MEA Elected Leaders
Dedicated to supporting and advocating for our public schools, students and educators
MEA’s President, Vice President, Treasurer and NEA Director are elected by delegate members at the MEA Representative Assembly, the governing body of the Association.
Grace leavitt
President
Grace is a Spanish teacher on leave from Greely High School in Cumberland. She lives in Raymond and has been teaching for more than 40 years, K-12 to higher ed and adult, in Maine, Massachusetts and Spain, and is National Board certified. Grace is passionate about public education and will support students and educators across the state as the chief policy officer and official spokesperson for the MEA.
Jesse hargrove
Vice President
Jesse Hargrove teaches American History, Government and Economics, advises the yearbook class, and serves as Social Studies department chair at Hermon High School. He lives in Thorndike with his wife Ciara, a music educator and President of the Waterville Education Association. They have two elementary-age kids, Aden and Rylan who attend Mount View Elementary School.
Beth French
Treasurer
Beth started teaching in 2002 and is a 3rd grade teacher at East Belfast School. Beth comes from a family of educators-her husband Gerry, her son Tim and his wife are all educators in Maine. Beth lives in Searsport with her family, which also includes two school-aged children, Gabe, 14 and Elijah, 12. Beth is eager to share her vision of “Unionism For Today” as part of the MEA leadership team.
Rebecca Cole
NEA Director
Rebecca Cole is a first grade teacher in RSU 14, as well as the President of Sebago East Shore EA (Windham/Raymond). She is also a facilitator for NEA’s Leaders for Just Schools curriculum. When not engaged in union work, she enjoys acting at regional theaters, photography, reading, traveling, and being outdoors.