Long-time Transformational Leaders’ Network (TLN) Program Manager Fran Farr leads a session during the 2025 Maine DOE Annual Summit.

Being a school principal can be deeply rewarding, but it can also be demanding. Each day brings decisions to make, challenges to navigate and people to support. Sometimes a leader needs a new strategy. Other times, they need the opportunity to step back, reflect and talk with someone who understands the work because they are doing it, too.

That is the idea behind the Transformational Leaders’ Network (TLN), an ongoing professional learning community that brings Maine principals together throughout the school year to connect, learn, reflect, problem-solve and recharge.

Rather than a one-time professional development opportunity, TLN is designed around the realities of school leadership. Principals bring their questions, challenges and experiences to a confidential and supportive community where they can learn from one another and consider new approaches to their work. Through in-person and regional or remote gatherings, participants have multiple opportunities throughout the year to connect with colleagues and learn together.

“We dream together about what education can be and walk out the door refreshed and ready to take on the next day,” one TLN principal shared.

A new year, a continued focus on leadership

On Friday, September 18, the TLN kicked off its sixteenth year under the capable and dedicated leadership of our Program Manager, Fran Farr. Fran has been passionate about supporting Maine’s school leaders through the TLN for the past 15 years. She has brought an innovative lens to the continuous refinement of the program design, guiding it to today’s model that responds dynamically to principals’ needs. She has built an incredible team of facilitators who provide engaging sessions and deep insight.

“Fran is the heart and soul of TLN,” co-facilitator Sally Mackenzie expressed. “She’s been with the network since its inception and masterminded the latest iteration since 2023. She believes completely in the work of Maine’s school principals. She provides the absolute best care and support for them. And network principals come back year after year. [Fran] and her faithful facilitators work hard to ensure that sessions are meaningful, interactive, and immediately resonant with principal participants.”

We celebrate Fran and her tireless commitment to the TLN!

The 2026–2027 TLN year will explore “The Principal Effect and the Power of Mattering,” drawing on current thinking about principal effectiveness, emotional intelligence, systems leadership, school climate and sustainable leadership.

A central focus will be the concept of mattering — helping people feel seen, valued and needed — and how it can strengthen relationships, engagement, school culture and staff retention.

Through the network, principals will explore practical ways to strengthen their leadership presence, navigate difficult conversations and build stronger relationships with staff. They will also examine systems thinking, shared leadership and approaches for developing schools that do not rely on the principal to solve every problem.

The goal is to give school leaders ideas and tools they can take back to their schools while also creating time to think beyond the immediate demands of the job.

TLN participants during the September workshop.

“Every time I leave, I have something I can use right away,” a TLN principal said.

Each session combines practical learning with reflection and authentic problem-solving. Participants can bring real leadership challenges to the group, learn from colleagues who have faced similar situations and consider how new strategies might apply in their own schools.

For principals new to TLN, the network offers an opportunity to build relationships with other Maine school leaders without needing to arrive with all the answers. For returning participants, it provides a chance to reconnect with colleagues, meet new members of the principal community and continue developing their leadership practice.

“It really changed how I support teachers, how I build a more positive school culture,” one participant said.

Recognizing the leader behind the role

At the heart of TLN is the recognition that effective school leadership depends not only on what principals do, but also on how they are supported as people.

The network creates space for principals to consider their own leadership, regain perspective and develop approaches that allow them to lead sustainably amid pressure, change and increasing complexity.

“I see TLN as kind of a ‘boots on the ground’ experience that you don’t get until you’re in it … it’s about recognizing the leader as a whole person,” a TLN principal said.

The work of leading a school is challenging. Through the Transformational Leaders’ Network, Maine principals do not have to lead alone.

If you are interested in learning more about the TLN, please contact Christina O’Neal, Maine DOE Educator Excellence Coordinator, at christina.l.oneal@maine.gov.

The Maine Council for English Language Arts (MCELA) is offering a five-part online book study of EduProtocols: AI Edition by Maine educators Kate Meyer and Nicole Karod. Together, participants will explore a practical, human-centered approach to AI that focuses on saving time, igniting creativity, strengthening student agency, and keeping ethics at the center.

Sessions will be held on October 13, 20, 27, November 3, and November 10 (author Q&A).

MCELA members and pre-service teachers can participate for free. Non-members pay $40; join MCELA for $30 and attend for free.

Register here.

You don’t have to be an AI expert to begin. You just have to be willing to explore what’s possible.

For further information or questions about this professional learning opportunity, please contact MCELA at maine.ela@gmail.com. For further information about MCELA, visit their website.

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) has released a new Phone-Free Schools Toolkit to help Maine schools implement policies and practices that limit student access to personal electronic devices during the school day.

The toolkit is designed to help school leaders, educators, students, and families navigate this shift through practical resources, clear communication, and a shared focus on creating school environments where students can be present, engaged, and connected to their learning and to one another.

Rather than prescribing a single approach, the toolkit offers multiple tools to support implementation across Maine’s diverse schools, communities, and regions. Resources are organized for different audiences and cover communicating expectations, establishing consistent routines, supporting students through the transition, partnering with families, responding to common questions and concerns, and promoting healthy technology habits.

The toolkit also distinguishes between limiting access to personal devices and using educational technology intentionally to support teaching and learning. Technology continues to play an important role in Maine classrooms when it is used purposefully to expand access, support learning, build skills, and create opportunities that would not otherwise be possible.

Schools can use the resources individually or as part of a broader implementation plan, adapting them to fit local policies, practices, and community needs.

The Maine DOE will continue to develop resources and provide support as schools implement phone-free policies throughout the school year. The Department will also learn from schools’ experiences and use that feedback to strengthen its support.

Click here to explore the Phone-Free Schools Toolkit.

For further information or questions, please reach out to Emma-Marie Banks, Coordinator of Learning Through Technology, emma-marie.banks@maine.gov