Thankful for great teachers and leaders

Students Adie Hughes and Chase Hathorn from the Weatherbee School in Hampden present their teacher,  Susan Carpenter O'Brien, a semi-finalist for the 2014 Teacher of the Year, at a banquet in Portland last Friday as Acting Education Commissioner Jim Rier looks on
Students Adie Hughes and Chase Hathorn from the Weatherbee School in Hampden present their teacher, Susan Carpenter O’Brien, a semi-finalist for the 2014 Teacher of the Year, at a banquet in Portland last Friday as Acting Education Commissioner Jim Rier looks on.

Last Friday, I had the privilege of attending the annual Teacher of the Year banquet, hosted at Unum’s Portland campus.

It was exciting to see the education and business communities come together to celebrate these champions for children. As Acting Education Commissioner, I hope to facilitate us working together more to ensure we are best serving our students and our great State.   Continue reading “Thankful for great teachers and leaders”

Portland’s Karen MacDonald named 2014 Maine Teacher of the Year

Maine Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen announced the King Middle School sixth-and seventh-grade teacher as Maine’s top educator in a surprise all-school assembly Tuesday

2014 Maine Teacher of the Year Karen MacDonald, of King Middle School in Portland, and Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen
2014 Maine Teacher of the Year Karen MacDonald and Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen

PORTLAND – A 24-year veteran teacher at the state’s most diverse middle school is the 2014 Maine Teacher of the Year.

In a surprise assembly at King Middle School (KMS) in Portland Tuesday morning, Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen announced Karen MacDonald, who has served students in Portland Public Schools since 1979, as Maine’s top teacher.

Continue reading “Portland’s Karen MacDonald named 2014 Maine Teacher of the Year”

2014 Maine Teacher of the Year finalists named

The annual educator recognition program is now administered by Educate Maine, a business-led organization whose mission is to champion college and career readiness

AUGUSTA – Maine Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen has announced that two elementary school teachers and one middle school teacher have been selected as the state finalists for the prestigious title of 2014 Maine Teacher of the Year.

The 2014 finalists are Mary Graziano, a fourth grade teacher at Hartland Consolidated School in Hartland; Karen MacDonald, a sixth and seventh grade English language arts teacher at King Middle School in Portland; and Suzen Polk-Hoffses, a kindergarten teacher at Milbridge Elementary School in Milbridge.

Continue reading “2014 Maine Teacher of the Year finalists named”