Heather Whitaker 2020 Maine State Teacher of the Year
Sharing my incredible journey as Maine’s 2020 State Teacher of the Year.
07/01/2022
If you need guidance using people’s pronouns correctly, the following resource is excellent. I am on the same learning journey to be better and do better!
https://www.glsen.org/activity/pronouns-guide-glsen
Today kicks off week. So if you ask me why I love teaching, I’ll start by sharing that I am honored to teach at Gorham Middle School where I am surrounded by passionate, dedicated, and truly inspirational colleagues! I miss my teachers so much that I HAD to Google “Gorham Middle School” AT Google headquarters! Go Rams!!! Maine Department of Education
Seriously... pinch me! Google, a presentation by Sal Khan that made me tear up... and it’s only 10:15am!!!!
We are spending the day at Google\ with the cohort. Heather Whitaker 2020 Maine State Teacher of the Year CCSSO - The Council of Chief State School Officers Khan Academy STOYs from Maine, NH and Oregon!
Amazing things happening in Alt Ed while I’m at my training, thanks to Sarah Coombs Plummer, Matthew Clark, and my subs Karen D. Potts and Michelle Cyr!!! Another reason why I am a . Teamwork makes the dreamwork!
GMS got a delivery of 200 brook trout eggs today compliments of Portland Water District's TroutKids Program. Gorham Middle School is one of 9 schools in the state that is fortunate enough to participate. Students will track and monitor their development until they are released into the Presumpscot River in May. This is part of ongoing learning about local water resources, pollution, and stewardship
I thought life couldn’t get any better... I’m on my flight to San Francisco to meet the cohort for our Teacher of the Year Induction, organized by and . Then I get an email from Terri Dawson saying that ALL of our robotics teams made it the FINAL round of competition in the Wonder League Robotics Challenge!!! Keep the good vibes rolling!!!!
A beautiful day for Pineland Farm! Today we focused on chickens... egg collection, counting, a visit to the egg processing center, and the dissection of an egg to learn about its structure and function. Sydnie even practiced a little chicken yoga! 🧘♀️ 👌
Maine Teacher of the Year and Maine County Teachers of the Year
Monday, February 3rd at 5PM is the deadline to nominate a 2020 County Teacher of the Year! Please honor a Maine public school educator who has made a difference in your child’s life! ❤️
Have you nominated a 2020 County Teacher of the Year? Help us honor, celebrate and elevate Maine's great teachers! Deadline for nominating is Feb. 3, 2020 at 5pm.
MPA - Professional Division Maine School Management Association Maine Curriculum Leader's Association Maine State Teachers of the Year Association Maine Education Association National Board Certified Teachers of Maine Project Login Maine Department of Education Governor Janet Mills Pender Makin
https://educatemaine.wufoo.com/forms/r1j4ry7j09it0gv/
While I'm at home with Marc as he heals from his accident and subsequent surgeries, AMAZING Gorham Middle School teachers collaborated to plan engaging lessons for my students. Thank you Terri Dawson, Amy Cousins, Matt Clark, and our social work team for your dedication, hard work, and creativity.
Pictured here are Cue Robot Coded Tessellations. Dawson knows how to rock the STEAM lessons!
Last week I was incredibly honored and inspired to be a guest at Governor Janet Mills' State of the State address and to spend time at the Blaine House for a celebratory reception. The citizens that Governor Mills' honored are all exceptional people doing exceptional things for the State of Maine. Thank you for this amazing opportunity!
It’s been a evening of celebration in Augusta! Governor Janet Mills Heather Whitaker 2020 Maine State Teacher of the Year Amy Cousins, National ArtTOY, Commission Pender Makin, Commissioner Amanda Beale, and former First Lady of Maine, Mary Herman. Maine Department of Education Gorham BackPack Program
While Mike Bloomberg was in Maine opening his campaign office, he also filmed his next “Open Mike” interview and I was invited to be his guest! I was honored to sit down and discuss education issues and advocate for Maine’s students and teachers. As I select my democratic candidate for March’s primaries, I will remember our conversation.
Please share and promote the good work of our students, their families and our amazing public school educators!!!
Maine's graduation rate continues to rise! Let's hear it for our schools!!!!
Collaboration makes EVERYTHING better! Thank you Terri Dawson for sharing your robotics knowledge and guiding our Alt Ed students through the Wonder League Robotics Challenge. We will find out at the end of February if we are invited to the next round of competition! 🤞 🤞 🤞
Heather Whitaker's (Maine Teacher of the Year 2020) Alt Ed Class has completed Missions 1-5 in the National Wonder League Robotics Challenge and her students are excited to hopefully get invited to the next round. All the challenges incorporated STEAM, Problem-Solving and Perseverance.
FAIL to SAIL! First attempt in learning vs. Subsequent attempts in learning! We now wait for an Invitation to the next round that starts at the end of February !
Riding around in my automobile...
I had the great fortune of visiting Mt. Ararat Middle School's Alt Ed Program on Monday. Teachers John Hawley and Martha Simpson have created an engaging and innovative experience for their students centered around character education, aquaponics, engineering, and the culinary arts. It was EMPOWERING to spend the day with fellow alt ed teachers, exchanging ideas and reflecting on best practices. Madi Bleau, a 7th grader in the program, was selected to represent alternative learners on the DOE's Student Cabinet!
On Tuesday, I met with the Leadership Council for Full Plates Full Potential. I am honored to have a seat at the table with inspiring advocates who work tirelessly to end child hunger in Maine. Shannon Coffin from Good Shepherd Food Bank said it best, "Feed ALL the kids, ALL the time."
Joe Hennessey, Maine 2019 Teacher of the Year: A Year in Review
mainedoenews.net An open letter written by Maine’s 2019 Teacher of the Year Joe Hennessey. To my fellow colleagues, educators of all levels, and community members throughout the state: What follows is an open letter to you which originates from a place of profound gratitude. It has been my sincere pleasure and hon...
Thank you Giovanna Bechard and Maine Educator for your thoughtful article which highlights my amazing students and the important work of alternative education programs!
2020 Maine Teacher of the Year Heather Whitaker featured in the December issue of the Maine Educator!
READ: https://bit.ly/34DPrrH
Yesterday we went on trip #2 to the Presumpscot River- this time to the site of the former Smelt Hill Dam in Portland. We continue to test water quality and today we focused on the ecological, economic & cultural impact of dams. Experiential learning in the winter- bundle up and get outdoors! Sarah Plummer, you rock! Presumpscot River Preserve!
A little over two weeks ago we had an AMAZING field trip experience to the Eel Weir Dam, the start of the Presumpscot River at the Sebago Lake basin. We met Brad Goulet, Sappi hydropower engineer, and learned about the history of dams on the river, the Oxford-Cumberland canal, how dams create hydropower and the lock system. We also saw 2 bald eagles and learned how engineers have created safe pathways for migratory eel! Ummm... didn’t know there were 3-5 ft. eel in my favorite Maine lake!!!
We also conducted a water quality assessment. We will test different locations along the river with Sarah Coombs Plummer from Portland Water District to analyze the water quality at different locations. Thank you Portland Water District and Sarah Plummer- you rock!!!
Gorham school invites tech companies to work on projects with students
So proud of my colleague Terri Dawson for her STEM work at GMS and FOREVER GRATEFUL for the opportunities she provides my students to work on robotics challenges and other STEM projects!
wgme.com GORHAM (WGME) -- A middle school in Gorham is inviting different tech businesses into classrooms to work on projects with students. Gorham Middle School is one of 24 schools taking part in Bioscience Day. “I think it's such an extraordinary day for them. They get to wear a lab coat, exposed to...
Maine Teacher of the Year shares wisdom and advice with Education and Occupational Therapy students | UNE News | University of New England in Maine, Tangier and Online
I am extremely grateful that the Maine State Teacher of the Year Program is providing me with experiences to share my passion for teaching and an opportunity to create new partnerships with amazing people like Krysten Terrell Gorrivan. As we walked around campus, students ran up to Krysten to say hi and engage in conversation- the love her students have for her is so apparent.
I am also EVER SO thankful for Brooke Proulx
and her wisdom about trauma-informed practices (to name just one of her many areas of expertise)! ❤️
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Dairy farming 101 at Pineland Farms today! Topics included breeds & breeding, feed, life cycle, environmental impact, the life of a dairy farmer and a tour through a working dairy farm. THANK YOU Cat Anderson and Pineland Farms for granting a field trip scholarship fund the past 9 years!
This afternoon I had the opportunity to engage in dialogue about redefining school success on Maine Calling, aired on ME Public Radio. It was a privilege to partner with Lewiston superintendent, Todd Finn, and Page Nichols, DOE's Chief Innovation Officer. I am excited to collaborate with them both in the future!
https://www.mainepublic.org/post/redefining-school-success-maine-education-leaders-seek-community-input-meeting-student-needs
Last Friday was our monthly volunteer field trip to the Inn at Village Square. Competitive games of Skip-bo & Aggravation were played while other students helped set-up the dining room for lunch. Intergenerational relationships build empathy & benefit both the student and resident!
Today was our once-a-month community learning day at Pineland Farm, where students worked alongside produce staff at the Gillespie Farm location. We washed, dried, stickered, and packaged spaghetti squash for wholesale. Thank you Josh for sharing your career path and how you overcame adversity in school, showing us your farm map (complete with crop rotation), and for donating a pumpkin to each student! We ended our day in the corn maze- it only took us 20 minutes to get out!
Thank you to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension for honoring the success of our Gorham Middle School Garden with your “Demonstration/Education” award. Paula Smeltzer, dedicated volunteer, received the “Golden Trowel” award for her commitment to our project. For the past two years, the Master Gardener Program has granted our garden the funds needed to purchase all our seeds and seedlings! Thank you MG’s and UMaineCoopExt!
Teacher of the year
Maine's teacher of the year was honored Thursday/
University of Southern Maine
A proud Maine-ah for sure!
Heather Whitaker, who received her MSEd in Literacy Education from USM in 2005, has been named Maine's 2020 Teacher of the Year. Congratulations, Heather and Gorham School Department!
Educate Maine Maine Department of Education
Teacher of Year finalist tackles food insecurity in Gorham
The Gorham Middle School Garden and BackPack Program help to tackle food insecurity in Gorham, Maine. Thank you to our generous volunteers and donors for making these program possible!
pressherald.com Heather Whitaker, a finalist for Maine Teacher of the Year, battles hunger in Gorham schools and the community.
Gorham Teacher wins Maine's 2020 teacher of the year
Thank you for your coverage of this exciting day! A special thank you to my family, students, colleagues, and community members for celebrating our alternative education program!
newscentermaine.com The 2020 Maine Teacher of the Year is Heather Whitaker! She's credited with starting a garden at her school, which donates over 800 pounds of produce each year.
Educate Maine
"The role of alternative education is to meet students AND their families, where they are at, and offer programming tailored to their unique needs. Alt Ed recognizes that not all students learn best in a typical classroom; it is NOT the student that is broken, it is the system that needs to adapt. Alternative learners deserve the same opportunity to graduate from our Public Schools with a vision for their future, to enroll in a post-secondary program of their interest, and ultimately, live and work in Maine as a self-fulfilled adult."
Meet Maine’s 2020 Teacher of the Year: Heather Whitaker
Maine Teacher of the Year and Maine County Teachers of the Year
My first radio interview with Ric Tyler and George Hale on Maine's WVOM-FM! Thank you !
ICYMI: Heather Russell Whitaker was on with Ric Tyler and George Hale WVOM-FM This is a wonderful tradition that lives on! First radio interview for the MTOY !
https://www.wvomfm.com/episode/ghrt-rewind-10-11-whitaker-teacher-of-year-1100/