Maine teachers do vital work for students, families, and communities

By Ezekiel Kimball

As we turn the page on another school year, let’s take time to acknowledge the hard work and dedication that goes into educating Maine’s children so they can achieve their full potential. 

Despite ongoing challenges, including the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and serious teacher shortages, Maine schools are doing amazing things. The recently announced Maine County Teachers of Year use innovative, evidence-based practices that make a difference in the lives of students, exemplifying a broader culture of teaching excellence in our schools.

I know because I’m fortunate enough to talk to educators across the state almost every day. I’m also a parent of two children in local public schools filled with exceptional teachers. Additionally, Maine’s teachers have helped high school graduation rates to rapidly catch-up to pre-pandemic levels. That is excellent news, and the students, families, teachers and school leaders who worked hard to make that happen deserve our praise. 

Yet, more work remains. As the Bangor Daily News recently reported, math and reading standardized test scores among Maine students have fallen below national averages. As an educational scientist, I can tell you the reasons standardized tests are often flawed. For example, Maine schools do not teach to the test while some other states do. Additionally, these types of tests are not well designed for some students, such as those with disabilities and multilingual learners. 

Still, we should take every opportunity to improve learning outcomes for Maine’s students, and research from my colleagues at the University of Maine suggests room for improvement in the math and reading curricula offered in our schools. Ensuring access to highly effective instruction will help ensure our graduates have the skills needed to become the future leaders and innovators Maine needs.

As Maine’s schools do the hard work needed to improve student outcomes, I know teachers will be at the forefront of that effort, and I also know they’ll be joined by a much bigger community — students, family members, custodians, office staff, administrators and more — working to ensure Maine schools are safe and supportive places for our children to learn. Although teachers can’t do it alone, they are the heart of our schools, and we ought to thank them for their service. 

That’s part of why UMaine’s College of Education and Human Development is working hard to support Maine’s teachers. As the state’s largest educator preparation institution, we care deeply about teachers and schools and are committed to their success. Our work ranges from cutting-edge research on the use of artificial intelligence and virtual reality in classrooms to a series of summer professional development programs for educators. 

Our programs also include the New England Rural Education Hub, a partnership between our college and the Rural Schools Collaborative to advance high-quality preparation for rural teachers and school leaders, with the ultimate goal of contributing to thriving rural communities. This work is getting a boost thanks to a federal budget bill passed earlier this year that included $3.3 million in congressionally directed spending secured for the University of Maine System at the request of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Sen. Angus King. These funds will allow us, working with other system campuses, to launch the Rural Educator Resilience Project, which will expand professional development, mentoring and other evidence-based resources for rural teachers and administrators statewide.

We’re excited to collaborate with many others across Maine to support teachers and ensure they have the resources to do their jobs. If you support that work, please thank a teacher today.

Kimball is associate dean at the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development. In July, he will become interim dean of the college. He is a graduate of Maine’s public schools and a two-time alum of the University of Maine System.