MaineEducationLeaders2021

My middle school son is a big fan of "satisfying" videos on YouTube.  We were fortunate to get to visit the Sappi paper mill and film our own set of videos.   We watched the log trucks get unloaded by a giant crane, then went inside the mill and watched paper being made.  There was a giant machine that makes a huge roll of paper... here it is in action Here is what a finished roll look like before it is cut..  After the paper was made and cut we watched giant rolls of paper get to where they needed to be with the help of various machines.  It was fascinating and you could play Frogger if you were feeling brave. Ok, playing Frogger is actually discouraged... One more quick video of some rolls fresh off the cutter... Our next stop was the Margaret Chase Smith Library, where we learned all about her life and legacy.  As a transplant to Maine it was impressive all that she did at a time when women were not in politics. I liked this picture of Senator Smith...

 We were hopping on March 11!   We started at IDEXX in Westbrook, learned about the booming Companion Pet Care business and saw the large and impressive manufacturing operation that runs round the clock. Before we left we got some great IDEXX loot, most unique was the keychain with a pooping dog..sure to be a hit with all of our children or students when we return to class!  Here is a picture of the famous keychain..you have to get your hands on one to see the magic! Having once worked on the building design for a new middle school I was fascinated by the great use of space and collaboration areas that we saw throughout the building, here are a few examples... I LOVED this idea board, these were ideas that the floor workers had about how to improve their experience.  Each idea was then sorted and some were implemented, or moved to longer term plans.  What a way to give voice to your employees! Super quiet phone booth with its own ventilation system, perfec...

February trip- We prepped for our trip to Augusta to learn about the Maine State Legislature.  We met many leaders including Senate President Troy Jackson, who charmed us with his story of his Mom beginning a teaching career with the whopping salary of $15,000 and how he topped that right out of high school as a logger!   Ed Cervone gave us an informative overview of the state budget process. Many of us were a little uncertain about what it would be like to testify in front of a committee, but I'm happy to report we all survived the process! We also were joined by the Maine Teacher of the Year nominees, here was my group that debated  LD 1373 "An Act to Keep All Students Safe by Restricting the Use of Seclusion and Restraint in Schools" It was interesting to see that our group did not vote the same as the legislature did! We learned more about what the process is really like from State Representative Dave McCrea.   The overall message of the day was really ...

Some of us were lucky enough to arrive at the Schoodic Peninsula in time to catch sunset before dinner.   We headed to dinner at the Pickled Wrinkle in Birch Harbor.  Fortunately, Dolly Sullivan from Educate Maine, was back in her old stomping grounds in Hancock County.  She had a friend come by the restaurant with a jar of pickled wrinkles (snails) so the brave members of our group could try them. Later in the evening Dolly had a few additional wrinkles which just confirmed that she was a local in case any group members had doubts! We had a fabulous dinner and were happy to be with the rest of the group again.  That night we were staying in apartments at the Schoodic Institute later and had fun discovering who are apartment mates were for the evening. We spent our Friday at the gorgeous Schoodic Institute.  The first session covered a long standing partnership with the Institute, the Town of Gouldsboro and Sumner Memorial high School (RSU 24) to reseed the...