Scott Barksdale is the Head of School for the Harpswell Coastal Academy. Scott began his career as a musician but found that friends who were teachers seemed the happiest in their career choices. That change in career trajectory developed into and 11-year career...
Public Schools are filled with Innovative educators and leaders. In this interview, Aaron Churchill speaks with Julia Sleeper-Whiting, Executive Director of the Tree Street Youth Center and Jake Langlais, Superintendent of the Lewiston Public Schools. In this...
Fern Des Jardins has served her community of St. Agatha in rural Maine for all her professional life. Fern has influenced the lives of hundreds of students in her classroom as well as education leaders across the state and country. In this remarkable interview, Fern...
When our colleague Laura Ornest asks, “what message you would send to legislators,” Kristel Thyrring, Director of Youth Mental Health Programs and Libby Wright, Coordinator at NAMI Maine respond, “Help us to better help you, Help us work upstream.” Kristel and...
“Nonprofit agencies represent the public’s conscience.” They are the ones who say to the public, “This is what needs to be done in the name of creating a better society for all of us.” These words from Allan Luks, former Director at Fordham University’s Center for...
The Threshold Program
Aaron Churchill talks with three of Maine’s extraordinary educators. The Threshold Program operates from the MEANS Academy serving some of Maine’s most vulnerable students. In this conversation we hear how a program started to address teen pregnancy expanded to...
Early in his career as a middle school teacher in Philadelphia Travis Works realized the best way for a child to achieve success was to provide them what they need when they need it. Although most of the education research encouraged that, it not practiced in the...
EdForumofMaine · Cobscook Institute - Kara McCimmon Director Kara McCrimmon, is an educator who was able to forge creative alternative pathways for students desiring to engage in experiential learning not typically offered at a district schools. In a creative...
Erica Mazzeo is the Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment in RSU 57. Her unique educational history as researcher and teacher in public, private and public charter schools makes her an exceptional resource in Maine as the state endeavors to reimagine a...
After 31 years as an educator in the “bricks and mortar” public school system, Maine native Walter Wallace took on the role of Principal at one of the State’s two virtual public schools. Prior to the Covid pandemic, many were suspicious of virtual schools. Maine...
Kylie Bragdon, Head of the Maine Ocean School in Searsport is a self-described “Downeast Girl” who followed her family’s generational involvement with lobstering. Sensing a need to provide educational opportunity to students who did not fit into typical district...
Brittiny-Rae Perron was headed for a career in medicine when an internship at the Perkins School for the Blind outside Boston changed her career trajectory. Brittiny-Rae discusses with Aaron Churchill how her experiences with Teach for America in Nashville followed...
Matt Newberg, Maine Academy of Natural Sciences
Matt Newberg is a master educator with 20 years’ experience in fostering student-centered learning. In this conversation with our host Aaron Churchill, Matt discusses topics that are subtle, innovative approaches to educational success practiced at the Maine Academy...
Heather King, Maine Arts Academy
Our inaugural conversation with creative education leaders across the state of Maine features Heather King, Head of School for the Maine Arts Academy. Heather discusses how this charter school offers an integrated arts curriculum for students from rural areas in...
Matt Newberg Head Educator at MeANS
Matt Newberg is a master educator with 20 years’ experience in fostering student-centered learning. In this conversation our host Aaron Churchill discusses topics that are subtle innovative approaches to education success practiced at the Maine Academy of Natural...
Bold Ways to Restructure Post-Covid Education Network for Maine
On October 15, 2020, the Education Action Forum of Maine launched The Education Innovators Series in partnership with Educate Maine and the Center for Innovation in Education at Thomas College in Waterville. This series invites education researchers and leaders from...
Commentary: Crisis gives policymakers, families chance to learn from Maine’s charter schools
April 18, 2020 The end of the emergency should be a time to assess how K-12 education needs to change to truly meet students' needs. Pender Makin, commissioner of Maine’s Department of Education, recently announced that Maine schools will keep their classrooms closed...