From jeff.mao at maine.gov Mon Jan 14 09:33:32 2008 From: jeff.mao at maine.gov (Jeff Mao) Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:33:32 -0500 Subject: [MLTI-HS] Announcing STEM Summit (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathmatics) and new State Science and Technology Specialist Message-ID: January 12, 2008 Dear Science Educators, The purpose of my letter is twofold: to introduce myself as the State Science and Technology Specialist for the Maine Department of Education and to share information with you about efforts to focus greater attention on science and technology education. In the last several months have begun to meet with the PreK-Diploma educators, school administrators, higher education faculty, informal educators, professional organizations, research organizations and business partners that comprise the Maine science and technology community; I am excited by the energy and wisdom of these individuals in our State. I am confident that, together, we have the knowledge and commitment to improve science and technology education for Maine students. Collaboration and communication are critical. Working together we can increase understanding of the teaching resources and expertise available throughout the State and raise public awareness of the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (the STEM areas) as preparation for our students for post-secondary education and career opportunities. The Department of Education is a partner in the work to strengthen science and technology. The following are examples of that work. On January 24, 2008 the first Maine STEM Summit will be held at the Augusta Civic Center and Governor Baldacci will launch a STEM Initiative to strengthen learning in the STEM areas. (Informational Letter #32, http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=edu_letters&id=44121&v=article ) A STEM website will be created that will serve as a statewide clearing- house for educator, parent, and student STEM resources. A STEM fund will be developed to support business and education collaboration. The Maine Department of Education, Maine Science Teachers Association, Technology Education Association of Maine, and Maine Environmental Educators Association have joined together to collect information that will help these organizations better serve Maine educators. Please take 60 seconds to fill out the brief electronic questionnaire by clicking on the link that follows. We look forward to receiving your responses by February 14, 2008. http://www.maine.gov/education/lres/scitech/questionnaire.html A Department of Education science and technology web page has been created with direct links to organizations and resources related to science and technology, including links to State and national standards and professional organizations. You can access the web page at http://www.maine.gov/education/lres/scitech/ These first steps are important but they are just the first steps. I will look for opportunities to bring external grants to Maine and help teachers in acquiring resources that will provide ongoing professional development to strengthen teacher understanding of PreK-Diploma science and technology content and pedagogy. The research is clear - we improve student achievement when as educators we more fully understand the content we are teaching and utilize instructional approaches that apply the research and the body of knowledge related to student learning. It has been my belief, in 24 years as a classroom educator, that ?we are smarter as a group.? I now bring that belief to my work here at the Department of Education. I am eager to meet you, to hear your dreams and listen to your frustrations, and to help us to work together more effectively, grow smarter, and better serve Maine students. Sincerely, Anita Bernhardt Science and Technology Specialist and Regional Representative Maine Department of Education anita.bernhardt at maine.gov http://www.maine.gov/education/lres/scitech/ Maine Department of Education 23 State House Station Augusta, Maine 04333 (207) 624-6835 (207) 624-6821 FAX -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/mlti-hs/attachments/20080114/8d7930c8/attachment.html From Laura.Brown at maine.gov Wed Jan 16 16:43:15 2008 From: Laura.Brown at maine.gov (Brown, Laura) Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:43:15 -0500 Subject: [MLTI-HS] MLTI Devices for Superintendents and Curriculum Coordinators In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <32E5C6B0B949584D9B6168C5F727916B040E69C1@SOM-TEAQASMAIL1.som.w2k.state.me.us> As part of the expansion of the Maine Learning Technology Initiative to teachers in grades 9-12, the Department of Education has allocated an MLTI device to every Superintendent and Curriculum Coordinator, according to the following guidelines: SAUs with a High School: The SAUs that include a high school received MLTI MacBooks for the Superintendent and Curriculum Coordinator with the shipment to the high schools in early-mid September 2007. SAUs without a High School: There are several SAUs that do not include a high school, in which case iBooks from the middle school deployment may be allocated for the Superintendent and Curriculum Coordinator of these districts. SAUs without a High School or a Middle School: In some instances, there are a small number of SAUs that do not operate schools, or do not operate schools that include grades 7-12. In these instances, Superintendents and Curriculum Coordinators may be allocated an MLTI iBook from any middle school where their resident students attend grades 7 and/or 8. If your middle school does not have enough unallocated devices, please follow standard MLTI protocols to obtain the necessary number of iBooks. MLTI Tech Leads at the middle schools can facilitate this process. Should you have questions regarding this information, please contact Steve Vose, MLTI Project Manager at the Department of Education, (207) 624-6777 or email him at steve.vose at maine.gov. From juanita.deschambault at maine.gov Fri Jan 25 12:39:30 2008 From: juanita.deschambault at maine.gov (Juanita Deschambault) Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 12:39:30 -0500 Subject: [MLTI-HS] Informational Letter #74 - Regional Forums Message-ID: <5E4B9B5B-5B4C-4B9F-8E4A-11C7B694EA58@maine.gov> ====================================================== TO: ALL SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS The following message is being sent at the request of the Commissioner. If you have any questions on this email please contact Wanda Monthey at wanda.monthey at maine.gov or the Department of Education Contact listed below if you have any questions. Please do not reply to this email. Note: The Administrative and Informational Letters (with more formatting for ease of reading and printing) are available on our website at the following address: http://www.maine.gov/education/ edletrs/index.shtml ====================================================== INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO: 74 POLICY CODE: IKF TO: Superintendents, Principals, Curriculum Leaders, CTE Directors, Teachers, Community Members, Community College and University Administrators and Faculty FROM: Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner DATE: January 24, 2008 SUBJECT: Regional Forums The Maine Department of Education is hosting regional forums across the State to gather input from superintendents, curriculum leaders, principals, teachers, parents, school board members, college representatives, and community members on our framework for developing regulations for the implementation of Maine Learning Results. Before we develop the changes needed for Chapter 125: Basic Approval Standards: Public Schools and School Administrative Units and Chapter 127: Instructional Program, Assessment andDiploma Requirements we are asking for feedback to inform our work. The framework is based on the following premises: All students should aspire to high levels of learning; Achievement should be assessed in a variety of ways; and Completion of public school should have common meaning throughout the State. My staff will be asking for your input, your reactions and your creative ideas for re-imagining how we prepare students for this 21st Century. Once the forums are completed, I will use the information to refine my recommendations for graduation requirements and for the implementation of curriculum and assessment in order to provide all students in Maine equitable and quality educational opportunities regardless of where they attend school. Each forum will follow a similar agenda with some flexibility to accommodate the needs within the region and to ensure that each person?s comments and views are captured. The times and location of each forum are listed below and a general forum agenda follows on the next page. You will also find a flyer with this information at: http://www.maine.gov/education/regionalforumflyer.pdf or http://www.maine.gov/education/regionalforumflyer.rtf We encourage you to use the flyer at link to forward the information to your staff and your community. Please contact Wanda Monthey at wanda.monthey at maine.gov or the Department of Education Contact listed below if you have any questions. Dates and times for each forum are listed below: Date Location and Time Maine Department of Education Contact Person January 29, 2008 University of Maine, Machias 4-8 p.m. Tad Johnston tad.johnston at maine.gov January 29, 2008 Westbrook High School 4-8 p.m. Anita Bernhardt anita.bernhardt at maine.gov January 30, 2008 Hermon High School 4-8 p.m. Dan Hupp dan.hupp at maine.gov February 5, 2008 Sanford High School 4-8 p.m. Jana Boody jana.boody at maine.gov February 11, 2008 Capital Area Technical Center, Augusta 4-8 p.m. Don Reutershan don.reutershan at maine.gov February 11, 2008 Caribou Middle School 6-9 p.m. Diana Doiron diana.doiron at maine.gov February, 2008 (date to be determined) Auburn Middle School 4-8 p.m. Barbara Moody barbara.moody at maine.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/mlti-hs/attachments/20080125/ea5b1478/attachment-0001.html