Maine DOE Update – June 8, 2017

From the Maine Department of Education

Notices and Reporting Items

More Notices | Administrative Letters | Reporting Calendar

News & Views

DC&R Financial and Compliance Forms incorrectly shown as overdue

The Data Collection and Reporting (DC&R) System went live earlier this year as a replacement for the Missing Reports system the Department previously used to inform school systems, and the public, when reports are coming due, or had not been received. | More

Maine kids in need of education “surrogate” parents

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is seeking volunteers to serve as an education “surrogate” parent to a child or children with disabilities who have no available natural parents and/or guardians, including children in the custody of the state. | More

2017 Count ME In Student Poster Contest

Count ME In is sponsoring the third annual Student Poster Contest to engage students ages 6-17 in promoting school attendance. Students are invited to create a design for the 2017 Attendance Awareness Month celebration in September, 2017. This is an opportunity for students to share their views on why school attendance is important. Students can participate from at school, summer program or home. The deadline is July 18.| More

Maine DOE Honors the 2016 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

On Friday evening, May 19th, Maine DOE honored the four state finalists for the 2016 Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics and Science (PAEMST) with a dinner held at the Maple Hill Farm Inn located in Hallowell.  Shari Templeton, Maine DOE Science and Technology Specialist, and Michele Mailhot, Maine DOE Mathematics Specialist, planned the evening event honoring Barbara Ellis (Frank H. Harrison Middle School), elementary mathematics finalist, Kirsten Gould (Buxton Center Elementary School), elementary science finalist, Susan O’Brien (Weatherbee School), elementary science finalist, and Tonya Prentice (Woodstock Elementary School), elementary science finalist.| More

More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Media Release: Maine DOE to Host Virtual Reality Expo for Educators

Augusta, Maine – The Maine Department of Education (DOE) and the Maine State Library are teaming up to host a Virtual Reality Immersive Expo for educators on June 19th from 10:00am – 4:00pm at the Maine State Library.

Attendees are asked to register for the expo in advance at no cost.

The event is being held to help facilitate an awareness about new and emerging education tools, and to see and hear from some of the Maine schools, and higher education institutions who are currently using virtual reality in their classrooms.

Among the schools presenting is York School Department who has run over 50 Google Expeditions through the 16-17 school year. Using the tool, teachers are able to take students on virtual field trips to locations all over the world and beyond. They report that students rave about the trips, and the new perspectives they gain from the experience.

Other presenters include software companies such as Apple Inc., HP Inc., zSpace and more that offer virtual reality education tools which provide students with a more immersive learning experience, access to new places and resources, and a deeper learning of complex concepts.

There will be booths located in the atrium of the Maine State Library in addition to 30 minute presentations throughout the day. Educators are encouraged to attend at any time from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

Find a list of presenters below, along with a link to the presentation schedule. The presentations will also be live streamed on the Maine DOE Facebook page.

Register for the expo here »

Presentation Schedule »

More information »

Visiting presenters:

  • zSpace
  • York School Department
  • Bates College
  • University of New England (UNE)
  • Nearpod
  • HP Inc.
  • UMaine
  • Thomas College
  • Maine Math and Science Alliance
  • Mount Desert Island High School
  • ThingLink
  • Apple Inc.
  • HistoryView
  • USM – CI2LAB

For more information contact: Rachel Paling at 207-624-6747 or rachel.paling@maine.gov

Maine DOE honors the 2016 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

 

Math Finalist: Jenny Jorgensen, Barbara Ellis, Michele Mailhot

 On Friday evening, May 19th, Maine DOE honored the four state finalists for the 2016 Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics and Science (PAEMST) with a dinner held at the Maple Hill Farm Inn located in Hallowell.  Shari Templeton, Maine DOE Science and Technology Specialist, and Michele Mailhot, Maine DOE Mathematics Specialist, planned the evening event honoring Barbara Ellis (Frank H. Harrison Middle School), elementary mathematics finalist, Kirsten Gould (Buxton Center Elementary School), elementary science finalist, Susan O’Brien (Weatherbee School), elementary science finalist, and Tonya Prentice (Woodstock Elementary School), elementary science finalist.

Science Finalist: Kimberly O’Donnell, Kirsten Gould, Shari Templeton

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) are the nation’s highest honors for teachers of mathematics and science. Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science education.

Science Finalist: Matthew Lindemann, Susan O’Brien , Shari Templeton

 

The evening began with a social networking event where past awardees had an opportunity to meet the four state finalists. This was followed by dinner, official congratulations from Robert G. Hasson, Commissioner, Maine Department of Education, and Martha Harris, Chair, Maine State Board of Education.  The keynote address was delivered by Beth BeyersSmall, the NSF Teaching Fellowship Coordinator for the Maine Center for Research in STEM Education, and several past Presidential Awardees, Marielle Edgecomb, Laurie Gott, and Laura Stevens, shared memorable moments from their experiences in D.C. during their recognition trip as awardees.

Science Finalist: Jolene Littlehale, Tonya Prentice, Shari Templeton

 

The main event of the evening was the introduction of the four state finalists.  Jenny Jorgensen, Mathematics Coach, Yarmouth Schools, spoke on behalf of Barbara Ellis,  Kimberly O’Donnell, principal, Buxton Elementary School, spoke on behalf of Kirsten Gould, Matthew Lindemann, Co-Teacher, George B. Weatherbee School, spoke on behalf of Susan O’Brien, and Jolene Littlehale, Principle, Woodstock Elementary School, spoke on behalf of Tonya Prentice.  All four state finalists were presented with certificates from the PAEMST program by Shari Templeton (Maine DOE) and Michele Mailhot (Maine DOE).

For further information regarding the PAEMST program  you may contact shari.templeton@maine.gov or michele.mailhot@maine.gov

2017 Count ME In Student Poster Contest

Count ME In is sponsoring the third annual Student Poster Contest to engage students ages 6-17 in promoting school attendance. Students are invited to create a design for the 2017 Attendance Awareness Month celebration in September, 2017. This is an opportunity for students to share their views on why school attendance is important. Students can participate from at school, summer program or home. The deadline is July 18.

The winning posters will be reproduced with the artist’s name on the poster and distributed throughout Maine. In addition, the winning artists will receive Amazon Gift Cards. Guidelines for contest details can be found on www.countmeinmaine.org.

Please share with students you think might be interested in submitting artwork. If you have any questions, please contact Susan Lieberman at slieberman@countmeinmaine.org.

DC&R Financial and Compliance Forms incorrectly shown as overdue

The Data Collection and Reporting (DC&R) System went live earlier this year as a replacement for the Missing Reports system the Department previously used to inform school systems, and the public, when reports are coming due, or had not been received. During the transition to DC&R, historical information for the financial reports was used to determine if reports were received. These reports include actual expenditures, actual revenue, actual balance sheet, budget expenditure, budget revenue, EF-S-07, EF-S-214, and audits. Unfortunately, as Missing Reports did not include some of the reports, reports that are currently showing as not received, have in fact been received by the Department.

The School Finance and Compliance Team is working to update DC&R to correctly display which reports have not been received. All current forms are being checked in manually until an automated process is established. Please contact Maine DOE School Finance and Compliance Coordinator Tyler Backus at tyler.backus@maine.gov with any questions.

 

Maine kids in need of education “surrogate” parents

Augusta – The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is seeking volunteers to serve as an education “surrogate” parent to a child or children with disabilities who have no available natural parents and/or guardians, including children in the custody of the state.

An educational surrogate parent is appointed to act independently on behalf of a student with disabilities and to safeguard the student’s rights in the special education process. Examples include permission for evaluation and placement, meetings to discuss the child’s programming, release of information, and request for educational hearing.

“Being a surrogate parent to children from many different backgrounds is sometimes challenging but always rewarding. These children, and too many more like them, need to know that someone cares about them and is watching over their educational needs and progress,” said Peter Quimby, Education Surrogate from Thorndike.

As part of the State’s Education Surrogate Parent program, Maine DOE matches children up with a volunteer surrogate parent who acts to ensure the child is provided with equal educational opportunities.

“The time commitment is as much or as minimal as the volunteer wants it to be. Some are only able to attend the annual IEP (educational programing) meeting either in person or by phone, and others are very involved by not only attending meetings, but also visiting the student and staying in regular contact,” said Commissioner Robert Hasson. “It’s a really great program, but we always need more volunteers.”

The voluntary position may sometimes require travel, but travel expenses are reimbursed by the State of Maine.

Find out more on the Maine DOE Surrogate Parent Program webpage or contact Staci Fowler at (207) 624-6670 or Stacia.Fowler@maine.gov for more information.

Maine DOE Update – June 1, 2017

From the Maine Department of Education

Notices and Reporting Items

More Notices | Administrative Letters | Reporting Calendar

News & Views

Improving the Success of Career and Educational Development (CED)

This article was originally published May 15, 2017. 

CED Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3WHX828
(All surveys should be completed by Friday, June 9, 2017.)

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is looking at the Career and Educational Development (CED) standards within the Maine Learning Results system to understand how schools are meeting the requirements of this content area. | More

Initial Synergy upload information

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) has published initial code sets and data file layouts with definitions for the new state level student information system for the 2017-18 school year. | More 

Maine students and educators gather at UMaine for annual MLTI Student Conference

One thousand Maine students and hundreds of Maine educators gathered at the University of Maine at Orono last Friday for the annual Maine Department of Education (DOE) Maine Learning Through Technology Initiative (MLTI) Student Conference. | More 

2017 Maine Curriculum Leader of the Year announced

The Maine Curriculum Leaders’ Association recently selected Becky Brown, Director of Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction in South Portland as Maine’s 2017 Curriculum Leader of the Year. | More

More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Maine students and educators gather at UMaine for annual MLTI Student Conference

MLTI Student Conference.PNGOne thousand Maine students and hundreds of Maine educators gathered at the University of Maine at Orono last Friday for the annual Maine Department of Education (DOE) Maine Learning Through Technology Initiative (MLTI) Student Conference.

The event is an annual one day technology conference designed specifically for students who participate in the Maine DOE’s statewide technology program for students.

Students attend the event to partake in several blocks of workshops, including sessions on virtual reality, music, artificial intelligence, creating videos, 3D printing, app development, drones, storytelling, info graphics, and much more! See a full list of this year’s workshops.

At the end of the conference students took part in one “uber” session where all attendees worked together with the featured the Maine band The Ballroom Thieves, who played live music that incorporated various learning elements which engaged audience participation with devices.

DSC00050

More information about the 2017 MLTI Student Conference

2017 Maine Curriculum Leader of the Year announced

The Maine Curriculum Leaders’ Association recently selected Becky Brown, Director of Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction in South Portland as Maine’s 2017 Curriculum Leader of the Year. Nominated by her superintendent Ken Kunin, Brown is described as “a forward thinking, reflective district and state leader in the move to proficiency-based learning.

To read more about Maine’s Curriculum Leader of the Year, click here or visit the Maine Curriculum Leaders’ Association website at mainecla.org.

 

Initial Synergy upload information

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) has published initial code sets and data file layouts with definitions for the new state level student information system for the 2017-18 school year. These documents can be found at:  http://maine.gov/doe/data/student/Synergy_upload.html

The change in code sets is in preparation for future interoperability implementations. Please continue to check back to this site frequently, as we will be adding sample files and additional documents for Career and Technical Education (CTE), Behavior, Truancy, and Proficiency-Based Education data sets.

In addition to the new code sets and uploads, Maine DOE has also changed school and district ids. More information regarding this and a list of codes for the 2016-17 schools can be found at:  https://mainedoenews.wordpress.com/2017/05/16/changes-to-school-and-district-ids-for-2017-18-school-year/

In late June, an updated list for 2017-18, including codes for new schools and districts may will be located at: http://maine.gov/doe/data/infrastructure/index.html

For questions and code-set crosswalks to legacy codes, please contact the Department’s Helpdesk Manager Shannon Bartash at shannon.bartash@maine.gov or 624-6799 or Data Manager Charlotte Ellis at charlotte.ellis@maine.gov 624-6696.