Trusted Voices in Education

UMaine Division of Lifelong Learning
Teaching from the Heart: Nonviolent Communication

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Have you ever felt like you were more of a problem-solver than a teacher? Your best-made lesson plans are delayed by listening to your students argue about a problem that occurred at recess. You deal with this stress by addressing the class in a way that you regret. You know you’re a great teacher but you’re overwhelmed.

If this sounds familiar, Teaching from the Heart is the professional development course for you. Using a curriculum based on Nonviolent Communication principles, this program will provide you with tangible ways to manage your classroom and reach your full potential as an educator. Our doubts as caregivers and teachers are inevitable. If we have a system to refer to when these doubts creep in, we can relax. 

Learn how to manage your classroom/learning environment with a practical, simple curriculum based on Nonviolent Communication expert Gina Simm’s book Heart to Heart: Three Systems for Staying Connected (A Manual for Parents and Teachers). Through participating in this course, you’ll learn how to use practical systems to maintain the heart-to-heart connections that support children’s ability to self-regulate and improve their emotional intelligence. 

Participants are encouraged (though not required) to purchase instructor Gina Simm’s book, Heart to Heart: Three Systems for Staying Connected (A Manual for Parents and Teachers).*

November 13 & 21, 2025 | Register Here

Academic Affiliates

MEA is proud to partner with the following academic affiliates that offer professional development in targeted areas.

ASSOCIATION TEACHERS OF MATHEMATICS IN MAINE – ATOMIM 

EDUCATORS FOR A MULTILINGUAL MAINE – EMME

MAINE ART EDUCATION ASSOCIATION – MAEA

MAINE ASSOCIATION FOR HEALTH, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, RECREATION, AND DANCE – MAHPERD

MAINE ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIES – MASL

MAINE CLIMATE EDUCATION HUB

MAINE COUNCIL FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS – MCELA

MAINE COUNCIL FOR THE SOCIAL STUDIES – MCSS

MAINE SCHOOL COUNSELORS ASSOCIATION – MESCA

MAINE MATHEMATICS & SCIENCE ALLIANCE – MMSA

MAINE SCIENCE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION – MSTA

Academic Affiliate Form

To be considered as a non-governance academic affiliate, the organization leader should complete the Academic Affiliation form and send it to MEA along with a letter of interest signed by the governance board’s officer and a copy of the organization’s governance documents.

MEA Bylaws, Article VII, Section 3. Academic Non-Governance Affiliates

  1. An academic non-governance affiliate is an organization a common instructional purpose, which has a reciprocal, complementary and supportive relationship to the Maine Education Association.
  2. The academic non-governance affiliate must meet the following minimum standards:
    1. the affiliate shall have common interests in advancing public education with the Maine Education Association; and
    2. the affiliate shall be a self-governing organization with expressed values compatible with those of the Maine Education Association.
  3. Affiliation proposals shall include:
    1. Copies of potential affiliate’s governance documents
    2. Letter of interest signed by the organization’s governance board.
    3. Relationship goals and areas of collaboration in support of shared values, public education, and MEA goals.
  4. Affiliate Relationships will be approved by the MEA Board of Directors and reviewed on a regular basis not to exceed three (3) years.
    1. It is understood that Affiliate Relationships are voluntary and collaborative; and
    2. Affiliation does not commit MEA resources or action.