Inspiring Educators

The Maine Education Association is proud to sponsor a new award given to educators across the state who are truly inspiring students each day. In partnership with NEWS CENTER, the MEA will highlight an “Inspiring Educator” to be featured during a news segment each week. Each Inspiring Educator chosen will showcase his or her work on both WCSH 6 and WLBZ 2, and how that work is making a difference in the lives of their students.

The Maine Education Association is proud of all of its inspiring educators, and hopes this new partnership will let the public see the work happening in each of our great public schools.

You can see the Inspiring Educators segment on NEWS CENTER each Tuesday in the 5:30 newscast. Below are some of the MEA’s recent award winners.

Lisa Coburn (Auburn EA) is a teacher at Washburn Elementary School where she’s integrated the use of iPads to help her students dramatically improve their math scores. She used research to learn better ways to ask her students questions about math and a better way to give them a problem so they can take risks. Students are using technology to collaborate with their peers and have discussions about learning and thinking. Through the research and use of the iPad, Lisa has had remarkable success with her student’s math scores, including one child who scored a fi ve in the beginning of the year and then scored an 85, months later.

Eva Rodd (Portland EA) is the Early Childhood Occupations, Program Instructor at Portland Arts and Technology High School where she oversees high school students working toward national certifi cation in early childhood occupations. Under Rodd’s guidance, high school students learn how to work with 3- and 4- year-olds, earning national certifi cation they can then apply toward college credit, or use to show proof of the experience when they enter the workforce. Eva also works well with the younger children to help them grow in a learning lab environment, giving her high school students the chance to create their own curriculum aff ording them the opportunity to have hands-on training. Eva’s students say, “Ms. Rodd is a really great teacher and she balances learning time and teaching time very well.”

To see the stories of the other members honored as Inspiring Educators, visit www.maineea.org/inspiringeducators. And be sure to tune in each week to NEWS CENTER on Tuesday nights at 5:30 or Wednesday morning to see MEA members shine! Interested in nominating an educator to be featured? Send an email to contest@maineea.org.