Presenter: Emily Read Daniels

In this experiential session, participants learn how their nervous system is affected by overwhelm, stress, and trauma.  Participants have exposure to the framework and the 4 core practices of The Regulated Classroom© that encourage regulation and well-being in the classroom environment.    

Presenters: Jessica Archer (2023 Penobscot County Teacher of the year), Dawn McLaughlin (2023 Piscataquis County Teacher of the year) and Lacey Todd (2023 Oxford County Teacher of the year)

This workshop will explore the many ways educators can demonstrate leadership skills and empower them to do so!  

Presenters: Amanda Cooper, Anthony Feldpausch and Sarah Nichols

Recruitment and engagement play a pivotal role in building a strong and vibrant union. However, effectively asking your coworkers to join their union and convincing them of its benefits can be a daunting task. Even more difficult is asking them to engage and add more to their busy schedules. Whether you’re a seasoned union leader or new to the world of union recruitment and engagement, this session will provide you with practical insights and actionable strategies to master the art of making the “ask.” Join us to gain the confidence and skills needed to effectively engage your coworkers, increase union membership, and build a stronger, more united workforce. 

Presenters: Amanda Fickett & Rob Olson

Here’s a little secret: Maine schools don’t *give* employees any pay or benefits. Nope. Every dollar in your paycheck and benefit enjoyed has been fought for by your colleagues before you. That’s how “collective bargaining” – better known as “negotiating a contract” – works. In this session, you’ll begin to learn about what sorts of rights are included in contracts, what to look for in a “good” contract, and what happens when an employer doesn’t follow the contract. Participants will leave with a better understanding of how to compare prospective job offers and what to do in the event they are denied their contractual rights. 

Presenters: Miranda Engstrom (2023 Hancock County Teacher of the year) & Lisa Tripp (2023 York County Teacher of the year)

Students need support in their educational journey. Maine’s County Teacher of the Year winners present in this session, we will talk about ways to engage families in the educational journey and how to help them stay engaged. Building relationships with families is key to having their support. We will discuss ways to build relationships and family involvement along a student’s educational journey. 

Presenter: Annie Mansfield

Feeling powerless in your workplace? Then this workshop is for you. We’ll analyze power dynamics in your workplace and determine how best to get more power for support staff. 

Presenter: Mallory Cook

Developed by the NEA, Leaders for Just Schools is a 3-year curriculum that allows participants to dive into understanding equity, investigate how bias impacts conditions of teaching and learning, and explore ways in which they can improve school culture so that every student has the opportunity to succeed.  

In this introductory session, participants will begin to understand how they see the world and how their thoughts have evolved over time, how power and privilege affect their life and the lives of students and colleagues, and their capacity to educate and redirect colleagues engaging in inequitable or unjust behaviors.  

Presenters: Ambereen Khan-Baker & Sonia Jasso Yilmaz 

As educators, it is important we all engage in meaningful professional development to improve our practice and to maintain our certification, but it can be hard to find opportunities that align with our schedules and interests. In this interactive session, join NEA staff to review the what and why of micro-credentials (MC), their value and how they are created and assessed. Explore the NEA MC virtual catalog, which includes offerings for ESPs, teachers, and aspiring educators, and learn how you can earn professional development hours on your own schedule.  

Presenters: Giovanna Bechard & Shawn Berry

As more local associations are working to advocate for better working conditions through improved contracts and increased voice in their workplace many have discovered the power of communication in strengthening the union and supporting union members. This interactive session equips union leaders, organizers, and members with practical strategies to leverage communication tools to benefit your local. Explore key topics such as tailoring impactful messages, utilizing diverse communication channels, and engaging members effectively. Join us for an engaging session with real-life case studies and interactive activities, empowering you to use communication as a tool for collective success. 

You will leave this session with the knowledge to: 

1. Craft a message to win 

2. Understand the communication tools available to reach key decision makers 

3. Learn the best ways to engage and involve members, communicate updates, gather feedback, and mobilize collective actions

Presenters: Mallory Cook & Anna Anthony

You did it! You made it to the end of the year. In this session, educators in their first five years will take time to reflect on and celebrate their areas of strength and set goals for the upcoming school year. Participants are encouraged to bring their formal evaluations, professional renewal plans, and other goal setting documents they used in the 22-23 school year. We will work to craft goals and plans for next year, and we will review the state’s recertification process and how your goals and action steps can help you earn credit toward your recertification.  

Presenter: Rosemary Mahoney

Walk away from this session with a better understanding of how to bargain for improved ESP contracts and working conditions. We all know ESPs are the glue that holds schools together – it’s time to focus on how to negotiate contracts that reflect these important roles.  

Presenter: Jake Joy

The exciting reality is that, one day, we will all have multilingual students in our classrooms. What do these students need instructionally and culturally? Join Jake Joy, Multilingual Teacher at Lewiston Middle School, in learning how to recognize these students’ unique assets and harnessing their strengths to help them succeed. 

Presenter: Stephanie Byrne

This session will provide participants with an overview and description of behavior management strategies within the classroom setting.

Presenter: Ben Grant

All employees have basic rights in the workplace, and understanding your rights is critical to your employment. In this session, participants will learn about employment laws and issues they might encounter. From collective bargaining agreements to first amendment rights to dangerous behavior and prevention laws and more, you will learn how these critical laws and statues impact your work and what your rights are in each of these situations.    

Presenters: Anna Anthony & Mallory Cook

There’s no way around it – the first two years in the classroom are tough, but strong mentorship can provide newer teachers with the supports they need to thrive and persist. Developed in partnership with early career teachers, this training emphasizes best practices in mentoring so that you can assess your mentee’s strengths and areas for growth while also providing assistance and support to help them reach their full potential. 

Presenter: John Kosinski

All across the state, fiery debates have erupted at school board meetings regarding a host of social and cultural issues.  Now more than ever, we need to help elect school board members who prioritize students – all students.  When educators engage, we can often have a huge influence on the outcomes.   

In this session, members will learn about the techniques and tactics used by various local associations across the state to engage in local school board elections.  Some locals have recruited candidates to run.  Some have hosted candidate forums.  Some have endorsed candidates.  This session will provide a menu of options for local association leaders to consider using in their own districts.