Here it is May already—just affirming the truth of the saying, “Time certainly flies when you’re having fun”—the fun being lots of meetings this past month with members around the state: membership meetings, higher ed delegate assemblies, a panel for aspiring educators at UMaine Orono, pre-RA Overview Meetings (PROMs), and, of course, MEA’s Voices for Education Day! Regarding this last one, it was great to see members in the state house, speaking with legislators and presenting their views at hearings on proposed legislation!
The legislative session continues, and hearings on bills are coming even more rapidly than ever. Be sure to stay up-to-date by reading the Under the Dome newsletter each Friday (if you aren’t yet receiving this, let us know!), and please keep submitting testimony on important issues—every piece will help us to make progress on our priorities!
IMPORTANT!
The MEA Representative Assembly is around the corner! If your local has elected delegates, be sure to let them know your thoughts on issues to come before the RA. (FYI–Locals whose elections are not conducted by MEA could still elect a delegate, but they would be a ‘late filer’ and we would have to have the certificate of election from the local president right away!)
THIS MONTH
Lots to celebrate!
Educator Appreciation Week—May 8-12–Teacher Appreciation Week | NEA
National School Nurses Day—May 10–https://www.nasn.org/advocacy/school-nurse-day
Mental Health Awareness Month–Student & Educator Mental Health | NEA
AAPI History Month–Teaching Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage | NEA
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FROM MEA and NEA:
ESP Community Conversations: Professional Development. Wednesday, May 10, 7-8:30 pm/ET. Connect with fellow NEA ESP members across the country to discuss your professional development experiences and the resources and support you need for professional growth.
ESP Learning Network Webinar: Investing in Paraeducators: Develop, Empower, and Transform. Thursday, May 18, 7:00-8:00 pm/ET. Join us to learn how one school’s commitment to paraeducator development, through the work of a team of school leaders and ESPs in a Northern Virginia Middle School, transformed how a district invested in ESPs.
Leadership Development – Social and Emotional Intelligence (SEI): Essential for Every Leader. NEA Leadership Development is offering a 4-part learning series, designed to unpack the topic of “adult SEL.” The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) developed the series. CASEL has also launched the Leading with SEL toolkit to assist SEL leaders in pushing back against politics that are attempting to discredit and weaponize SEL.
The newest episode of the School Me Podcast focuses on combating educator stress. Todd Scholl from the SCEA’s Center for Educator Wellness and Learning (CEWL) discusses how mindfulness practice in combination with systemic change can create a healthier environment for educators and students alike.
The latest episode of The Up Close Podcast goes to the heart of a critical issue in public education: the role of educators in combating racism.
ALSO:
The University of Maine College of Education and Human Development and Summer University will host a second summer educators institute with a focus on mental health and wellness June 22–23. The theme of this year’s virtual event will be “Promoting Mental Health and Wellness.” More information about additional UMaine summer workshops for educators can be found online.
Here is the spring edition of “The Torch”, the newsletter of the Civil Rights Team Project. You can subscribe here.
Free Teacher Resource and Activity Guide on the artist Ashley Bryan.
As a part of the regular review cycle schedule, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) is performing a review of the Maine Learning Results for Social Studies and Science and Engineering and is looking for educators to serve as the writing teams for each content area. Find out more on the Maine DOE standards revision website.
ADVOCACY
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS – Download the Educator Rights: Speaking Up for Public Schools and Students guide from NEA to learn about your rights as an educator and activist. It provides a general overview; please reach out to MEA with any specific questions you may have.
From the League of Women Voters: Organize a Graduation Voter Registration drive at your school to ensure graduating students vote in local elections in June and beyond. Check out this tip sheet and other resources:
Cap, Gown & Ballot — The Civics Center
My School Votes – When We All Vote
2023 March Local Guide to Government (lwvme.org) (includes information on Maine’s First Peoples)
Voter Registration in Maine | Vote.gov
REMEMBER!
Next month there are Pride events around the state—here are a few: June 3 Hallowell; June 10 Lewiston/Auburn Great Falls Pride, Belfast Pride, and Brunswick Pride; June 17 Portland Pride parade and Pride Aroostook; June 24 Bangor Pride; and June 24-25 Downeast Pride in Eastport and Lubec.
MEA will help to organize members who wish to participate and show our PRIDE! Watch for messages asking if you would be interested in joining in!
Last but not least, thanks to Theo in Woolwich and Kate in Merrymeeting for their verse in response to the opening in last month’s President’s message (about April showers and May flowers and the seeds of learning you plant, etc.)
“We all know the phrase
About April showers, then May
Of the seeds which become blooms
May we find our classrooms
Planted in September
With learning like water
These seeds on each student’s face now flower”
And
“April showers bring May flowers, thanks to all your superpowers”
Thank you all for all you do!
In Unity,
Grace Leavitt, President
Maine Education Association
