<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">To: MS & HS Science Teachers</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Subject: Announcing State Science and Technology Specialist</DIV><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"> </P><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">The following letter introduces Anita Bernhardt, the Science and Technology Specialist for the Department of Education and provides important information about the first STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Summit in Maine. </DIV><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"> </P><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><B>PLEASE FORWARD TO ALL SCIENCE TEACHERS. </B></DIV><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"> </P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"> </P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"> </P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"> </P><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Dear Science Educators,</DIV><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"> </P><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">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 I 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.</DIV><P style="text-indent: 48px;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "> </P><DIV style="text-indent: 0px;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">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. </DIV><P style="text-indent: 48px;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "> </P><DIV style="text-indent: 0px;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">The Department of Education is a partner in the work to strengthen science and technology. The following are examples of that work. </DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">•<SPAN class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </SPAN>On January 24, 2008 the first Maine STEM Summit was held at the Augusta Civic Center and Governor Baldacci launched a STEM Initiative to strengthen learning in the STEM areas. (Informational Letter #32, <A href="http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=edu_letters&id=44121&v=article"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=edu_letters&id=44121&v=article</FONT></A>)</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">•<SPAN class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </SPAN>A STEM website is being created that will serve as a statewide clearing-house for educator, parent, and student STEM resources.</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">•<SPAN class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </SPAN>A STEM fund will be developed to support business and education collaboration. </DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">•<SPAN class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </SPAN>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 28, 2008.<SPAN class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </SPAN><A href="http://www.maine.gov/education/lres/scitech/questionnaire.html"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">http://www.maine.gov/education/lres/scitech/questionnaire.html</FONT></A></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">•<SPAN class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </SPAN>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 <A href="http://www.maine.gov/education/lres/scitech/"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">http://www.maine.gov/education/lres/scitech/</FONT></A></DIV><DIV style="text-indent: -24px;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 103px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 13px; "><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Tahoma" size="3"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><BR></SPAN></FONT></DIV><DIV style="text-indent: 0px;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">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.</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 13px; "><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Tahoma" size="3"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><BR></SPAN></FONT></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">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. </DIV><DIV style="text-indent: 48px;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Tahoma"><BR></FONT></DIV><DIV style="text-indent: 48px;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Tahoma"><BR></FONT></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Sincerely,</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Tahoma"><BR></FONT></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Anita Bernhardt</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Science and Technology Specialist and Regional Representative</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Maine Department of Education</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><A href="http://mailman.informe.org/mailman/listinfo/mlti-ms">anita.bernhardt at maine.gov</A></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><A href="http://www.maine.gov/education/lres/scitech/">http://www.maine.gov/education/lres/scitech/</A></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Tahoma"><BR></FONT></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Maine Department of Education</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">23 State House Station</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Augusta, Maine 04333</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">(207) 624-6835</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">(207) 624-6821 FAX</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Helvetica"><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></FONT></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Helvetica"><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></FONT></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BR></BODY></HTML>