Maine SEEDS
Special Educator Engagement, Development and Support
Maine SEEDS is a collaboration between the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development and the Maine Department of Education Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education. Maine SEEDS is dedicated to developing and strengthening the special educator workforce, supporting early career special educators, and providing teacher leadership opportunities.
Maine SEEDS Goals
Special Education Career Exploration
Maine has many resources for people who are considering a special education career.
Maine SEEDS helps orient prospective SED teachers to pathways available to them, and supports their ongoing development.
Conditional Certification Pathway Support
Special Educators with conditional certification may be employed as teachers while working toward a professional credential. Maine SEEDS is the “Maine approved program for mentoring teachers under a Conditional Certificate for a special education endorsement” [Maine 071ch115 Part II § 2] required for all prospective special educators seeking conditional certification. SEEDS supports participants on their path to earning professional certification.
Veteran Special Education Leadership Opportunities
Experienced, highly skilled special educators are often the most important source of support for early career special educators. SEEDS recruits veteran special educators to share their expertise with their colleagues through mentoring and facilitating groups of new special educators to explore topics of interest identified by group members. Mentors, mentor topic specialists, and consultants receive a stipend for their work with early career special educators.
Support for School Administrative Units
SEEDS offers external mentors and mentor specialists when the SAU or agency does not have a mentor available. SEEDS is also building an online GYO resource hub that will include examples of programs, technical assistance sites, and a place to network with others who are interested in or have established programs in Maine. Grow Your Own (GYO) teacher programs can be found in every state and are gaining popularity in Maine.
More information
Maine SEEDS offers monthly online office hours for current and prospective special educators, local certification committee members, and school administrators. We will share information about preparation for a special education career, ways to qualify for a conditional special ed certificate endorsement, and Maine-based paths to special education certification.
Sessions are held via Zoom on the first Wednesday of each month at 3:30 pm, facilitated by the Maine SEEDS Coordinator.
To register for the SEEDS Office Hour, click below (button will open a Zoom link):