The University of Maine College of Education and Human Development full crest outline logo.

2026 UMaine Summer Educators Institute

Thriving Together

June 24-26, 2026
In-Person ᐧ University of Maine in Orono

Schedule of Events

Click on a menu below for a detailed schedule of that day’s events.

  • 7:15-8:15 a.m. | Registration and Breakfast
  • 8:15-9:15 a.m. | Opening Session: Dr. Jayne Downey and Dr. Jennifer Luebeck, Center for Research on Rural Education (CRRE), Montana State University
  • 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Session 1: Interactive Workshops and Presentations (Participants choose one)
  • “Who Are These Kids?” | Mike Muir, Maranacook Middle School Principal
  • “Using Design Process to Support Rural Education Innovations” (Part 1) | Korah Soll, Rural Aspirations Project
  • “Giving Equitable Feedback to Teachers” (Part 1) | Esther Enright and Lindsey Kaiser, UMaine College of Education and Human Development
  • “Alternative Education for Everyone: Fostering Alternative Approaches in Your Classroom” | Cami Carter (Innovations Academy Brewer) and John Van Dis (Zenith program, Camden Hills Regional High School)
  • “UMaine Coordinated Operating Research Entities (CORE): Animal Care and Genetics Facilities” | Alexis Rutherford and Alexandra Sacco
  • “Educator Mentoring Round Table” | Dr. Jayne Downey, CRRE, Montana State University (Moderator)
  • Dr. Christina O’Neal, Educator Excellence, Recruitment and Retention Coordinator, Maine Department of Education (Panelist)
  • Tim Reynolds, Executive Director, Washington County Consortium (Panelist)
  • Patty Williams, Professor of Early Childhood Education, University of Maine at Farmington (Panelist)
  • Wendy Malenfant, Associate Professor of Education, University of Maine at Presque Isle (Panelist)
  • 10:45-11:45 a.m. | Session 2: Interactive Workshops and Presentations (Participants choose one)
  • “Promoting Harmony in the Middle Grades Through School Practices” | Mike Muir, Maranacook Middle School Principal
  • “Using Design Process to Support Rural Education Innovations” (Part 2) | Korah Soll, Rural Aspirations Project
  • “Giving Equitable Feedback to Teachers” (Part 2) | Esther Enright and Lindsey Kaiser, UMaine College of Education and Human Development
  • “UMaine CORE: Electron Microscopy Lab and Cleanroom” | Emma Perry and Henry Carfagno
  • “Pedagogy of Justice for Indigenous People” | Rebecca Sockbeson, UMaine College of Education and Human Development
  • Panel: Building Learning Partnerships That Work: Voices from Rural THRIVE Foundations Guides and Fellows”
  • Cami Carter, Innovations Academy Brewer (Panelist)
  • Katherine Crawson, Wiscasset Elementary School (Panelist)
  • River McDade, Beech Hill School (Panelist)
  • Tonya Parker, Nokomis Regional Middle School (Panelist)
  • Lauren Pierce, Nokomis Regional Middle School (Panelist)
  • Samantha Poll, Wagner Middle School Winterport (Panelist)
  • Beth Whitehouse, Medway Middle School (Panelist)
  • Olivia Whitehouse, Medway Middle School (Panelist)
  • 11:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. | Lunch and Team Time
  • Consultants will be available to work with school/district-based teams during team time.
  • 3:45-4:15 p.m. | Closing Session
  • 7:15-8:15 a.m. | Breakfast
  • 8:15-9:15 a.m. | Opening Session
  • 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Session 1: Interactive Workshops and Presentations (Participants choose one)
  • “Empowering Learners: Implementing the Beane Model of Curriculum Integration” (Part 1) | Mike Muir, Maranacook Middle School Principal
  • “Beyond the Classroom Walls: Bringing Our World to Our Students” | Caitlin Hutt, Troy Howard Middle School
  • “Shared Leadership Models in Rural Schools” | Janet Fairman, UMaine College of Education and Human Development
  • “Designing an Impactful Literacy Workshop” (Part 1) | Katie Bishop-Dunphy, Regional School Unit 3
  • “Scaffolding Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum” (Part 1) | Megan Woodard, Old Town High School
  • “Addressing Social-Emotional Learning and Chronic Absenteeism in Your School” | Maria Frankland, UMaine College of Education and Human Development
  • “A Special Professional Learning Community” | Tom Leonard, Dianne Rounds, Svea-Linnea Ashe, Regional School Unit 22
  • 10:45-11:45 a.m. | Session 2: Interactive Workshops and Presentations (Participants choose one)
  • “Empowering Learners: Implementing the Beane Model of Curriculum Integration” (Part 2) | Mike Muir, Maranacook Middle School Principal
  • “Designing an Impactful Literacy Workshop” (Part 2) | Katie Bishop-Dunphy, Regional School Unit 3
  • “Scaffolding Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum” (Part 2) | Megan Woodard, Old Town High School
  • “Panel: Breaking Barriers and Engaging Students, Families and Communities in a Rural School” | Beth Whitehouse and the Medway Middle School Team
  • “Creating School-wide Cultures of Care” | Paul Austin, UMaine College of Education and Human Development
  • “Grant Writing for Your Classroom and School” | Catharine Biddle, UMaine College of Education and Human Development
  • “Building Meaningful Partnerships with Schools and Students” | Joe Costello, Liliana Jimenez and Mike Gray, PENQUIS
  • 11:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. | Lunch and Team Time
  • Consultants will be available to work with school/district-based teams during team time.
  • 3:45-4:15 p.m. | Closing Session
  • 7:15-8:15 a.m. | Registration and Breakfast
  • 8:15-9:15 a.m. | Opening Session
  • 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Session 1: Interactive Workshops and Presentations (Participants choose one)
  • “Moving the Needle: Leadership for School Change” | Mike Muir, Maranacook Middle School Principal
  • “Courageous Conversations, Respectful Discourse” | Bobbi-Jo Fairbrother, Troy Howard Middle School
  • “Enrolling Families in the Collective Lift” | Jason Dionne, Westbrook School Department
  • “Inquiry Learning” | Rachel Beckwith, Leonard Middle School
  • “Extended Learning Opportunities in Rural Schools” | Carrie Lynch, ELO Coordinator Telstar High School
  • “Designing Inclusive Systems That Work in Rural Schools” | Sarah Howorth, UMaine College of Education and Human Development
  • 10:45-11:45 a.m. | Session 2: Interactive Workshops and Presentations (Participants choose one)
  • “Motivating Disengaged Students” | Mike Muir, Maranacook Middle School Principal
  • “Better Together: Co-Teaching in Rural Schools” | Caitlin Hutt and Jenn LaPlante, Troy Howard Middle School
  • “Building Accessible and Engaging Interactions” | Jason Dionne, Westbrook School Department
  • “Community of Practice Live” | Paul Austin, UMaine College of Education and Human Development
  • “Five Myths, Five Shifts: School-wide Supports for Multilingual Learners” | Melissa Cuba, UMaine College of Education and Human Development
  • “AI as an Instructional Partner” | Sarah Howorth, UMaine College of Education and Human Development
  • 11:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. | Lunch and Team Time
  • Consultants will be available to work with school/district-based teams.
  • 3:45-4:15 p.m. | Closing Session