Commissioner’s Update – Sept. 22, 2011

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Last week, Alana Margeson, a teacher at Caribou High School, was named the 2012 Maine Teacher of the Year. She engages her students, encourages academic risk-taking and gets students thinking outside their comfort zone.As we always try to remind people, the Maine Teacher of the Year isn’t the best teacher in Maine. She is meant to represent the many excellent teachers devoted to the highest level of student learning in their classrooms.

Announcing Mrs. Margeson as the next Maine Teacher of the Year is just one more reminder of the paramount importance of quality teachers to successful student outcomes. It sounds like a no-brainer, but we need to do more to set high expectations so that all Maine students have an Alana Margeson in their classroom every year in every class.

I encourage you to check out Gov. LePage’s weekly message on Saturday in which he will speak about the role of teachers and about our plans for supporting teachers and other educators in improving student achievement.

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NBC invites teachers to participate in online teacher Town Hall

Teachers have been invited to participate in a live Teacher Town Hall web chat with NBC News Anchor Brian Williams at noon on Sunday, Sept. 25. The session will offer teachers a chance to tell decision-makers about their experiences in the classroom. What works? What doesn’t? How are you making a difference?

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Penobscot Nation hosts teacher workshops

Maine K-12 educators and pre-service educators have a special opportunity to learn about Maine Indians.  The 5th Annual “Teach the Teachers” series is being hosted by the Penobscot Nation’s Cultural & Historic Preservation Department on four select days in October on Indian Island.

Revised due process form and procedure

The Due Process Office has revised its Resolution Meeting Status form and related procedures to more closely align them with federal regulations.  The revised document, which has been renamed the Resolution Session Status form, simplifies the reporting of Resolution Session outcomes.

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Governor announces appointments to task force on early postsecondary education

The following is a press release sent by the office of Gov. Paul LePage.

For Immediate Release: Monday, Sept. 19, 2011
Contact: Adrienne Bennett (207) 287-2531

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul LePage announced today that 19 people have been selected to serve on a task force that will make recommendations on expanding early college and other postsecondary education opportunities for high school students.

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