Latest News

Jodi Mezzanotte Talks Up Maine Schools on Chamber Podcast

With Maine schools in full swing, Director of Educator Engagement Jodi Mezzanotte took to the airwaves--that is, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce podcast--to discuss the many reasons to cheer for our state's teaching workforce. On "The Bottom Line," she outlined the many ways Maine supports its educators and enhances the learning environment for students and families. Listen here: https://www.mainechamber.org/podcast.html   READ MORE

New Grant to Support Research on Early Literacy Learning

A generous grant from the Esther A. & Joseph Klingenstein Fund will support new research on the early literacy landscape in Maine’s elementary schools, Educate Maine announced. The one-year grant to develop and publish this research is aimed at necessary work to improve early literacy proficiency in Maine, the Klingenstein Fun said. The resulting report will focus on understanding the literacy programs used in the schools, the strategies higher education institutions use to support… READ MORE

EM's Shelby Bryant Wins National Fellowship for CS IMPACT

Shelby Bryant, program specialist for Project Login and an integral member of the Educate Maine team, has been selected as  a 2025–26 Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) IMPACT Fellow.   We are delighted to announce that Shelby Bryant, program specialist for Project Login and an integral member of the Educate Maine team, has been selected as  a 2025–26 Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) IMPACT Fellow. The CSTA IMPACT Fellowship is a prestigious, year-long leadership… READ MORE

Finalists Chosen for 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year

Four Maine educators representing counties from the coast to the highlands are state finalists for 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year. Julia Edwards, a choral music teacher at Poland Regional High School; Bridget Wright, an English teacher at Lincoln Academy; Benjamin Johnson, a Latin teacher at Hampden Academy; and Dawn Lee, a school library/media and unified literacy teacher at Morse High School, were selected from the 2025 Maine County Teachers of the Year cohort to move forward in the Teacher… READ MORE

CS Learning Is a Family Affair

Like mother, like daughter?  If you’re talking about computer science learning in Maine, you’d be absolutely right.  The CS Summer of Fun, a “camp” for teachers sponsored by Educate Maine and the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance, boasted three, count ‘em three mére et fille pairs among the more than 100 educators in attendance. Kayleigh and Kara Getty, Kymberli and Shelby Bryant and Beth and Olivia Whitehouse all came to the Summer of Fun as package deals, and it’s safe to… READ MORE

Teaching Apprenticeships Set to Grow Under Expanding Program

An expanded teacher apprenticeship program – designed to bolster Maine’s education workforce and attract more people into the profession – is under construction by Educate Maine.  The program is supported by a new $1.4 million grant from the state Department of Labor through federal dollars allocated to Maine this year. The Teach Maine Center and Maine Career Catalyst, both programs of Educate Maine, will co-design and manage the work for the next 36 months. Educate Maine, in partnership… READ MORE

Semifinalists Selected for Maine Teacher of the Year

Eight exceptional Maine educators are state semifinalists for 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year. As members of the 2025 Maine County Teacher of the Year cohort, they embody the dedication, innovation, and leadership in the classroom synonymous with this recognition. These educators serve as ambassadors for their students, colleagues, and school communities, celebrating and elevating the entire teaching profession.   The semifinalists for 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year are:  Julia Edwards 2025… READ MORE

Welcome, Morgen Leighton!

Educate Maine is delighted to welcome Morgen Leighton to the team. Morgen joins EM and Maine Career Catalyst this week as a workforce development specialist. She brings strong knowledge of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and experience in community engagement, strategic planning, and multi-sector partnerships.   Morgen's diverse background includes work in the legal field, international nonprofit work in London, and regional workforce development initiatives in Maine… READ MORE

Aquaculture Pioneers program highlighted in news feature

Thanks to our friends at the Portland Press Herald for highlighting Maine's signature aquaculture programs. We were delighted with this fun and thoughtful coverage of a program supporting our state's ocean farmers--and those who want to join the trade. Read more: https://www.centralmaine.com/2025/06/18/maine-leads-the-country-with-first-aquaculture-apprenticeship-program/ (Photo credit The Portland Press Herald)     READ MORE

Childcare, Early Ed Foundational to Maine's Future Economy

Grateful to the Maine Trust for Local News for amplifying our message: quality accessible child care and early childhood education are foundational as we build a robust future economy for Maine. To read: https://www.centralmaine.com/2025/06/12/child-care-education-must-be-top-priorities-for-maine-lawmakers-opinion/   READ MORE