We are thrilled to welcome two fantastic educators to our faculty! 

Jessica Larson will be teaching courses on two subjects about which she is deeply passionate: Literacy and Gifted and Talented Education. Jessica earned her M.A. in Literacy Education from Lesley University. Now completing her 11th year in education, Jessica is currently the Gifted and Talented Coordinator at Biddeford Middle and High Schools. She brings her knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm into every teaching and learning environment.

Gil Lacroix will be teaching courses on Bullying Prevention and Intervention, Behavior Management, Educational Leadership, Social Studies methods, and Response to Intervention. Former President of the Maine Principals’ Association, Gil has served for many years as a principal and high school social studies teacher. Gil was a member of the first Maine School Leadership Network and has been active in professional and curriculum development and in the planning and presentation of many conferences and workshops for the MPA.

 We look forward to working with Jessica and Gil, and welcome them both to our team! Look for upcoming courses taught by these outstanding educators. 

For more information about Jessica or Gil, view our Faculty page.

View our Courses page for all upcoming courses! 

What do World Languages and Arts Teachers have in common?  A lot this summer!  The New England Institute for Teacher Education is proud to announce it is partnering again with the Maine Department of Education’s World Languages Institute.  For a second consecutive year, we will be offering world language teachers a graduate level course: EDPF 530: Leadership in Standards-Based World Language Instruction and Assessment.  A four-day Institute will take place at the University of Maine at Farmington on June 25, 26, 27 and 28.  More information can be obtained by clicking here.  In addition, the New England Institute is partnering with the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative. Both cohorts of educators are built around a similar model of professional development where teachers truly become teacher leaders. We’re happy to be a partner with both statewide initiatives.

Teacher Leaders in the Arts Gather for Professional Development

We are so proud to work with the teacher leaders in the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative in 2013.  This is a fabulous group of K-12 teachers of Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Art, who have come together and have done some amazing things to help themselves and their students be better teachers and learners in the arts.

It will come as no surprise to most that I am a big believer in the Arts being at the very core of education.  That language is present at the national and state levels (No Child Left Behind, Maine Learning Results) and proficiency in the arts must be met for High School Graduation (LD1422). The arts are being touted by researchers and business people as absolutely essential to education.  In fact, some say  the future  will be ruled by those who are right-brained, creative, critical thinkers (Daniel Pink, Sir Ken Robinson, Tony Wagner). But no one will argue that we have become so focused on standardized test scores for literacy and mathematics, that we may be neglecting the very things we need to do to mold and shape our future citizens. Arts teachers get this, and they know that what they have been doing in their classrooms for decades is teach to these very things:  creativity and innovation, collaboration, critical thinking, communication — critical 21st century skills. It’s just part of who they are.  So why not utilize their expertise in teaching these “difficult to measure” skills and share their knowledge with others in the education world?  School leaders would do well to tap into this rich, but under-utilized resource. For more information on this exciting Initiative and other Maine Arts News, visit Argy’s Blog. – Catherine

Sara Foster, Sharon Rogers, Missy Arbour, Julie Perry, and Martha Jackson in a recent Children’s Literature Through the Arts course.

The Spring semester has begun! At The New England Institute, we are excited to spend time with the fabulous educators who join us as we venture back into teaching in 2013. Last weekend, we held a fantastic course called Teaching Children’s Literature: An Arts Integration Approach in Portland. Practical strategies for using visual art, poetry, drama, story telling, and music to enhance children’s experience and understanding of literature were explored. Librarians and classroom teachers shared experiences from different perspectives and many years of teaching. As they created projects of their own to implement in their classrooms, the discussions that transpired were invaluable – and led to several bouts of laughter!

We continue to support teachers in getting what they need to improve teaching and learning. Our dynamic courses are offered with teacher-friendly schedules. Join us this Spring for a course taught by top-notch faculty members, who are leaders in their fields, are up on current trends in education, and model best practices in their classrooms. We would love to have you!

Meghan Rivis, Executive Assistant

Ames Lily Pond, Stonington, Maine

As we gear up for the busy season ahead, it is important to remind ourselves  to take the time to stop, reflect, and put our own air masks on first.  In our profession, it has never been more critical.  One of the best ways we can do that is to engage in meaningful professional development with our colleagues.

The New England Institute for Teacher Education proudly announces its 2013 course offerings for teachers, administrators and educational technicians.  We provide these courses through teacher-friendly schedules, in cohort groups or guided independent studies.  Courses are inquiry-based.  That means participants bring their own burning questions to their study, and are guided by experienced Maine faculty instructors with relevant technology and resources.  Educators are able to make their learning relevant and applicable to their own classroom needs.  Check out the testimonials on our website, to see what others who have taken our courses have experienced.

Our children need us to be fresh and on top of the world with what we know and are able to do as teachers. Let us help you to be there.

Oh, and Happy Holidays!!                                                Click here for 2013 Course Offerings

Catherine and Stephen

Stephen York, Academic Dean

Be sure to check our Fall Course Schedule for courses in Augusta, Bangor, Portland, Standish and Saco.  These are courses that meet for two weekends, with online contact in between sessions. Or you might be interested in our Online courses and Guided Independent Studies, which have an open enrollment.  You will receive personal attention and guidance from experienced faculty who will help you to meet your personal professional development needs.  There are courses for teachers, administrators, and educational technicians.  Courses include Teaching the Exceptional Child, Teaching Children with Autism, Teaching Children’s Literature through the Arts, Arts Assessment, Promoting Social and Emotional Learning, Bullying Prevention and many others.

Courses have been approved for three graduate or undergraduate credits from Endicott College or you can take them for 4.5 continuing education units (equivalent to 45 contact hours).  The Maine Department of Education has approved all of our courses for recertification and some are approved for initial certification.

So let us know how we can be of help to you.

Catherine and I wish you the best in the new school year!

Stephen

Gathered at the Maine College of Art for the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative

Did you know that when arts teachers teach students to create, they are bringing out the highest order thinking skills?  Did you know  that the New Bloom’s Taxonomy has CREATE at the very top?  As part of the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative, which was held at the Maine College of Art in Portland, I  just spent a week with 35 fabulous music, drama, dance and visual art teachers from Fort Fairfield to Sanford, who collaborated with each other on improving teaching and learning in their classrooms.  There were sessions on Assessment, Technology, Leadership, Creativity, presentations on how the arts may be impacted by the Common Core and the National Core Arts Standards.  This has been a very inspiring week!

Catherine at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport

I just spent 4 days at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in Denver, Colorado, where Argy Nestor and I presented at the national Arts Assessment Conference.  What a whirlwind of meeting great people, attending informative presentations, eating wonderful food, and making new connections.  Argy and I presented on the incredible work being done in Maine by its Art, Music, Drama and Dance teachers through the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative.  In this picture, I’m headed home to prepare for a four-day Institute for these teacher leaders, which is taking place in Portland at the Maine College of Art (MECA), starting Monday, July 30.

Arts Education is a mission.  Let’s not underestimate how powerful and necessary it is for our kids.   Stay tuned for an update from Portland!

These are teacher-friendly, inquiry-based courses. They are excellent for teachers, specialists, educational technicians, administrators, or parents and adults interested in improving their own education. All of our courses are taught by faculty instructors who are leaders in their fields. We would like to invite you to join us. Please register while there is still room!

Visual Art Educators meet to take assessment in their classrooms to a new level!

Upcoming courses include:

Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (K-12)

Promoting Social and Emotional Learning in the Classroom

Educating Students with ADD/ADHD (K-12)

Teaching the Exceptional Child in the Regular Classroom

Managing Classroom Behavior

AND MORE! (See our full course listing.)

We are able to offer you courses at significantly below tuition rates at state universities! All of our courses have been approved by the Maine Department of Education and are granted credit through our partnership with Endicott College.

Please contact us for more information. We look forward to hearing from you!

Catherine Ring will be teaching the visual art course. Catherine is on the Leadership Team with the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative. Stephen York and Dr. Jennifer Page will be teaching the Common Core Standards course.

Are you prepared to integrate the Common Core Standards into your classroom? Are you interested in taking your assessment practices to a deeper level? Working with a cohort of colleagues who share best practices and resources is stimulating and fun.  Deep discussions around how to assess, benchmark, and align to standards are helping to improve learning in the classroom.  Graduate courses made available in other parts of the state have met with great success.  Join Catherine, Stephen, and Jennifer in Presque Isle this month! Please register with the New England Institute to join us.