2024 Award for Teaching Excellence: Chris Coleman
Educators often go above and beyond, never intending to be recognized for the many things that they do inside and outside of their classrooms to promote public education. For Chris Coleman, fourth-grade teacher at Great Salt Bay Community School, being honored with MEA’s 2024 Award for Teaching Excellence has been a particularly special honor. Coleman says his story is not only about what he does inside the classroom—it’s about advocacy, leadership, and commitment to his students and community, that fill him with pride.
There is no question that Coleman is an accomplished and dedicated teacher—he was recognized as Lincoln County Teacher of the Year in 2017. What truly sets him apart, however, is his unwavering leadership within his profession, state and local union, and school community. Coleman shared that being acknowledged for his advocacy work and the often unpaid, behind-the-scenes efforts to improve public education in Maine was particularly meaningful.
“Usually, I am focused on recognizing my students for their accomplishments,” Coleman says. “So, it feels particularly special when other educators and the community see you and recognize the work you are doing, not only in the classroom, but outside of the classroom as well.”
Coleman understands the importance of ensuring that the voices of Maine educators are heard from the school board to the State House. This dedication is a true testament to his commitment to public education. While it may go unnoticed by some, it is what set him apart in the nomination last year for the Award for Teaching Excellence.
Serving as the president of the Damariscotta Area TA and the former chair of MEA’s Government Relations Committee, Coleman has become a tireless advocate and champion for public education, his students, and his colleagues. His consistent ability to stand up for what is just, holding administrators accountable, speaking up for his students, and advocating for MEA members in the legislature underscores his commitment to public education.
Award for Teaching Excellence recipients are nominated by each of NEA’s state affiliates annually. They embody excellence in their practice, advocacy for the profession, commitment to equity and opportunity, community engagement, and leadership in professional development Coleman and his fellow awardees have opportunities throughout the year to network with one another and attend storytelling and advocacy workshops.
In February, Coleman joined his fellow awardees in person at the NEA Foundation Salute to Excellence in Education Gala in Washington D.C., to share their stories with one another and formally receive their awards.
“It is not often that we get to connect with teachers outside of Maine and share our stories,” Coleman reflected. He says “It was inspiring. I came back to school with so many takeaways and new ideas. It was what I needed. It gave me a boost of energy.”
Throughout the year, awardees fostered relationships and were inspired by one another., “I sat with a teacher from Hawaii who is working on a language immersion school to make sure students learn the native Hawaiian language,” he said. “One teacher from California shared how she entered teaching as a second career after being a police officer to have a closer impact on the kids in her community.”
Coleman hopes that we can collectively find more opportunities to lift one another up as fellow educators, recognizing the glimmers of greatness we see in each other every day. “By focusing on the positive contributions within our schools and communities. We can combat the negativity that sometimes circulates and celebrate the remarkable work happening in our schools.”
2024 Education Support Professional Award: Jen Cooper
Growing up, Jen Cooper never envisioned herself as an educator, but after a decade of working as an education technician in Portland Public Schools, it became clear that she had found her calling.
An exceptional educator, union leader, and advocate, Cooper works in a functional life skills room at Lyman Moore Middle School in Portland—Maine’s largest and most diverse school district—and serves as the ESP President for the Portland Education Association
“The most rewarding part of my work is the connection I build with my students,” Cooper says. “The joy they bring with them every day is incredible. I love how fun and energetic they are, despite any challenges that they may face.”
Connection and relationships are at the heart of what Cooper does. She works hard to build relationships with her students’ families and is passionate about integrating her students into the community to provide them with authentic learning experiences.
“We go swimming at the community pool weekly, meet other schools and community programs to take our students bowling, go behind the scenes at area businesses, and in the warmer months we do outdoor discovery at local nature conservatories.”
As a union leader and advocate, Cooper is determined to make sure that her students and colleagues have the resources that they need to thrive.
Earlier this year, Cooper’s functional life skills team organized a school dance to raise money for her students’ community programming, which this programming, as valuable as it is for her students, would not be possible without the additional funds that the team works hard to secure.
“The dance helped us fund an outing to Uno’s,” Cooper explained. “We organized a behind the scenes experience at the restaurant, so that students could learn how restaurants operate. They participated in everything from making their own pizzas in the kitchen to serving food in the dining room.”
Cooper is known for her tireless advocacy efforts on behalf of her students and their families. In a nomination letter for Cooper, Portland Superintendent Ryan Scallion described her, “As a strong advocate for her families, and an educator who improves outcomes for all students.”
As Maine Education Association’s 2024 ESP of the Year, Cooper had the opportunity to spend the last year networking with other state ESP of the Year award winners, participating in professional development, and culminating the year with the NEA ESP National Conference in Louisville, Kentucky in March.
“It has been great to connect with one another virtually, but I am excited to get together with NEA members from different states, and also to learn and grow and understand how to serve the people of my district more.”
Cooper says being named Maine’s 2024 ESP of the Year came as a shock. “This really validated the work that we put in daily as educators. Sometimes you don’t hear that people are happy with the work that you are doing. It’s great to know that people see the work and appreciate it.”
