Latest News

Broadening the Definition of What Matters in Education

The 2025 Maine Teacher of the Year, Becky Hallowell, suggests in a new Portland Press Herald op-ed that we need to broaden our definition of "what matters" in Maine's public schools. Read here: https://www.pressherald.com/2026/01/04/maine-must-measure-what-truly-matters-in-education-opinion/   READ MORE

Look, Mom, It's the Science Ladies

When the Maine Mobile Biolab rolled up to Trenton Elementary School this month, it was met not just with excited future life scientists, but with longtime reporter and editor Carrie Jones of Bar Harbor Story.  Read her wonderful essay here: https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/look-mom-its-the-science-ladies?utm_source=publication-search   READ MORE

Celebrating Life Sciences in Maine

Did you know? There are 587 life sciences companies in Maine, ranging from pharmaceutical research companies to medical supplies manufacturing, diagnostic labs to engineering firms. There are 9,832 life science jobs in Maine--and that number is growing. Average annual earnings in the life sciences sector is $108,000! Job growth in life sciences significantly outpaces growth in all other industries. Bioscience Week in Maine celebrates our state's big and growing life-science sector. The… READ MORE

Tree Street Youth Named Wes Bonney Award Winner for 2025

Tree Street Youth, a 14-year-old Lewiston nonprofit serving more than 1,000 young people annually – from pre-K through high school—will receive the prestigious Weston L. Bonney Education Leadership Award for 2025, Educate Maine announced. Tree Street, founded in 2011 by a Bates College student as a summer and homework-help initiative, has evolved into a year-round hub of youth-centered programs and partnerships encouraging leadership, learning, exploration and growth. The programs—at no… READ MORE

Lab Aquaculture Opportunity Now Open at MDIBL

The MDI Biological Laboratory is partnering with Educate Maine to offer a registered apprenticeship program for individuals seeking hands-on experience and a career in laboratory aquaculture. This is a fully funded, 2,000-hour apprenticeship program. Apprentices are benefit-eligible employees of the MDI Biological Laboratory for the duration. Upon successful completion of the program, participants may have the opportunity to continue their employment at the MDI Biological Laboratory as… READ MORE

Meet Your 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year!

The new Maine Teacher of the Year is Julia Edwards, a passionate, innovative choral music educator at Bruce Whittier Middle School/Poland Regional High School. Educate Maine and the Maine Department of Education announced the award at a surprise ceremony in the high school gymnasium. “Congratulations to Julia Edwards on earning this well-deserved recognition as 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year!” Pender Makin, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Education, said. “Her enthusiasm for… READ MORE

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