Kimball op-ed on support for teachers published in BDN, Piscataquis Observer
Associate Dean for Undergraduate and Teacher Education Ezekiel “Zeke” Kimball wrote an op-ed published in the Bangor Daily News this week, urging Mainers to support teachers and educators in their efforts to help students reach their full potential.
“As Maine’s schools do the hard work needed to improve student outcomes, I know teachers will be at the forefront of that effort, and I also know they’ll be joined by a much bigger community — students, family members, custodians, office staff, administrators and more — working to ensure Maine schools are safe and supportive places for our children to learn,” Kimball writes. “Although teachers can’t do it alone, they are the heart of our schools, and we ought to thank them for their service.”
The opinion piece also highlights several projects in the College of Education and Human Development designed to boost the state’s education workforce. “Our work ranges from cutting-edge research on the use of artificial intelligence and virtual reality in classrooms to a series of summer professional development programs for educators,” Kimball says. “Our programs also include the New England Rural Education Hub, a partnership between our college and the Rural Schools Collaborative to advance high-quality preparation for rural teachers and school leaders, with the ultimate goal of contributing to thriving rural communities. This work is getting a boost thanks to a federal budget bill passed earlier this year that included $3.3 million in congressionally directed spending secured for the University of Maine System at the request of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Sen. Angus King. These funds will allow us, working with other system campuses, to launch the Rural Educator Resilience Project, which will expand professional development, mentoring and other evidence-based resources for rural teachers and administrators statewide.”
Read the op-ed, titled “Maine teachers do vital work for students, families and communities,” on the BDN website. The Piscataquis Observer also published the piece.