A Network of Support
Preparing special educators takes a community. Project MAINEd brings together university faculty, rural school systems, experienced educators, families, disability organizations, and state and national partners.
Meet the Project Team
Sarah Howorth
Project Director/Principal Investigator
Associate Professor of Special Education
207.581.2448
Krystle Merry
Co-Project Director/Co-Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor of Special Education
207.581.2471
Our Partners
Project MAINEd collaborates with Maine school systems and state and national organizations that support special education preparation, evidence-based practice, accessibility and workforce development.
School and District Partners
Participating school administrative units (SAUs), including regional school units (RSUs) help connect preparation to school-based practice. Partner contributions may include local clinical placements, qualified mentors, access for supervision, and feedback about scholar progress and district needs. In addition, these partners help connect our scholars to experienced special educators and peers through mentoring, professional learning communities, advising and structured feedback. These supports are intended to reduce professional isolation and strengthen connections between coursework and classroom practice.
Statewide education and disability partners
Our project team is plugged into statewide organizations like the Maine Department of Education, Maine Administrators of Services for Children with Disabilities, and the Maine Parent Federation. These organizations contribute perspectives on recruitment, certification, family engagement, accessibility, and the needs of Maine schools and communities.
National Partners
Project MAINEd collaborates with partners whose expertise supports evidence-based instruction, teacher preparation, accessibility, instructional technology, mentoring, and clinical supervision. These collaborations include resources and technical assistance from organizations such as the CEEDAR Center, the IRIS Center, the Center for Innovation, Design, and Digital Learning (CIDDL), and COACHED.
Together, the resources these partners provide help strengthen the quality of scholar preparation and connect university coursework with the needs of rural Maine schools.
Project MAINEd is supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, under the Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities program (ALN 84.325K).
This website was produced under the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, Award No.H325K260123. Celia Rosenquist serves as the project officer. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the positions or policies of the U.S. Department of Education. No official endorsement by the U.S. Department of Education of any product, commodity, service, or enterprise mentioned in this website is intended or should be inferred.
Questions?
Email um.mained@maine.edu.
