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Welcome 2025 Maine County Teachers of the Year!

Maine's newest cohort of County Teachers of the Year were honored at the State Capitol, in a ceremony that featured Gov. Janet Mills, state legislators,  dozens of proud family members and friends and special guests--last year's cohort of CTOYS. The group inducted today were the 12th batch of county honorees. The 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year will be chosen from this group.  The MTOY/CTOY program is operated by Educate Maine and the Maine Department of Education.  Go here to learn… READ MORE

Maine Educators Have `Transformative' Opportunity in Costa Rica

What happens when you drop a bunch of Maine educators off in Costa Rica, make them put away their phones, and present them with: •    Cultural immersion•    Challenging physical/outdoor activities•    Close group dynamics—for a week Shades of “Survivor”?  Not exactly! What does happen is outstanding professional and personal development, new resolve to embrace uncertainty and step outside comfort zones, and lifelong bonds of friendship with your group. These were the… READ MORE

Register Now for Girls Who Code Camps

The Girls Who Code Camps--free summer camps for students grades 6-12 to explore coding, leadership, and real-world tech careers—are now open for registration. These exciting opportunities are open to all students across Maine, including those in rural and underserved areas. This summer Educate Maine is pleased to add two overnight camps to the calendar!  As a community partner of the national Girls Who Code nonprofit, Educate Maine has adapted the club model into a welcoming, hands-on… READ MORE

So Long, Dolly!

For over 27 years, Dolly Sullivan -- an irresistible force wrapped in ineffable charm, plain-spoken directness and the confidence and pluck of a Down East native -- was an advocate, cheerleader, willing ear and steady hand for the Maine's educators. Her retirement was celebrated May 2 at her beloved University of Maine campus, where more than 100 fans turned out to celebrate Dolly's next chapter.  Nobody was surprised that Dolly ended her own remarks with thanks and appreciation, and this… READ MORE

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Biolab Registration OPEN for Next Year

We’re excited to announce that the Maine Mobile BIOLAB application for the 2025–2026 school year is now live! The Maine Mobile BIOLAB is a state-of-the-art mobile science classroom that delivers hands-on, inquiry-based STEM lessons and high-tech equipment directly to middle school students, offering a week-long field trip experience right in their own school parking lot. If you’re interested in bringing the BIOLAB to your school next year, visit our website to learn more and submit your… READ MORE

Gorham Principal Takes New Leadership Role at Educate Maine

A Gorham elementary school principal will wield her 20-plus years of experience in schools in a new leadership role at Educate Maine. Jodi Mezzanotte, the principal of Village Elementary School, will become Educate Maine’s new Director of Educator Engagement in June.  Meanwhile, she will join our organization as a consultant while finishing the school year. Educate Maine is delighted to welcome Mezzanotte, who brings years of experience and insight to the role. “Jodi is a vocal advocate… READ MORE

Bill in Augusta Would Support Before and After School Care

There’s a critical need in Maine for something called “out of school care”—also known as before and after school care. It’s not just important for the thousands of Maine parents who work longer than the traditional school day; for the hundreds of businesses who employ those parents, out of school care is necessary to sustain a workforce. How necessary? According to data from the National Afterschool Alliance, we know that for every Maine child enrolled in an afterschool program, there… READ MORE

Head of the Class: Dolly Sullivan Retires

After a career leading, promoting and supporting Maine educators, most notably in the Teacher of the Year program, Dolly Sullivan has retired to focus on her next chapter. Her statewide influence and the projects and programs she built during several decades as Maine’s top teacher advocate will persist indefinitely, according to her colleagues at Educate Maine, where her last day on the job was March 31. Sullivan, of Orono, served as director of Maine Teacher of the Year for 27 years, and led… READ MORE

Collab With Boston Museum of Science Yields Cool New Tool for Biolab

A collaboration with the Boston Museum of Science has resulted in a cool (and warm!) new tool for the Maine Mobile Biolab. Working with Biolab educators Anna Stehlik and Heather Carlisle, fabricators in the museum's exhibit workshop created custom-made temperature plates--an interactive tool that helps Biolab visitors explore how humans perceive temperature.  Carlisle and Stehlik traveled to Boston to pick up the plates, getting a behind-the-scenes look at the museum's fabrication workshop and… READ MORE