New Info-graphics for Schools and Communities on Electronic Nicotine Devices

At the Department of Education we recognize that schools across Maine are challenged on a daily basis with how to effectively address adolescent use of electronic nicotine devices.  Data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey indicated that use of electronic cigarettes, including products such as JUUL and Blu, by High School students increased by 78% between 2017 and 2018.  Our partners at the MaineHealth Center for Tobacco Independence (CTI) developed a series of info-graphics to help Maine schools and communities understand what these products are, the dangers associated with youth use, and prevention and treatment resources available.  Check out these new resources, and also reach out to CTI for more information and to be connected with local resources at TobaccoPreventionServices@mainehealth.org.

 

MSSM Wins 2019 Maine State Science Bowl Competition

Submitted by Ryan McDonald, Summer Programs Director and Public Relations Coordinator at Maine School of Science and Mathematics

It was an exciting Saturday in March at the University of Southern Maine, Gorham, as 20 teams from 12 Maine high schools battled it out answering questions related to Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, Astronomy, Energy, and Mathematics at the Maine State Science Bowl.  After 10 rounds of play, including two tie-breaker sets to determine placements for the semi-finals, MSSM Team A emerged victorious. MSSM Team B placed 4th in their division, but did not advance to the semi-finals.  This is MSSM’s fourth win, with previous victories in 2007, 2013, and 2014.   The winning team now receives an all-expense-paid trip to the National Science Bowl competition, which is held just outside Washington, DC, at the National 4-H Conference Center in Chevy Chase, MD, on April 25-29.  While at Nationals MSSM will compete against schools from around the US, as well as listen to lectures from leading scientists and visit many of the spectacular museums found in our nation’s capital.

MSSM Team A is comprised of Daniel Brower (from Carmel), James Hawkes (from Portland), George Johnson (from Kennebunkport), Jay Philbrick (from North Yarmouth), and Jordan Theriault (from Caribou), and is coached by Dr. Debbie Eustis-Grandy.  MSSM Team B is comprised of Madison Albert (from North Yarmouth), Amanda Chen (from Thomaston), Annie Giroux (from Belgrade), and Mari Witmer (from Fort Kent), and is coached by Tracy Meyer.

Nobleboro K-8 School Partners with Kieve

Submitted by Kris Harriman, Librarian at the Nobleboro Central School Library in AOS 93.

Two familiar faces have returned to Nobleboro Central School (NCS) as part of an ongoing partnership between NCS and mentors from The Leadership School at Kieve. The collaboration was launched through discussions between former NCS Principal and current AOS 93 staff member, Ann Hassett and Kieve’s Director of Education & Operations, Charlie Richardson.

Noah Dines and Nelson Bandy are Kieve educators in residence who once again will support students and staff at NCS. Dines will remain at the school until the end of May this year, while Bandy will finish up in March.

The friendly duo attend school daily starting in January and take part in lunch, recess, field trips, and other special activities. They also visit general and special education classrooms from kindergarten through grade 8, and the school’s Center For Alternative Learning (CAL).

They often can be found playing on the playground during recess, opening milk cartons at lunch, and joining in a competitive game during a physical education class. They helped cook and serve green eggs and ham in the school library to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss in March.

Their most ambitious project is the popular after-school program they run Mondays through Thursdays at NCS. They provide healthy snacks and lead students in games and activities both indoors and outdoors. They organize games in the gymnasium, bake bread, talk about the “Question of the Day,” and encourage the youth to sample healthy and unfamiliar snacks.

Dines is in his third year at NCS, and Bandy has returned for a second year. They serve as positive role models and mentors for students, and in the past have joined field trips and other off-campus activities such as ice skating and excursions to the Hidden Valley Nature Center
in Jefferson.

This year NCS is affiliated with the Winter Kids program, which means Kieve will be adding additional outdoor activities, Dines said. The annual collaboration is part of a partnership between NCS and Kieve, which is located just down the road in Nobleboro.

For more information visit Kieve’s web page: https://www.kwe.org/blog/uncategorized/winter-2019-eir-conclusion/

Maine’s National Board-Certified Teachers Celebrate at Pinning Ceremony 

 “The number one reason we do this (National Board Certification) is the students. Educators are about kids and we want our students to have the best teachers possible,” said Tami Fitzgerald, Director of Outreach and Engagement for the National Board of Professional Standards. Fitzgerald, who traveled to Maine from Washington DC for the event, was one of the featured speakers at the March 29, 2019 ceremony: a celebration honoring and recognizing Maine’s new and renewed National Board-Certified Teachers.

Friends, families, and colleagues throughout the state gathered at Cony High School to attend the ceremony, which was co-sponsored by the National Board-Certified Teachers of Maine Network and the Maine Education Association. Also speaking at the ceremony were Grace Leavitt, NBCT and President of the Maine Education Association; Melissa Guerrette, NBCT and Chair of the Maine NBCT Network; and Constance (Connie) Russell, NBCT and 2018 Cumberland County Teacher of the Year. 

In achieving National Board Certification, teachers demonstrated that their teaching meets the profession’s standards for accomplished practice through a rigorous, peer-reviewed and performance-based process, similar to professional certification in fields such as medicine. This comprehensive process includes four components: a computer-based assessment to test content knowledge and three classroom embedded portfolio entries which include student work samples, assessment practices, videos of teaching, and in-depth written reflections. Through the four components, teachers provide evidence of their ability to advance student learning and achievement.  

Due to the rigorous and personalized nature of this process, a common sentiment expressed by the speakers was the commitment –mental and emotional—that National Board Certification requires. Russell spoke about feelings of vulnerability and insecurity that arose as she shared her teaching samples at the candidate support workshops, “I was putting my teaching on the big screen, out there in front of people” and yet, as uncomfortable as it was, how she benefited from it, “at school we never had the kinds of conversations I was having with my National Board colleagues—I knew the feedback was making me better—I began craving it.” Fitzgerald echoed Russell, “teacher candidates are always asking, ‘how do I keep getting better, how do I reach higher?” 

The speakers also reflected on the new lens that National Board Certification gave them: a lens in which to view their students, standards, content, and teaching practice. Russel shared, “I started looking at every lesson, bulletin board, field trip, and guest speaker through the lens of how any of these activities would impact student learning.”   

Along with being congratulated and honored for achieving National Board Certification, the speakers told the new NBCTs that this is not the end of the journey. Honorees were encouraged to use their “NBCT-voice” to advocate for their students, schools, and to elevate the teaching profession.  

After the pinning was completed, the new NBCTs were given “tapping cards” – invitations for them to extend to their colleagues to begin their own journey toward National Board Certification.  

Maine’s new 2018 National Board Certified Teachers:

First name Last Name Employer

District

 Employer School
1. Jennifer Dorman RSU 54/MSAD 54 Skowhegan Area Middle School
2. Laura Phelps RSU 1 Phippsburg Elementary School
3. Matthew Leland Lincoln Academy
4. Seth Anderson Lincoln Academy
5. Gayle Martin AOS 92 Winslow Elementary School
6. Kelly O’Brien-Weaver RSU 22/MSAD 22 George B. Weatherbee School
7. Kristin Lorbeski RSU 11/MSAD 11 River View CMTY School
8. Anne Dalphin Portland Public School District Presumpscot Elementary School
9. Hillary Hoyt RSU 22/MSAD 22 Leroy H Smith Elem School
10. Ryan Avery RSU 11/MSAD 11 Gardiner Regional Middle School
11. Patricia Forster Five Town CMTY School District Camden Hills Regional High School
12. Michael Hayashida RSU 16 Poland Regional High School
13. Emily Powers Lewiston Public Schools Gov James B. Longley Elem School
14. Christina Rich RSU 55/MSAD 55 South Hiram Elementary School
15. Courtney Cole RSU 19 Etna-Dixmont Elementary School
16. Rebecca Humphrey Hanaburgh Falmouth School District Falmouth Elementary School
17. Gordon Crosby RSU 16 Poland Regional High School
18. Angela McLaughlin RSU 26 Asa C Adams Elementary School
19. Toni Barboza RSU 19 Etna-Dixmont Elementary School
20. Emilie Throckmorton Bangor School District Bangor High School
21. Luanne Mudgett RSU 55/MSAD 55 Sacopee Valley Middle School
22. Rebecca Maiorano Portland Public School District Presumpscot Elementary School
23. Katie Dutil Augusta School District Lillian P Hussey Elem School
24. Rebekah Brockway RSU 12 Windsor Elementary School
25. Pauline Leadbetter RSU 17/MSAD 17 Harrison Elementary School
26. Marie Dickson Lewiston Public Schools Thomas J McMahon Elem School
27. Venise Philbrick Lewiston Public Schools Martel Elementary School
28. Jennifer Lunt Portland Public School System Portland High School
29. Dawn Pendergrass Biddeford School District Biddeford High School
30. Jason Kash RSU 22/MSAD 22 Reeds Brook Middle School
31. Nell Hermann Union School Dist 93 Blue Hill Consolidated Elem School
32. Megan Markgren Portland Public School District Longfellow Elementary School
33. Sonya Logan RSU 55/MSAD 55 Sacopee Valley Middle School
34. David Boardman AOS 92 Mid-Maine Technical Center

For more information about National Board Certification: 

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards:  https://www.nbpts.org/ 

Tamara Ranger, MDOE Educator Excellence Coordinator:  tamara.ranger@maine.gov 

Melissa Guerrette, Maine NBCT Network Chair: nbct.melissa@gmail.com 

Employee of the Week: Jean Zimmerman

Health Education and Physical Education Consultant, Jean Zimmerman is the Maine Department of Education’s Employee of the Week this week. Get to know a little more about Jean through this brief question and answer:

What are your roles with DOE?

I am the Health Education and Physical Education Consultant and also am a co-chair of the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey(MIYHS). MIYHS is self-reported student behavior data that is essential for targeted policies and practices.

What do you like best about your job?

There is so much variety in job responsibilities. I also feel strongly about the importance of lifetime health literacy and physical literacy and encouraging teachers to take leadership roles in the field.

Jean and Oscar!

How or why did you decide on this career?

Ever since elementary school, I always wanted to be a teacher. There is something very powerful about making connections with students and providing positive experiences.

What do you like to do outside of work for fun?

I have a black pug, Oscar, who loves to go for walks. I also enjoy playing golf and reading.

Important federal grants for local communities on school safety and security just opened, apply soon!

The Department of Education is committed to providing timely information and support to school communities, including federal grant opportunities, in the ongoing efforts to ensure safe schools in the State of Maine. Please see below for new grant information; further questions about the grants and requirements should be directed to the grant providers.

Community Policing Development (CPD) Program

The 2019 Community Policing Development Program is a competitive grant program designed to advance the practice of community policing by providing guidance on promising practices through the development and testing of innovative strategies; building knowledge about effective practices and outcomes; and supporting new, creative approaches to preventing crime and promoting safe communities. The CPD solicitation is open to all public governmental agencies, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, community groups, and faith-based organizations.

Applications are due by May 28, 2019 at 7:59 PM EDT.

Please click here for more information on the 2019 Community Policing Development Program.

Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) Program

The 2019 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Program is a competitive grant program that provides funding to improve the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services for law enforcement through training and technical assistance, demonstration projects, and implementation of promising practices related to peer mentoring programs that are national in scope. The LEMHWA solicitation is open to all public governmental agencies, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, community groups, and faith-based organizations.  This grant may be of interest to school districts with a dedicated police force.

Applications are due by May 28, 2019 at 7:59 PM EDT.

Please click here for more information on the 2019 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Program.

School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP)

The 2019 School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) is a competitive grant program that provides funding directly to states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and public agencies (including school districts and local law enforcement agencies) to be used to improve security at schools and on school grounds. Awards may include funding for coordination with local law enforcement; training for local law enforcement officers to prevent school violence against others and self; placement and use of metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures; acquisition and installation of technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency; and/or any other measure that may provide a significant improvement in security.  Special eligibility notice for school districts:  Applications for SVPP must be submitted by a state, tribe, or local unit of ‘general government (city, county, township, etc.), or public agencies (school districts, police departments, sheriff’s departments).

Applications are due by May 31, 2019 at 7:59 PM EDT.

Please click here for more information on the 2019 School Violence Prevention Program.

Registration Open for the 16th Annual MLTI Student Conference

Registration for the 2019 MLTI Student Conference, taking place on Thursday, May 23rd at the University of Maine campus in Orono, will be open from Monday, April 1st until Tuesday, April 23rd.

We’re expecting 1000 students and their adult chaperones to fill the concert hall at the Collins Center for the Arts for the opening student keynote and, at the end of the day, for the so-called “Über Session.” Between the opening and closing at the Collins Center, students will spill out over the campus for a “college way” lunch, and for sessions where they will learn and create in a variety of ways – through coding, audio, video, images, text, and more. As always, this will be a time for celebration and fun challenges. Described by past participants as, “Our favorite day of the year,” we are dedicated to keeping it that way!

The registration cost for each participant (student or adult) is once again $15. This fee includes all event activities, lunch for each registrant, and a 2019 MLTI Student Conference T-Shirt for each student. Schools will be invoiced for registration costs after the conference.

New this year:

  1. Each student will complete their own registration form and will be expected to register for specific sessions ahead of time. Please plan for this as part of the registration process this year!
  2. Even students from non-MLTI grades can attend the conference. We encourage chaperones to work with students during the registration process to make sure they have a device that will allow them to participate fully.

For more information, please visit: https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/ltt/conference

To register, go to:  https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/ltt/conference/register

Please be sure to register by Tuesday, April 23rd!

Questions? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to the planning team at mlti.project@maine.gov, and we look forward to seeing you and a team of students from your school in Orono on May 23rd!

Central Maine Educators Regional Conference (CMERC) is a Success

Submitted by Wendy Berce, Administrative Assistant at Regional School Unit No. 68

On March 15, 2019, SeDoMoCha school in Dover-Foxcroft Maine hosted the 7th annual regional professional development day. This year’s event, formally known as MooseTech, was rebranded as the 1st annual Central Maine Educators Regional Conference. Over 400 teachers, support staff, and administrators from five local school districts attended the days events. Attendees from RSU 68 (Dover-Foxcroft), Foxcroft Academy, AOS 94 (Dexter), SAD 31 (Howland), and SAD 41 (Milo) were given the opportunity to attend four one-hour sessions ranging in topics that included technology, poverty, social and emotional learning, student safety, instructional strategies, and student engagement.

In addition to these individualized breakout sessions, attendees were also able to attend a keynote presentation by Heather Blier Ph. D., owner and psychologist at Dirigo Consulting. Dr. Blier has a doctorate in clinical psychology and she specializes in clinical assessment and intervention, placing a special emphasis on research-based practices and applied research in clinical and academic settings.

The main focus of this conference is bringing together some of the area’s smartest and most influential educational minds in the state. In addition to sessions being lead by local educators, many external organizations such as universities, private and public businesses as well as local law enforcement all contributed to the day’s learning. Coupled with the generous donation of time and knowledge by the session presenters, this year’s event could not have be completed without the generous donations of all of our sponsors, including our host sponsor, Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union.

Planning for next year’s event is already underway!

Maine DOE Update – March 28, 2019

From the Maine Department of Education

Reporting Items

Important Notice: Quarter 3 (Q3) Truancy, Behavior, Attendance and Bullying Data Review-due date approaches

The Department of Education offers quarterly windows for districts to review, for accuracy and comprehensiveness, the data that has been entered and reported to us. The fourth quarter review requires final certification for the annual data. | More

April 1 Attending Count

The April Attending Count Report will be available for districts to submit and certify, beginning on April 1st. Once submitted, the Department of Education will then review the reports and approve them, or return them for further information or clarification. | More

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |

News & Updates

Administrative Letter: Clarification Concerning Local School Bus Purchase and Bid

To assist and support school districts in their diligent work to purchase school buses, the Maine Department of Education is providing clarification concerning the process for districts to bid and purchase school buses. | More

Maine FFA State Vice President Promotes Student Leadership Opportunities at Maine Agriculture Day

Maine FFA State Vice President, James Hotham, joined representatives from a number of Maine agriculture and natural resources organizations in the Maine State House on Maine Agriculture Day, March 21, 2019. | More

1400+ Educators Convene for Regional PD “Rendezvous” Provided by Western Maine Education Collaborative (WMEC)

Educators from 13 districts throughout the western Maine region gathered at the University of Maine at Farmington last week to attend a series of professional development opportunities designed specifically for them. | More

2019 Maine State KidWind Challenge

More than 80 “windgineers” on 28 teams from York, Topsham, Winslow, Freeport and Portland took part in the 2019 Maine State KidWind Challenge on March 20, at Ocean Gateway in Portland. | More

English Teachers Gather at the Summit

Nearly 200 English teachers from across the state attended the Maine Council of English Language Art’s annual conference at the summit of Point Lookout in Northport last week. The conference began on Thursday with a celebration of poetry headlined by Maine Poet Laureate Stuart Kestenbaum. | More

Commissioner Makin Selects Kelli Deveaux as Department of Education Communications Director

Maine Department of Education Commissioner Pender Makin announced today that she has selected former Westbrook High Principal Kelli Deveaux to serve as the Department’s next Communications Director. | More

Maine DOE Employee of the Week: Michael Ashmore

Michael Ashmore, Program Development & Training Officer for the Maine Commission for Community Service is the Maine Department of Education’s Employee of the Week this week. Get to know a little more about Michael.  | More

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

| Submit your Maine School Success Story |

Professional Development & Training Opportunities

Exciting Summer Agriculture Opportunity for Teachers!

Teachers of all grades:  Looking for an exciting and informative summer opportunity related to agriculture?  Consider the upcoming July 29 – August 2, 2019 “Agriculture for ME on Land and Sea” Summer Teachers’ Institute. | More

| Visit the Professional Development Calendar |

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

April 1 Attending Count

Open Date: 4/1/2019

Due Date: 4/15/2019

The April Attending Count Report will be available for districts to submit and certify, beginning on April 1st. Once submitted, the Department of Education will then review the reports and approve them, or return them for further information or clarification. If accepted, this will complete the April Attending Count report. If returned, the superintendent will receive notification about discrepancies; DOE staff is available to assist in reconciling the information.

The April Attending Count Reports will be used for calculating tuition rates in accordance with Title 20-A, §5805, subsection 1.B, which states: B. “The number of students shall be the average number of public secondary pupils enrolled on October 1st and April 1st of the same year.” This count will not be used for the Essential Services and Programs (EPS) School funding formula, but is still necessary for calculating the tuition rates. Please note that students who are attending outside placements at regional programs or special purpose private schools, are not included attending counts in the primary enrollment district.

Instruction on how to complete this report are available here:

https://www.maine.gov/doe/data-reporting/collection/helpdesk/resources/data-reporting-instructions

If you have any questions, feel free to contact:

Helpdesk – 207-624-6896

Trevor Burns (Student Data Coordinator) – 207-624-6678