Maine Education Matters With Matt & Matt

Matt and Julie introduce the members of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee for the 2021 session. They also review some legislative updates!

Matt and Julie are back with the annual "bill titles" episode, always one of the favorites for the Maine Education Matters hosts. This year, a special treat as Mr. Bill Titles joins Matt and Julie, all the way from California!

We wrap up our deep Maine DOE dive with a focus on the MOOSE platform; built by Maine teachers to provide integrated project-based learning modules to students, families and teachers. Plus: we announce a new co-host!!!

We start off 2021 by wrapping up our series on the Learning Facilitators program, a collaborative effort by EMCC & MDOE. For this episode we focus on the Administration side of the program: its benefits, successes, and hopes for the future.

Matt talks with Fiona Stawarz and Sarah Cook, two members of the Maine Student Cabinet, about what it's like growing up in Maine schools through a lens of racism, bias, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Maine Department of Education rockstar Joe Schmidt also joins the episode, but, really, this episode is all about the learners. 

Today's episode focuses on SEL & Teachers Taking Care of Teachers with Maine Department of Education rockstars Bear Shea & Kellie Bailee, and #1 fan and Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Saco Public Schools, Julie Smythe.

It's Part 2 of a continuing conversation about the Learning Facilitators program, a partnership of the Maine Department of Education and Eastern Maine Community College. This program is designed to increase the paraprofessional and educator pool in Maine. Matt talks with members of the first cohort and their in-school mentors about their experiences in the program so far.

Matt talks with Deqa Dhalac and Joe Schmidt from the Maine Department of Education about racism, bias, diversity, equity, and inclusion in our schools, curriculum, and education system.

Matt begins a conversation with Kellie Bailey, Social and Emotional Learning Specialist from the Maine Department of Education, and returning champion and #1 Fan Julie Smyth, Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Saco Public Schools, about the new social and emotional learning curriculum recently released by MDOE: SEL4ME. This is Part 1 of a continuing series of conversations on SEL Matt will be having with Kellie, Julie, and more!

Matt talks with Emily Doughty (Maine Department of Education) and Megan London (Eastern Maine Community College) about the new Learning Facilitator program. This MDOE-EMCC partnership program is designed to increase the educator workforce in Maine and build educator capacity and supports across the state. Learn more about the program here: https://mainedoenews.net/2020/11/12/learning-facilitator-program-great-resource-for-schools-free-for-trainees/

Matt and his bot (also named Matt) triumphantly return to talk about some DOE updates, including some major assessment changes.

Matt talks with Stephanie Canter, outgoing chair of the South Kingstown RI school board, about racism and bias in our systems, and how policies can help support to solve these issues. Follow her on Twitter at @stephrcanter.

Matt has a very special episode of MEM today, as he talks with Susan Lieberman (CountMEIn), Cecilia Sirianni (Outreach Services Coord., RSU #57) ,and Angela Madigan (Principal, RSU #57) about attendance, and what it means in these times of COVID.

Matt has some DOE updates as the legislative session nears. Get out there and vote, and vote safely!

Matt @DrewetteCard talks with Courtney Belolan (@belolanc), executive director of the Maine Curriculum Leaders Association @MaineCLA , about how teachers, schools, and districts can begin the process of identifying and removing bias in our curriculum and systems, and learn about how @MaineCLA has some powerful upcoming opportunities to support educators in this important work.

Matt and Matt return with updates on attendance and sports in the fall. Plus, talk of early Maine winters.

Matt (and Matt!) return with legislative updates from over the summer. How did that happen?

Matt (but not the other Matt) return for a season of hope, offering updates on what has happened in Maine since we last spoke, along with some advice from a Matt.

Matt and Matt return by finishing up talking about Maine's framework for returning to classroom instruction. We say "finishing up", but we went on for an hour. And there is something about metal lathes in there, too.

Matt and Matt are back, reviewing Maine's framework for returning to classroom instruction. At least, part of it. It's a very long and complex document! We talk about safety and SEL considerations, and more to come next week!