Maine’s 2017 Presidential Awards State Finalists for grades 7-12th Mathematics and Science Teachers

The Maine Department of Education is pleased to announce the Maine state selection committees for the 2017 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) program has selected as the state-level finalists for 7-12th grade teachers of mathematics Ellen Payne from Nokomis Regional High School and Priya Natarajan from Casco Bay High for Expeditionary Learning School.

The state-level finalists for 7-12th grade teachers of science are Sharon Gallant from Gardiner Area High School, Sara McQuarrie from Hodgdon Middle/High School, Bill McWeeny from Adams School, and Alyson Saunders from Dexter Regional High School.

All State-level finalists will be honored at state ceremonies this year.

Up to five state-level finalists for each content area are forwarded to a national selection committee composed of mathematics and/or science educators, researchers, district officials, and past awardees who will meet to select the PAEMST awardees at the national level. The teachers chosen to be Presidential Awardees will be notified by the White House, honored at various ceremonies in Washington, D.C., and will receive $10,000 from the National Science Foundation.

 

Join us in congratulating the 2017 PAEMST State Finalist and wishing them luck in the national selection process.

Nominations are now open for the 2018 PAEMST Awards. This year’s awards will honor mathematics and science (including computer science) teachers working in grades K-6. Nominations close on April 1, 2018 and applications are due by May 1, 2018. Nominate a teacher today!

If you have any questions about the PAEMST program feel free to contact:

Michele Mailhot – PAEMST Mathematics State Coordinator (michele.mailhot@maine.gov)  or Shari Templeton – PAEMST Science State Coordinator (shari.templeton@maine.gov)

Maine DOE Update – November 2, 2017

From the Maine Department of Education

Priority Notices

Reporting Items

New feature added to assist Helpdesk communicate known issues and system updates

The Department has added a new knowledgebase feature designed to communicate known issues and updates pertaining to our data systems (NEO/Synergy).  We hope this will provide those in need of help with a quick way to search and filter by issue or topic to find more information and possible resolutions. | More

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |

News & Updates

Waterville High School nurse named Maine School Nurse of the Year

The Maine Association of School Nurses has named Ann Bouchard, Maine’s 2017-2018 School Nurse of the Year. | More

Federal Funds and Teacher Qualifications

As a direct result of the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 (2015) teacher certification language was revised and amended. Current education law, requires educators to achieve full State certification and licensure. | More

School Bus Purchase Program Applications Open November 1, 2017

The Department is accepting applications for the Maine School Bus Purchase Program beginning November 1, 2017.  Program applications will close on November 25, 2017 with no extension. | More

More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices

Professional Development Opportunities

Register for Alternate Assessment Workshops by Nov. 6

Teachers may register for PAAP (MEA Alternate Science ) and MSAA (MEA Alternate Mathematics and ELA/Literacy teacher administration through November 6th | More

| Visit the Professional Development Calendar |

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

New feature added to assist Helpdesk communicate known issues and system updates

The Department has added a new knowledgebase feature designed to communicate known issues and updates pertaining to our data systems (NEO/Synergy).  We hope this will provide those in need of help with a quick way to search and filter by issue or topic to find more information and possible resolutions.

The knowledgebase can be found on the Data Team Helpdesk page.

Column Heading Definitions:

Updates/Issues:  Is this a known issue that has been reported or is it a system updates such as a code change, etc.

System:  The Data System the issue is pertaining to such as NEO or Synergy.

Report/Upload:  The name of the specific report or upload within the system.

Issue:  Brief description of the actual issue reported or actual work done during the system update.  Note:  This field is hyperlinked and will display more information, including possible resolution, when clicked.

Description:  This is a detailed description of the issue reported or work done during the system update.

Priority:  Rating of Low, Medium, High or Completed.

Report to Helpdesk:  If the issue is marked with a Yes in this column, please contact the Helpdesk to provide more information specific to your school or situation.

Last Updated:  This is either the initial date the issue/update was entered or the last time information was updated for this specific record.

Please direct any questions to medms.helpdesk@maine.gov or (207) 624-6896.

 

Waterville High School nurse named Maine School Nurse of the Year

Nurse of the Year 2017
Left- Deborah Braxton, Maine Association of School Nurses, SNOY Chair Center- Ann Bouchard, Maine School Nurse of the Year 2017-18 Right-Patricia Endsley, SNOY 2016-17

The Maine Association of School Nurses has named Ann Bouchard Maine’s 2017-2018 School Nurse of the Year. A registered nurse for 40 years, the last 17 of them as a school nurse at Waterville Senior High School in AOS 92, Bouchard received her Bachelor’s of Science in 1977 from Boston College where she majored in nursing and sociology. She was commissioned as a Captain in the United States Air Force in 1978 and completed trainings in USAF Air Command and Staff College, USAF Squadron Officers School, the Flight Nurse course, and the Nurse Oncologist Certification course.  Ann worked concomitantly as a flight nurse for the NY Air National Guard, nurse consultant for Albany Medical Center, and adjunct faculty lecturer for Russell Sage College.  She earned a Master’s of Science in Nursing in 1983 from Russell Sage College and a Master’s degree in Leadership Studies from the University of Southern Maine in 2010.

In addition to working full time, Bouchard is an active volunteer in her community, an experienced lecturer and has published some of her written work. She serves on several school committees, in addition to the Kennebec Valley Community Action, Hardy Girls, Healthy Women, Alfond Youth Center Board of Directors, docent for Colby College museum and has been a clinical supervisor for University of Maine Orono nursing students.

Bouchard has received numerous awards including awards from the Waterville Board of Education, Faculty Renaissance Award, Outstanding Educator, United States Air Force Air National Guard Nurse of the Year, Air Force Commendation Medals with Oak Leaf Cluster, as well as a Yearbook dedication from the Waterville HS Class of 2005.

Her colleagues frequently describe her as “dedicated, unselfish, committed to the needs of all students, and willing to help with anything at a moment’s notice.” According to the nurses who nominated her, “Her leadership style is transformational and defined by deep and authentic connections.”

As School Nurse of the Year, Bouchard receives a cash award of $500 and will be acknowledged as the Maine School Nurse of the Year at the National Association of School Nurses annual meeting in Baltimore, MD in June 2018. The program is administered by the Maine Association of School Nurses. Nominations for School Nurse of the Year are accepted each year beginning in March.

PRIORITY NOTICE: Protocol for school cancelations due to recent storm

School Administrative Units (SAU) that canceled school days due to circumstances surrounding the recent storm should treat those cancelations the same as any other weather related school cancelation.

The state of emergency issued by the State of Maine was expressly to provide utility work crews relief from federal highway regulations in order to restore power to those who have been impacted – it does not result in an automatic excusal of missed school days.

As part of the standard procedure for meeting requirements for instructional days, written requests for waivers for storm days may be submitted by the district school board in the Spring when districts have a better sense of storm days used.

Resources:

School Bus Purchase Program Applications Open November 1, 2017

The Department is accepting applications for the Maine School Bus Purchase Program beginning November 1, 2017.  Program applications will close on November 25, 2017 with no extension.

The program application is available on the NEO Transportation data system.  Instructions to submit a request are located on the NEO Dashboard.  Refer to pages 20-23 of the PowerPoint entitled School Bus Purchase Program – How It Works.  School Bus Purchase Program subsidy can be used towards the purchase of new school buses.

If you have questions about the School Bus Purchase Program, contact Pat Hinckley at Pat.Hinckley@maine.gov .

Register for Alternate Assessment Workshops by Nov. 6

Teachers may register for PAAP (MEA Alternate Science ) and MSAA (MEA Alternate Mathematics and ELA/Literacy teacher administration through November 6th at https://iregister.measuredprogress.org/client/

Training locations include:

Location Date Meeting Venue Address
Presque Isle 11/14/2017 Hampton Inn 768 Main Street  Presque Isle, ME 04769
Orono 11/15/2017 Black Bear Inn 4 Godfrey Drive  Orono, ME 04473
Auburn 11/16/2017 Hilton Garden Inn 14 Great Falls Plaza  Auburn, ME 04210
Portland 11/17/2017 Clarion Hotel 1230 Congress Street  Portland, ME 04102

Please contact Sue Nay for more information at sue.nay@maine.gov, or 624-6774.

Federal Funds and Teacher Qualifications

As a direct result of the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 (2015) teacher certification language was revised and amended. Current education law, requires educators to achieve full State certification and licensure.

The enactment of the ESSA removed the federal Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT) requirements.  Although no longer a requirement in general for the majority of educators, HQT continues to be a requirement for special educators in Maine. This is due to the language contained within Chapter 101 of Maine Unified Special Education Regulations (MUSER).   The Maine DOE is planning to remove HQT language when the rule is revised again , likely during the 2018-19 legislative session.  In the meantime, NEO, Maine’s Data System will continue to ask for HQT information.

School Administrative Units (SAUs) are required under §  1112 of ESSA to inform parents of their right to know and request professional teacher qualifications for all teachers and paraprofessionals in all public SAU’s in the State of Maine.

If requested SAU’s are to provide the following information :

  1. if the teacher has met State certification and licensing requirements for the grade levels and subjects for which the teacher provides instruction:
  2. if state certification and licensing requirements have been waived (is not being required at this time) for the teacher under emergency or temporary status;
  3. if the teacher is teaching in the field of discipline for which they are certified or licensed;
  4. if the teacher has met State-approved or State-recognized certification, licensing, registration, or other comparable requirements These requirements apply to the professional discipline in which the teacher is working and may include providing English language instruction to English learners, special education or related services to students with disabilities, or both; and
  5. if your child is receiving Title I or Special Education services from paraprofessionals, his or her qualifications.
HQT Required Comment
Yes No
Teacher ✓ Must meet full certification requirements
Paraprofessional ✓ If working with Title I students OR a Title I Schoolwide Program
Special Education Teacher ✓

If you have questions regarding Highly Qualified Status or Teacher qualifications please contact Jan Breton, Director of Special Services at jan.breton@maine.gov  or Charles Lomonte, Title II Coordinator/ State Ombudsman at charles.lomonte@maine.gov

Maine DOE Update – October 27, 2017

From the Maine Department of Education

Priority Notices

Reporting Items

EPS Student Enrollment and Special Education Child Count data certification deadline extended to November 7

Due to the continued data access and quality issues integrating the student data from Synergy to the EPS reports in NEO, the Maine Department of Education is extending the certification deadline from October 31st to November 7th for Essential Programs And Services (EPS) Student Enrollment and Special Education Child Count (EF-S-05 Part 1). | More

MaineCare Q417 Seed report review delayed

Due to the continued data access and quality issues integrating the student data from Infinite Campus to NEO, the Maine Department of Education is delaying the MaineCare report review for Q417. | More

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |

News & Updates

More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices

Professional Development Opportunities

| Visit the Professional Development Calendar |

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

MaineCare Q417 Seed report review delayed

Due to the continued data access and quality issues integrating the student data from Infinite Campus to NEO, the Maine Department of Education is delaying the MaineCare report review for Q417.

Q417 MaineCare Seed recovery efforts will be delayed until December 2017.

Previous notification has been sent about reports moving from Infinite Campus to NEO and can be viewed by clicking on the link below.

https://mainedoenews.wordpress.com/?s=NEO

Once the reports have been moved to NEO, additional communication will be forthcoming and will include new instructions for SAUs to access the quarterly MaineCare reports.

This will change the scheduled MaineCare Seed recovery for Q417 from November to December 2017.

Q118 will remain scheduled for Seed recovery in January 2018.

Please direct any questions to Denise.towers@maine.gov.