Here we go! I hope this finds everyone having had a wonderful summer break, a relaxing (though rainy) Labor Day, and a smooth start to the New Year! (Yes, educators have two “new years”!)
It has been so refreshing and re-energizing to be at meetings with members this summer, at in-person conferences, and at back to school association meetings (thank you, RSU 71 EA and Sagadahoc EA!). While I know many districts are coping with still-unfilled vacancies, there is a sense of renewal and excitement as students are back in schools and on campuses, and we move forward into what will be a great school year!
A couple of important items first and foremost, and lots more that follows—please read on!
Two important deadlines:
Comment period on PROPOSED CHANGES TO TITLE IX ends SEPTEMBER 12. Go here for details and to submit comments: Support Title IX
PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS—DEADLINE FOR THE WAIVER IS OCTOBER 31. For information: https://maineea.org/news/student-debt-support/ and Navigate Your Student Debt
Your Career
Next week marks the beginning of Hispanic American Heritage Month. Find many resources from NEA here: Hispanic Heritage Month You may also be interested in resources found here: Latinx Kidlit Book Festival
The professional learning resource page on nea.org has been redesigned: nea.org/professionalexcellence Here you’ll find information on all the micro-credentials, webinar series, trainings, and programs available to you as a benefit of membership.
From Maine Association for the Education of Young Children (MaineAEYC and MEA work together as part of the Right From The Start Coalition) for Early Childhood Educators: Learning and Growing from the Outside In Registration, Sat, Sep 24, 2022 at 9:00 AM | Eventbrite
Your Association
Deadline Approaching! Read Across America SweepstakesNEA is proud to host the 2022 Read Across America Sweepstakes! Participants in the sweepstakes have the chance to win a free set of books from the 2022–2023 Read Across America digital calendar—for every class in the school of their choice. To enter, participants just need to fill out the entry form by September 15 and choose the school they are entering on behalf of.
NEA is launching ESPs: Supporting Our Own Through Peer Mentoring, an online opportunity that will guide affiliates and members through building a strong mentoring program for ESPs. This free learning path comprises four online courses that participants may take as an individual or with a team through NEA’s Professional Excellence Portal
Also check out: ESP Learning Network Webinar Series (view full list of upcoming webinars)
- ESPacios de Libertad (Freedom Spaces): Live Spanish Webinar Experience – Thursday, September 15, 2022, 7:00-8:00 p.m. ETRegister now.
- From Membership to Leadership: Organizing & Mentoring the Next Generation of ESP Leaders – Thursday, September 22, 2022, 7:00-8:00 p.m. ET Register now.
- Equitable Discipline and the Role of an ESP – Thursday, October 20, 2022,7:00-8:00 p.m. ET Register Now
Your Support
Check out MEA Grants here: https://maineea.org/award-grants/
And the MEA Retired Anne Sheehan Honor Grant here: https://mearetired.org/sheehan-honor-grant
Watch for information coming soon about candidate support provided by MEA for National Board Certification candidates.
If you are planning to retire this year or in the next few years, you are encouraged to attend MEA-Retired Pre-Retirement Seminars: https://maineea.org/pre-retirement-seminars/
NEA Professional Excellence and Student Learning grants are available for affiliates to develop and support practices and resources that promote a quality education profession. Grants range from $3,000 to $25,000 and focus on building family/community partnerships or supporting educators across their career continuum to ensure student success. Affiliates can find the 2022-23 application for this grant program here.
Of Interest
Information re: Assessments for 2022-23 from Maine DOE:
Priority Notice: 2022-2023 Assessment Calendar and Assessment Program Updates (mailchi.mp)
Also from the Maine DOE:
If you know a student interested in serving on the Maine DOE Student Cabinet let them know to submit the electronic application by September 28th, 2022. Applications can be submitted electronically here.
Back to School Backpack for Administrators 2022-2023
COVID-19 ToolKit
Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education Programs to Support Safe In-Person Learning
The Maine DOE is working on a number of initiatives to attract and retain educators-share this link with people you know who might be interested: https://www.maine.gov/doe/exploreeducation/teachmaine
At a recent meeting with Maine DOE, district leaders were reminded about the deadline for expending CARES funding. Has your district used all of these funds? Local association leaders may want to ask.
And some resources re: special education from the US DOE that may be of interest:
- Discipline Guidance
- Addressing the Needs of Children With Disabilities and Idea Discipline Provisions
- Positive Proactive Approaches to Supporting Children With Disabilities
- Special Education and 504 Discipline Factsheet
Reminders and Thank Yous
All members: Please be sure to update MEA with any changes to your contact information.
Also, if you identify as ethnically and/or racially diverse, if you have not been receiving the invitations to the conversations referred to as “Issues and Challenges MEA Members of Color Experience in Maine Schools Conversation”, intended for all ethnically and/or racially diverse members, it may be that we do not have accurate information for you. If that is the case, please check with us.
Local leaders: please be sure to update MEA with who your local association officers and representatives are.
Also, local leaders, please reach out to your MEA Board Directors to let them know how things are going. And when they contact you, please respond. Our next Board meeting is Sept. 17-18 and we want to hear from all regions. You can find your Board Director here: https://maineea.org/board-of-directors/ We have welcomed some new Directors over the summer and will be filling the vacancy for District A at our upcoming meeting.
It was especially fun for me to attend the FLAME Summer Institute. Many thanks to MEA and FLAME members Eunice Loredo and Johanna Cuervo and all the others who helped provide great sessions at UMO. For language teachers, be aware that FLAME is changing its name to Educators for a Multilingual Maine. EMME is completing the process to be re-affiliated with MEA as a non-governance academic affiliate.
As a reminder to other professional associations, MEA changed the process for affiliation a while ago, and all who have not yet done so are encouraged to submit the necessary form (Academic Affiliate Form) and information to be sure you are again connected so we can work together. Please encourage the leaders of the professional organizations to which you belong to consider completing this process. Any questions, please let us know!
Thank you also to those who made it possible for many educators to view the documentary “Truth Tellers” https://www.truthtellersfilm.com/ Watch for information about additional opportunities to view this inspiring film about an incredible artist (who lives here in Maine!), amazing activists, and strong leaders.
Thank you to MEA Board Director Chris Jones and Portland EA President Kerrie Dowdy who joined me last month in D.C. at a session with NEA to develop MEA’s “3-1(g) plan”. This is a plan required by NEA Bylaws to help us have our Maine delegation to the NEA Representative Assembly represent our diverse members in Maine.
And one more big thank you to those who have stepped up to join one of the MEA Committees! If you are interested, let me know–there are still some vacancies on the following committees, which have their first meeting October 1st:
Black, Indigenous People of Color; Education Support Professionals; Instruction and Professional Development; Resolutions; Statewide Bargaining; Structure & Bylaws; Strategic Budget (first meeting is Jan. 7th) and also the ad hoc Young Education Professionals. For more information: https://maineea.org/mea-committees/
Last but by no means least, you likely don’t need a reminder that there are important elections coming this November. Watch for information from MEA about the friends of public education MEA has endorsed thanks to the recommendations by members who participated in our Screening and Endorsement process. Stay tuned!
I hope to see many more of you in the coming months as I plan to visit local associations—let me know when your upcoming meetings are!
Stay well, stay strong, and enjoy the excitement of these first weeks!
In Unity,
Grace Leavitt, President
Maine Education Association
