Rural Thrive:
The Rural Educator Resilience Project
All rural educators deserve to thrive
Now recruiting Maine teachers and leaders!
Rural Thrive is a collection of statewide networks or communities of practice that support Maine’s rural public school educators at three key points in their careers:
Rural Thrive is a project of the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development. It is funded with $3.3 million in Congressionally Directed Spending awarded to the University of Maine System to provide ongoing professional development, mentorship and other evidence-based support, with the goal of leading to better resilience and retention among rural educators and school leaders, as well as improving PK-12 student outcomes. The award was secured in Fiscal Year 2024 by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Sen. Angus King.
Interested in joining our community? Click the button below to contact team members and ask us how to get involved.
What We Offer
Join us for the 2026 UMaine Summer Educators Institute
The UMaine Summer Educators Institute offers teachers and other school personnel an opportunity to learn and grow together. Each morning will feature an inspirational keynote and a variety of interactive presentations and workshops to choose from based on participants’ interests. In the afternoon, school or district-based teams will work together on a project that they identify to improve some aspect of their school community. Consultants will be available during team time to assist with process, resources, and guidance. Individuals may participate in the conference, but we strongly encourage attendance of at least two people from each school/district. There is no limit to the number of team members from a school/district and the team may include novice and experienced teachers, administrators, educational technicians, and support staff.
