Hundreds of MEA members, including educators, support staff, and aspiring teachers, gathered for the MEA’s Together as One Winter Conference. The event was held at the University of Maine Presque Isle in late January and at Bangor’s United Technologies Center in early February. Attendees had the opportunity to participate in a variety of sessions covering important topics such as Wabanaki studies, strategies for addressing challenging behaviors, support for LGBTQ+ students, Special Education law, and much more.
Mykayla Conerly, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, presented “Unlocking the Behavior Code” at both conferences, offering educators practical strategies to understand and manage challenging student behaviors. Hailing from Aroostook County, Conerly was delighted to reconnect with board member Pam Kinsey (District A) at the UMPI conference.
Aspiring Educators Julia Gay and Sarah Plourde studying elementary education at the University of Maine Presque Isle, said they learned how important the voice of pre-service teachers is to the future of education.
Board member Dennis Boyd (District H) met Julia Gay, a former student now attending the University of Maine Presque Isle, at the Presque Isle winter conference.
Keynote presenters Sarah Wilkinson and Gretchen Scheibel shared their research findings on challenging behaviors in schools. They conducted a statewide survey of Maine educators to better understand the behaviors they experience in the classroom and assess the professional development opportunities available to address them.
Members attending the Together as One Winter Conference hosted at United Technologies Center in Bangor, participate in a morning activity to share the positive things happening at their schools.
Brianne Lolar, a citizen of the Panawahpskek Nation party of the Wabanaki Confederacy, presented ‘Wabanaki Studies in and out of the Classroom,’ a vision for the future of Wabanaki Studies. The goal of this training is to help educators foster Indigenous cultural awareness and understanding across Wabanaki homelands through professional development and transformative learning experiences.
Aspiring educators in the Educator Preparation Program at United Technologies Center (UTC), attended a session with Mallory Cook, Director of Training and Early Educator Engagement, where they engaged in an activity to design a vision for their dream classrooms. The Educator Preparation Program offers students an opportunity to explore the world of education through classroom visits, internships, and partnerships with local schools.
Aspiring educators in the Educator Preparation Program at United Technologies Center (UTC), attended a session with Mallory Cook, Director of Training and Early Educator Engagement, where they shared why they wanted to teach.
