excellence in the following areas: (A) Work performance; (B) School and community involvement; (C) Leadership and commitment; (D) Local support (from co-workers, school administrators, community members, etc., who speak to the nominee’s exemplary work); (E) Enhancement of classified school employees’ image in the community and schools.

Of the 11 finalists, two state-level honorees have been selected and submitted to the U.S. Department of Education to represent Maine for consideration in the national RISE Award. The U.S. Department of Education will announce one national honoree and present the individual with an award in the spring. Each of Maine’s finalists will be honored with a letter from the Commissioner of Education and receive spotlights on the Maine Department of Education website.

Maine’s RISE State-Level Honorees:

Deb Bodge
Administrative Assistant/Secretary
Marcia Buker Elementary School, RSU 2

“Mrs. Bodge has been a foundation for Marcia Buker School for many years. Not only has she been resilient during the COVID crisis, but she continues, each day to know about each child and how their worlds work. She also does it all with a smile. She is a rock for our little school and is completely deserving of such an honor,” said one of her nominators, Julie York.

Betsy Paz-Gyimesi
Spanish Family and Community Engagement Specialist
Multilingual and Multicultural Center, Portland Public Schools (PPS)

“Betsy bridges the home/school divide for our families, is a fierce advocate in ensuring that students access programs and services that would nurture and advance their academic performance and social/emotional well-being,” said nominator Maureen Clancy, PPS Language Access Coordinator.

Maine’s RISE Finalists:

Kelly Brown
School Nurse
Kennebunk Elementary School, RSU 21

Vicki Dill
Head Cook, Food Services
Whitefield Elementary School, RSU 12

Jessie Eastman
School Nurse
Lincoln Elementary School, Augusta School District

Leland Gamache
Bus Driver/Custodial Staff
Libson Community School, Lisbon School Department

Ellen Kimball
Food Service Staff
T.W. Kelly Dirigo Middle School, RSU 56

Brittany Layman
Health and Wellness Coordinator/School Nurse
Earl C. McGraw Elementary School, RSU 22

Martha Thompson
Education Technician- Carpentry
Portland Arts and Technology High School
.
Melinda Williams
Special Education-Education Technician
Sanford School Department

Paula Quirk
Main Office Clerk
Waldo T. Skillin Elementary School, South Portland Public Schools

For a full description and picture of each of the nominees and finalists, visit the Maine Department of Education’s RISE webpages.

For more information about the RISE award including a description of a classified employee, visit the U.S. Department of Education Website. To learn more about Maine’s process including criteria and frequently asked questions, visit the Maine Department of Education Website.

Bath Middle School Takes Hands-on Approach to Learning About Ocean Sustainability

Inspired by the Expeditionary Learning model, Bath Middle School has taken a hands-on approach to examining the issue of ocean sustainability. As part of this project, as citizen scientists, the 7th-grade students took to the local waterfront to collect data on the invasive green crab species and graphed their results.

Students also visited the Maine Maritime Museum in downtown Bath to learn about the history of Maine’s fishing and shipping industry. Working with Museum educators, they generated timelines through the examination of the museum’s artifacts.

The culminating activity was for students to design and build a product that would address an issue that threatens the sustainability of our oceans such as pollution, climate change, or invasive species. On Thursday, December 16th, parents, and the community were invited to attend an event that displayed the students’ work.

In a “Shark Tank” format, the top five projects were pitched to a panel of judges to determine a winning product. Students created videos, websites, and prototypes to convince the judges of their product’s ability to impact and help solve an issue that puts the sustainability of our oceans at risk.

After much deliberation, the judges determined that the winning product was Compostable Condiments designed by Sadie C. and Laura K. This product proposed using an invasive seaweed to make a biodegradable substitute for the plastic used in takeout packets like ketchup.

Bath middle ocean sustainability project

Congratulations to all the 7th graders for their innovative ideas that could help to preserve one of Maine’s most essential natural resources.

This story was written and coordinated by MLTI Ambassador Holly Graffam as part of the Maine Schools Sharing the Success Campaign. To learn more, or to submit a story or an idea for a story, email rachel.paling@maine.gov.

Riverside Adult Education Recognized for its Innovative Day Reporting Program

Riverside Adult Education serves the communities of Regional School Units (RSUs) 26, 22, and 34 in Penobscot County. Like all of Maine’s high-quality adult education programs, Riverside works with adults in their region looking for personal, professional, and academic growth.

Riverside was recognized recently by the Maine Sheriff’s Association and the Penobscot County Jail for their unique PACE Day Reporting Program. PACE stands for Purpose, Awareness, Connection, and Education, and invites a niche audience of participants to go at their own pace, or to simply enjoy a change of pace when it comes to personal and professional betterment.

Intended for individuals in Penobscot County who have been sentenced to two days in jail for a minor offense, the PACE Day Reporting program gives folks the opportunity to spend that time doing something a bit different.

PACE program coordinator Rebecca Cross, who helped get the program up and running, recalls her initial conversations about the creation of PACE with Penobscot County Sheriff Troy Morton: “He wanted me to create something where the people would leave enriched in some way, instead of sitting in the cellblock for two days.” Their shared vision helped create PACE – a program that provides the opportunity for participants to get involved in educational programs they never knew how to access.

“The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office is blessed to have a tremendous partnership with Rebecca Cross and Riverside Adult Education,” said Sheriff Morton. “This community-based correctional program focuses on a therapeutic approach to incarceration through an educational experience.”

People who opt to participate in PACE spend each day of their jail sentence embarking on a tailored educational experience. While some may choose to practice for the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) or take the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS) math and reading assessment for adults, others choose to get help in filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form and learning about possible higher education options available to them.

Another option of PACE presents a whole other set of professional learning opportunities. These learning options are one of the things about PACE that really sets it apart – by the way it draws participants, who may be feeling turned out by their own community, back into society through investing in them valuable time, knowledge, and training. The program offers classes like, “How to Stretch Your Food Dollar,” and “Trauma Informed Yoga,” as well as, “How to Breathe Your Way Through Mental Health Struggles,” among other topics.

“It’s a balance between profoundly sobering conversations around addiction and light hearted remembering of the joys of life,” said Cross.

In addition, a new option in the PACE program called, “Life Ready” includes reflective workshops using podcasts. These workshops are linked to mic-credentialing, a system developed by Eastern Maine Community College. The micro-credentialing curriculum through Life Ready encourages students to consider their own story and how it affects their life choices. The podcasts include useful topics like, business startup, home buying, credit scores, budgeting with very little income, and financial literacy, which according to Cross, is a very popular one.

“People who do not have very much, or no money at all, often think that financial literacy doesn’t apply to them,” she explained. By making budgeting and financial literacy accessible and easy to use for anyone, it has become one of the most well utilized options in the program.

PACE classes and workshops are offered on a Friday and a Saturday to make them more convenient and accessible for people who are working or already taking classes during the week. This means that the community organizations who partner with PACE are willing to send instructors to volunteer on a Saturday, which sends a very positive message to participants, says Cross.

“They [PACE program participants] are astounded at the fact that people from the community want to come in and spend time with them, even on the weekend,” said Cross. “The fact that people are willing to do that means a lot.”

Cross also explains that their community partnerships are one of the most impactful aspects of the program. These partnering organizations, such as Health Equity Alliance and the BARN (Bangor Area Recovery Network), send people to conduct the classes or workshops. One recent workshop was hosted by Eastern Maine Development Corporation (EMDC) on “How to Develop an Elevator Speech,” and “How to Interview for a Job.” They have also hosted faculty from University of Maine at Orono who have provided reflective writing workshops. In addition, they have hosted local artists who offer their time teaching classes on how to paint.

“It’s so profound for people,” said Cross. “It can be healing, to just sit down and tap into your creativity and just laugh with people, and at themselves.”

So far, PACE has served 139 people in Penobscot County since its creation in January of 2020. Cross says that although it does cost participants money to enter into PACE, they have worked hard to keep that cost as low as possible, which ends up being a small fraction of what other, similar programs charge in other states.

Encouraged at the fact that all 139 of the people who have participated in PACE have not been charged with another sentence, they are eager to keep working on making the program accessible to even more people and bring in more community partnerships to match the need.

“Rebecca’s passion for education and wonderful ability to bring in supporting resources makes this program a success” said Sheriff Morton. “This educational approach allows individuals the opportunity to connect with resources available throughout our state.”

“It’s a great community effort and I just get to put the pieces together,” said Cross, adding that they are always so happy to see people who have participated in the program go on to continue their education, opening up a world of possibilities for what their next step might be.

For more information about PACE, contact Rebecca Cross at rcross@rsu26.org.