In Today’s News

Son Long Laura Faure

Laura has directed the Bates Dance Festival and put Maine on the map when it comes to excellent dance learning opportunities. From young children through adults for 30 years Laura has watched them come and go from Lewiston. I have fond memories of meeting Laura and my visit to the festival. Thank you Laura for your commitment to dance in Maine and good luck as your journey continues!

You can read the entire article from the Portland Press Herald written by Bob Keyes by CLICKING  HERE.

 

Holocaust and Human Rights Center

UMA campus

The Holocaust and Human Rights Center is located on the University of Maine at Augusta campus in the Michael Klahr Center and are open from 10 AM – 4 PM, Monday through Friday.

Mission

We use the lessons of the Nazi Holocaust and other genocides to combat prejudice and discrimination in Maine and beyond. We encourage individuals and communities to reflect and act upon their ethical and moral responsibilities in our modern world. 

 

Summer is a good time to visit places that you may want to consider tapping into for educational resources. The staff at the center is excellent and more than willing to work with you to support the work of educators.

At this time they have an opening for an Office Manager. Read the job information below.

Seeking Part Time (30 hours per week) Office Manager

The Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine, located at the Michael Klahr Center on the campus of the University of Maine at Augusta seeks an Office Manager – 30 hours per week, plus benefits, including health insurance, contribution to a health savings account, and paid vacation.

We are looking for an individual with great energy; high levels of motivation and organization; the ability to think creatively, multi-task, and remain calm when the occasional curve ball is thrown their way; a willingness to collaborate; a sharp eye for detail; excellent communication skills; and a good sense of humor.

The Office Manager is often the first person who visitors or callers meet, and should be friendly, outgoing, and a good listener. The HHRC is a small, three-person staff, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. We partner with numerous groups and individuals each year, so the Office Manager must be a team player who is comfortable meeting and working with a wide variety of people.

For more information about the HHRC, email Executive Director Elizabeth Helitzer at elizabeth.helitzer@maine.edu or visit us online at: hhrcmaine.org

Office Management Responsibilities

• Regularly interfaces with public;
• Responsible for correspondence between center and donors;
• Works to expand the income and reach of the center in conjunction with the Executive Director and Program Director;
• Oversees communication with staff and faculty of the University of Maine at Augusta;
• Oversees communication with outside organizations and project partners;
• Maintains Donor database;
• Inputs bills, processes checks for vendors, makes deposits, and oversees timely bill payments;
• Works with Executive Director to effectively manage the human resources of the organization, including maintenance of personnel files and compliance with federal and state employment laws;
• Serves as occasional docent/tour guide for day to day visitors, school groups and community members;
• Assists Executive Director, Program Director, and Board to execute their mission.

The ideal candidate will bring the following skills and demonstrated experience to the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• Demonstrated success meeting deadlines and achieving targeted goals.
• Ability to interact with community members and donors from diverse cultural, economic, educational, political, and vocational backgrounds.
• Proficiency with software, including Quickbooks, Microsoft Word and Excel, Mailchimp, and Little Green Light.

Compensation and benefits

• Salary in the low-20s, commensurate with experience.
• Benefits include full health and dental insurance, contribution to health savings account, two weeks of paid vacation after six months of employment, and sick leave.

Additional Job Information

How To Apply:  Please email resume and cover letter to the attention of Elizabeth Helitzer, Executive Director, at Elizabeth.helitzer@maine.edu Application Deadline: We will accept applications until the position is filled.

20 Toes

Juggling

Juggling the things we do in life. How does it compare with this woman who juggles 5 balls using her feet and hands and actually, full body. Roxana is an amazing performer and you can check out her performance on vimeo and her website by clicking here.

https://vimeo.com/184028817

Loon Music

A duet by loons

These pair of loons were spotted in New Hampshire while someone was kayaking close by. They put out the alarm call, their beautiful song, when they spotted a great blue heron flying by. If you look closely you can see a baby waking up or shifting on it’s parent back. The music of the loon is recognized by most people. Ever think about including the songs of birds in your lessons. One way to connect the environment and outdoors into curriculum and has the potential to engage learners.

Links to song birds and learning

• How and why birds sing
• Vocal learning
• Song learning of songbirds
• What songbirds teach us about learning
• How songbirds teach themselves songs

This is most fascinating – the brain and learning and what songbirds can teach us about learning and the brain: Mimi Kao at TEDxCaltech, January 2013.

Mimi Kao is a postdoctoral fellow in neurobiology in the laboratory of Dr. Allison Doupe at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She received her undergraduate degree in Human Biology and East Asian Studies from Stanford. After pursuing a Master’s degree in East Asian Studies at Harvard, she received her Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCSF. Her central interest is in understanding the neural mechanisms underlying learning using an animal model system specialized for vocal motor learning.

Middle Level Educators

Interested in presenting at the MAMLE conference?

SAVE THE DATE

29th Annual MAMLE Conference

October 19-20, 2017

Reposted from the Maine Association for Middle Level Education blog:

Many of us have just started summer vacation and are not thinking about the beginning of next year, but it will be here before we know it! As you are sitting back to reflect and relax, please consider sharing your experiences with other middle level educators across our state this fall. We all have ideas and resources to help each other grow and meet the unique needs of young adolescents.

The annual MAMLE Conference is October 19th & 20th at Point Lookout. This year’s theme is: “Middle School, Transitional, Innovative, Transformational…A Maine Event”. We would love to see you there as a participant or presenter. If you are interested in presenting, please complete the “Intent to Present Form”.

Learn more about the conference by CLICKING HERE.

Questions about presenting or nervous about sharing what you do? Feel free to reach out to Co-Conference Chairs, Erin Hoffses (hoffsese@sad1.org) or Lindsay Mahoney (lmahoney@rsu18.org)

In Today’s News

Hidden treasure of art

From yesterday’s Bangor Daily News, an article written by Emily Burnham…

From the outside, the South Solon Meeting House in the Somerset County town of Solon looks like many other historic buildings in Maine. Built in 1842, it’s a classic example of colonial church architecture, with Gothic Revival details in its steeple and windows, and white clapboard siding. For decades, it served as both a nondenominational house of worship and as a community center. And although church services aren’t presently held there, its doors are always unlocked, in keeping with its ecumenical history.

Inside the building, however, is a hidden treasure: a work of art unknown to many, but sublime in its scope and subject matter alike.

Mural created by Maine’s Ashley Bryan

Nearly every square inch of wall and ceiling inside is covered in frescoes, painted over the course of five years in the 1950s by 13 young artists, including Ashley Bryan, the acclaimed artist and author who still makes his home on Little Cranberry Island. The frescoes were commissioned by the town, paid for by philanthropist Margaret Day Blake, and were organized by the nearby Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture, an internationally renowned summer artist’s retreat, which put together several juries that selected the participating artists.

Read more by CLICKING HERE.

Teacher in a Classroom

For teachers by teachers

Recently released by the National Network of State Teachers of the Year is a research report titled Nothing Replaces a Caring Adult in the Classroom.

This research was conducted by teachers and is for the benefit of teachers. The report provides the “measures of social and emotional learning and their efficacy in educator evaluation.” The focus is on the impact a teacher has on the student learning. And addresses the importance of teaching social and emotional learning  in our classrooms. It looks at case studies and data to help educators make sense of the information.

I have a friend and colleague who has said for years “its all about the relationship” and this report supports that completely. Most teachers know and understand the importance of creating and maintaining relationships with students to have a positive impact on their learning and future.

You can read the report by CLICKING HERE.

Arts Ed Partnership

Success Stories initiative launched

The Arts Education Partnership (AEP) is pleased to announce the launch of its new Success Stories initiative supporting the efforts of its partner organizations in advancing arts education as a critical component of a complete education. This new initiative builds on AEP’s strong history of connecting the field to research, policy and practice and is grounded in The Arts Leading the Way to Student Success: A 2020 Action Agenda for Advancing the Arts in Education’s four priority areas. This continuously updated collection of stories demonstrates the benefits of arts integration across the education spectrum and promotes continued collaboration and learning for individuals and organizations working toward student achievement and success. Download published Success Stories on the AEP website. More

Teachers as Leaders

New Bill at federal level to strengthen the profession

On June 22, a bi-partisan group of Senators introduced the Teachers as Leaders Act, a bill championed by National Network of State Teachers of the Year (NSTOY). Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Jack Reed (D-RI) joined together across party lines to send an important message about critical role of teacher leadership

Acknowledging what NNSTOY has long believed — that teacher leadership is a key to addressing teacher recruitment and retention — The Teachers as Leaders Act authorizes teacher leader development programs through the Teacher Quality Partnership grants in Title II of the Higher Education Act.  The grants would extend the continuum of teacher preparation and teacher development and promote differentiated career paths that foster new professional opportunities for accomplished teachers.

As quoted in the Senators’ press release, NNSTOY President and CEO Katherine Bassett (New Jersey Teacher of the Year, 2000) said, “The nation’s expert teachers know that teacher leadership is critical for solving important challenges in education today, including teacher retention and recruitment. We salute Sens. Coons, Ernst, Grassley and Reed for their leadership in establishing this priority.”

Dance Education Conference

Dance education for all

The National Dance Education Conference is taking place in San Antonio, TX, November 12 – 14th, Cultivating Equity and Access: Dance Education for All. Interested in attending? If so, CLICK HERE for registration and more information.

The long multicultural history of Texas and the vibrant culture of San Antonio provide a lively setting to discuss, share, and celebrate our successes and to strategize new initiatives that provide equity and access to dance education for all. San Antonio is a community with a rich history reflective of the six flags that have flown over Texas. This history comes to life with the legacy of the Alamo located in downtown San Antonio not far from the famous River Walk with shops, restaurants and entertainment.
In the new education legislation of Every Student Succeeds Act (2015) the arts are declared a core subject important to every child’s education. New questions and challenges are raised as we seek to meet the needs of every child. As dance educators, how do we respond, advocate, and innovate in our schools, studios, and communities to provide dance education for learners of all ages with different backgrounds, abilities, and needs. How do we balance various cultural contexts, socio-economic conditions, and the varying landscapes of our communities? In contexts where interdisciplinary instruction is promoted, how do we connect across the spectrum of teaching and learning from dance-based instruction in non-arts subjects to integrated interdisciplinary curriculum? In Texas, where everything is big and bold, we welcome you for can-do thinking, deep discussion, and exchange of big ideas.

NDEO 2017 National Conference  New Intensive just added to the Master Schedule Sign up to tour two local high school dance programs in San Antonio, Texas

Cultivating Equity and Access: Dance Education for All Sun., November 12 – Tues., November 14, 2017 pre-conference intensives Saturday, November 11th Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk, 123 Lasoya St, San Antonio, TX 78205     Announcing an additional Intensive added to the NDEO 2017 National Conference program…… #13: Tour Local Texas High School Dance Programs Tuesday, November 14, 2017 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM $30 Limit: 20 people Registration deadline: 10/16/17 *Only open to conference registrants/attendees.  Back by popular demand, the school tour will feature two local high school dance programs showcasing the breadth of Texas K12 dance programs. At Clark High School, participants will learn about the Dance & Drill Team programs, visit an Alternative Learning Experiences class, and experience performances by both groups. At Brandeis High School, participants will learn about the Fine Arts Dance/Company programs and hear about the NEW Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (moving from a teacher-driven to a student-driven classroom). A special performance by the Brandeis Ballet Company will follow. There will be ample opportunity for questions at both schools, and participants will leave invigorated and full of new ideas to use with their own students. As the bus tour falls during regular conference sessions, we are offering it at a special 50% discount this year. How to Register for this Intensive:   You can register for the bus tour when you register for conference by clicking here.   If you’ve already registered for conference, please call the office at 301-585-2880 or emailconference@ndeo.org to add it to your registration.