UMaine Excited

2018 Maine Teacher of the Year graduate of UMaine

In the UMaine News, music educator and Maine Arts Leadership Initiative Teacher Leader Kaitlin Young is interviewed as Maine’s 2018 Teacher of the Year. Kaitlin is a 2010 UMaine graduate in Music Education.

Kaitlin said: “I feel incredibly honored and humbled to be named the 2018 Maine Teacher of the Year.”

When asked do you hope this award will motivate other musicians to go into teaching or for schools to invest more in music programs?, Kaitlin’s response: 
I am an educator first and foremost, and music is the content through which I choose to help children experience the learning process and about their role within their community and beyond. There are many other incredible educators across our state who teach a variety of different contents, but we teach students first.

I would love to see schools invest more in their music and arts programming. In my experience, our school’s investment in arts education has strengthened our entire community. The growth and success of our school and arts programs have been made possible by celebrating how making connections between all content areas provides a stronger and more authentic learning experience for all of our students. They can take these learning experiences with them beyond the classroom.

Students need to experience, not just have access to, quality arts education the same way that they need to experience quality math, science, social studies, etc. The more you learn and experience, the more connections you make. These connections allow for a greater perspective that help you to think creatively, flexibly and empathetically. The arts have defined cultures for thousands of years and are essential to helping students express themselves and understand their role within their school communities and beyond.

I am hopeful this will encourage communities to invest in their students and schools, as well as think deeply about the role that music educators, and all educators, play in the lives of our students as we encourage them to become well-rounded adults.

Read the ENTIRE INTERVIEW.