There’s plenty of back-to-school advice out there! What supplies to get, what to pack for lunch, even what to wear. But how do you prepare yourself personally to have the best year ever? At Educate Maine, we asked some of our amazing County Teachers of the Year (and this year’s Maine teacher of the year) for their best out-of-the box tips for a successful year. Our CTOYs spend a lot of time thinking about how to improve their practice and support other teachers, so you won’t be surprised that many of their tips were actually for their fellow educators.
For parents:
“Develop relationships with your child’s teacher and school. We are all your child’s biggest fans and want to see them succeed. We cheer for them endlessly and they leave big handprints in our heart. We love being part of the same team!
--Miranda Engstrom
2023 Hancock County Teacher of the Year
For teachers: Be in the present with your students each day and recognize the little things that often get overlooked as we strive to achieve the big things. We need to remind ourselves that the little moments often have the biggest impact.
It is also important for teachers to take time for ourselves each day and think of all the good we are doing, but recognize that we have to accept that we cannot do it all.
Finally, find joy in every day; smiles and laughter can go a long way!
--Jessica Archer
2023 Penobscot County Teacher of the Year
For everybody: My best advice for students, parents, and educators is to manage your time effectively. As a student there is always that desire to "do it later" and then you're rushing and not producing your best work. For parents it often can be seen in the morning rush of getting everyone out the door. Preparing backpacks, packing lunches, and picking out what to wear the night before makes for a smoother morning.
For teachers: Educators are notorious for trying to fill every moment of every day. Sit back and let your students play, converse, and learn to be a community… real life lessons that don't need to be matched to a standard but are critical in real life.
--Sharon Gallant
2023 Kennebec County Teacher of the Year.
For teachers: My best advice for educators as they begin the school year is to remember the rule of nines. Your students will remember the first 3 minutes of their day, the 3 minutes after lunch, and the last 3 minutes of their day. As an educator you are there for all 9 minutes. Do your best to make every one of those minutes an exceptional experience for your students. Make great memories in every single one of those minutes. Be the teacher you wished you had as a kid.
--Dawn McLaughlin
2023 Piscataquis County Teacher of the Year
For everyone: My advice would be to ask for help. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not the weakness you might think it is.
For teachers: Bonus advice includes doing something for yourself every day. Say the encouraging words to yourself that you say to others.
--Edith Berger
2023 Lincoln County Teacher of the Year
And for all educators:
Focus on relationships. Get to know your students, really know them. Find out what they love, what they fear, what lifts them up, and what makes them feel insecure. Learning begins when students feel safe and seen. Once you’ve built those relationships, the rigor will follow.
--Joshua Chard
Maine 2024 Teacher of the Year
