Docks of Camden, Maine, by Ross Anderson
Among my sources of inspiration are talented and insightful educators who are committed to setting up students for success – educators like those my colleague Ross Anderson and I had the opportunity to collaborate with in a recent trip to Maine. Working with the Maine Department of Education, EPIC created draft developmental frameworks for the Maine Guiding Principles. The frameworks are one of many potential tools intended to convey the spirit of the Guiding Principles and support local translation of that spirit into equitable learning opportunities for students across the state. In facilitating conversations at the DOE and regional meetings, we heard educators’ concerns and challenges specific to the draft frameworks as well as the broader course set by the state. We also heard ways the frameworks, other tools, and Maine DOE could support local interpretation of the Guiding Principles into practice. From these conversations it became clear that it is not an easy task to be an educator in a state at the leading edge of attending to skills beyond knowledge acquisition. Yet, if the caliber of commitment and contributions demonstrated during our week in Maine is any indication, educators throughout the state have great potential to successfully navigate the uncharted waters ahead.
Erin Fukuda
Research Associate
