This week Educate Maine welcomed two new staff members to the team. Sara Conant is our new Communications and Event Coordinator.
Sara has an extensive background in the programmatic design, teaching, and administrative sides of informal education programs for youth. Sara earned a Bachelors from Saint Joseph’s College and holds a Maine Professional Teacher Certification in Grades 7-12 Social Studies. She is a graduate of the Muskie School of Public Policy at USM where she earned a Masters in Policy, Planning, and Management with a concentration in Public & Nonprofit Management. Her career & educational experiences have provided her with an understanding and practice in a broad range of communication methods and event management best practices. Sara is a volunteer club leader of the local 4-H dog club that she grew up in. In her free time, she loves spending time with her horse, and appreciating all that the Maine outdoors has to offer from enjoying the beaches, to hiking the mountains, and most activities in between.
James Murphy is our new Development Director. James has worked in and around education in many roles throughout the country. Prior to returning to Maine, he worked with AchieveMpls to raise funds to support the strategic priorities of Minneapolis Public Schools. James also lived and worked in Washington, DC, for nearly a decade, managing various programs at the Points of Light Institute and later working in the community relations department at Booz Allen Hamilton, an international consulting firm. Prior to that, James taught high school social studies as a Teach for America corps member in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. James holds bachelor degrees from Boston University and a Master's in Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota. James and his family live in Portland, where his children attend Portland Public Schools.
