Important Certification Changes Proposed for Educators
Dear Under the Domers – My name is Mallory Cook and I serve as your Director of Training and Early Educator Engagement. Jan asked me to write the Under the Dome this week with some important updates about educator certification in Maine. For the past 18 months, the...
Use Your Teacher Voice
When Dana Ricker moved to Maine four years ago, she didn’t imagine screaming into a megaphone, “Our Home is Here… at Fitzy Park…” to thousands of Mainers packing the stands at Fitzpatrick Stadium for each Portland Hearts of Pine soccer game. But the same voice that...
Stepping Up When Systems Fall Short: Maine Schools Tackle Hunger Head-on
When SNAP benefits were disrupted in November, educators and communities mobilized to keep students fed and reminded us of what public schools are all about. Maine educators understand that learning starts with a full stomach. So when Supplemental Nutrition Assistance...
Social Media Savvy: Know Your Rights and Protect Your Online Privacy
Educators hold a visible place in their communities—and that means what you post online matters. Today, more than ever, teachers find themselves under the microscope for everything they say, wear, or share, whether in the classroom or on social media. The choices you...
Notice Board – Winter 2026
MEA Lobby Days Together We Win…When MEA Members Are in the State House! The Legislature is expected to be in session through April. Our ability to successfully lobby for our priorities will depend entirely on our ability to have MEA members in the State House...
See Educators Serve
When John Soifer stepped into the voting booth to vote in the 2024 election, he noticed that there was no one running to represent him on the school board. As a retired special educator and union leader, Soifer knew the importance of the seat, and impulsively wrote...Retire with Dignity: Bargaining for Better Retirement
By Mark Ashe, Cape Elizabeth EA Negotiator & Maine DOE Financial Literacy Teacher Leader Fellow and Samantha Burdick, MEA Communications Director For many years, a career in education came with a promise—work hard, serve your community, and retire with security....
Over 500 Days Without a Contract: Maine Community College Faculty Sound the Alarm
Despite record enrollment and increased workloads, full-time faculty in the Maine Community College System (MCCS) have been working without a contract since July 1, 2024—over 500 days and counting. Enrollment at Maine’s seven community colleges has surged since 2020,...
We Need Your Voice
MEA Executive Director’s Letter – Winter 2026 Happy New Year! Another trip around the sun completed. Another year in the books. And a brand-new year ahead. And if you are like me, every January you take a moment (hopefully with a cherished pet by your side...
