UMA is pleased to announce that Leigh Alley, assistant professor and coordinator of teacher education, has been named the 2025 recipient of the Educator Award at the Champions for Children Giraffe Awards. The annual awards, presented by the Maine Children’s Alliance, recognize people across the state who make a significant and lasting difference in the lives of Maine children. 

Alley was selected for her leadership in whole child education and for a career focused on preparing teachers who can support the academic, social, emotional and physical development of every student. With more than 20 years of experience as a classroom teacher, curriculum designer and author, she is known statewide for her commitment to social-emotional learning and trauma-sensitive practice.  

At UMA, Alley created the university’s first Master of Arts in Teaching program with a focus  on whole child education. She teaches classes like “The Trauma-Sensitive Classroom,” mentors emerging educations and works closely with school districts in Maine to help meet local workforce needs. Her approach centers on helping students feel a strong sense of belonging, which she describes as a foundation for learning and healthy development. 

“Alley’s work reflects Â鶹APP commitment to preparing educators who understand the whole child and who strengthen Maine communities,” said UMA President Jenifer Cushman. “Her leadership in teacher preparation in helping share the next generation of confident and compassionate educators. We are incredibly proud of her contributions to UMA and to Maine schools.” 

Alley also co-founded xSELeratED, a consulting initiative that supports schools and organizations in implementing social-emotional learning practices. She writes books for children and adults that encourage emotional and skill development. One of her recent titles saw strong early sales following its release.  

“I believe teachers have the power to help every student feel seen, valued and ready to learn,” said Alley. “This award affirms the importance of preparing educators who can support the whole child. It is an honor to do this work at UMA and in collaboration with communities across the state.”

A native of Beals Island, Alley often shares how her upbringing in the Moosabec fishing community shared her values and her perspective as an educator. She began her college journey at the University of Maine at Machias and describes education as a transformative force in her life. She often says that people can live a big life in a small place and that she believes in blooming where you are planted.

Discover more about Â鶹APP teacher preparation programs or the Master of Arts in Teaching.

Anne Fensie, a lecturer in the UMA CIS and EDU programs, successfully defended her dissertation titled Faculty Beliefs about Adult Learner Memory and Associated Factors: An Exploratory Study on Wednesday December 4, 2024.

Anne is a doctoral candidate in the University of Maine Higher Education program and studies the applied science of adult learning in distance education.

“I had been navigating a situation with an Education student who was having difficulty accessing professional attire that matched the school’s expectations where he was doing his internship,” recalled Surrette. “I was on my way home, listening to NPR, when a story came on about universities establishing dress closets to provide their economically disadvantaged students access to suitable clothing for professional interviews and internships,” he recalls. “I immediately thought of my student. I knew we needed this at UMA; that was my inspiration to act.”

When he arrived home, he shared the story with his wife, Lauren Holleb Surrette, a Health and Human Services professor also at UMA. She was immediately on board. They collaborated with friend and colleague, Education Professor Lauren Stark, and together they applied for, and received, a UMA presidential mini-grant of $5,000 to start the Professional Wardrobe Support Program—a dress closet on the UMA Bangor Campus serving Education and Health and Human Services students in need of appropriate clothing for their teaching and counseling internships.

“Over the duration of the grant we’ve been able to provide over 40 students with $50 gift cards to a Goodwill store location near them in Maine and to create a physical dress closet located on the UMA Bangor campus.” They were granted space to house the closet on the second floor of Lewiston Hall. “Our goal was to provide these students with the clothes they needed as soon as possible,” recalls Surrette. So, while we were building up our inventory and procuring racks, hangers, mirrors, and shelving, students in need of clothing could apply to us for a Goodwill gift card to outfit their internship needs.

Now in its second year, the program is navigating its growth. Though the gift certificate program has ended, they now have about 250 pieces of clothing, including shoes and accessories, available in their wardrobe space. “But we definitely need more, and are accepting donations,” remarked Surrette. “Professional plus size women’s items are what we need the most right now,” Surrette shared, “but we welcome new or gently-worn, clean, ready-to-wear, current fashion, work-appropriate clothing, shoes, and accessories for all genders and in all sizes.” While there is certainly a need for dressier interview clothing, the greatest need is for every-day professional wear for interning teachers and social workers.

Being appropriately dressed goes a long way toward feeling confident, focusing on your work, and possessing a sense of belonging. The outfits provided to students not only help them feel professional while completing their coursework but will follow them forward and be one more way they are prepared for success in their new careers. “We are very proud to have been a part of this collective work and to see the impact it’s had on our students,” proclaimed Surrette.

Access to professional clothes through the closet is critical to ensuring all UMA students can leverage their education to achieve career opportunities and upward mobility. The majority of the university’s students are eligible for need-based federal Pell grants, and are the first in their families to pursue a door-opening postsecondary degree. To connect with the services of the Professional Wardrobe Support Program or to donate to this effort, contact Timothy Surrette at timothy.surrette@maine.edu.

Fensie, A., Pierre, T. St., Jain, J., & Sezen-Barrie, A. (2023). Engaged learning during distraction: A case study of successful working moms in distance education. Journal of Computing in Higher Education, 1–46. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12528-023-09359-0

Fensie, A. (2023). A conceptual model for meeting the needs of adult learners in distance education and e-learning. International Journal of Advanced Corporate Learning (iJAC), 16(2), 37–56. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijac.v16i2.35729

Augusta, ME – Patricia Clark, Â鶹APP (UMA) Director of Early Childhood Studies and Lecturer of Mental Health and Human Services and Education, has been recognized as the 2022 Maine Mother of the Year by   Clark, of Readfield, will join 49 other mothers in representing their states at the annual American Mothers, Inc.® conference in April where the national winner will be recognized.

For her platform, Clark has chosen early childhood literacy and “closing the million word gap” among children entering kindergarten. According to a recent Ohio State study, young children whose parents frequently read to them could enter kindergarten having heard an estimated 1.4 million more words than children who were rarely or never read to.  “In our current world where televisions, i-pads and phones are everywhere, we sometimes forget the benefits and bonding of carving out just 20 minutes a day to read to our children,” Clark stated.

Mothers were chosen after a national nomination and selection process led by the nonprofit organization. Clark represents the 61^st Maine mother chosen since the program began 87 years ago. Their mission is to recognize mothers and their positive impact in their families and communities. The women come from diverse backgrounds and experiences across the nation.

“Time and time again, we have seen that there is no one like mom, and we at American Mothers for the last 87 years have had the privilege of recognizing the impact mothers have in our lives,” said Joyce Stevens, President of American Mothers, Inc. “Now more than ever, people are seeing the work that goes into motherhood and truly recognizing the resiliency of mothers. It is an honor to be an organization that has built a legacy network of moms across the nation while sharing their stories of strength and inspiration.”

A former president of the Maine Association for the Education of Young Children, Clark is active in her church, St. Andrew’s in Winthrop and a member of various boards including Readfield Community Library, Healthy Communities of the Capital Area, UMA Senior College, and Southern Kennebec Child Development Center.

The UMA 2022-2023 Scholarship application is open now with a deadline of March 31, 2022.

Applicants will be evaluated on academic achievement, leadership, and community and/or campus service.

Steps to Apply

1. Submit the online form available on the Scholarships webpage.
2. Attach resume and cover letter containing a personal statement as to why the applicant feels they should be considered for a scholarship.

Details

• Scholarships based on financial eligibility require the student to submit their by UMA’s preferred filing deadline of March 1, 2022.
• All Scholarships require a minimum academic cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
• Scholarship awardees will be notified no later than May 1, 2022.
• Students graduating in Summer 2022 or Fall 2022 are NOT eligible for these scholarships.

Questions?

Contact UMA Student Financial Services at umafa@maine.edu.

Beginning spring 2021, the Â鶹APP’s (UMA) Education Program began offering two new Bachelor of Science degree opportunities for individuals seeking a career as teachers: a B.S. in Elementary Education with concentrations in Early Elementary (K-3) and Elementary (K-8), and a B.S. in Secondary Education with concentrations in Mathematics, English, Social Studies, Life Sciences, and Physical Science.  Applications are currently being accepted.

“We keep in contact with many UMA graduates who are employed in schools across Maine,” stated Cindy Dean, UMA Associate Professor of Education and Coordinator of Teacher Education. “While the past several months have been unprecedented for the education profession, it has also provided opportunities for innovation and reinforced the resolve of those who entered the profession to provide the best education possible for the next generation,” Dean continued. “With two new bachelor degrees in Elementary and Secondary Education, UMA is ready for the next step in preparing the next generation of teachers.”

Whether a current undergraduate or someone considering a career change, the Education faculty assist those interested in teaching careers to find the best pathway to meet their goals.  The teacher education programs offer robust courses, field experiences, service learning, and collaboration with peers and faculty that help provide the necessary competencies of Maine’s Common Core Teaching Standards. Upon successful completion of all program and state requirements, graduates with a B.S. in Elementary or Secondary Education will be recommended by UMA for professional certification.

UMA is unique in offering distance learning for aspiring teachers. Students can earn their degree in a range of places, times, and circumstances by taking classes on-site, online (synchronously and/or asynchronously), and/or at UMA Centers located across the state.

Additionally, minors in Early Childhood Teacher (B-5) and Special Education (co-offered with the University of Maine at Machias) are available, as well as Post-baccalaureate certificates of study in Early Childhood, Early Elementary, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

Cindy Dean, UMA Associate Professor of Education and Coordinator of Teacher Education

Governor Janet Mills recently appointed Cindy Dean, UMA Associate Professor of Education and Coordinator of Teacher Education, to a three-year term on the Maine State Professional Standards Board. This Board advises the State Board of Education on matters regarding professional growth, certification, endorsement, authorization, and governance of the education profession in Maine. The Maine State Standards Board is comprised of members representing education paraprofessionals, elementary and secondary teachers, university faculty, and administrators.

The approval process included an extensive self-study by Â鶹APP Education Program and a rigorous application process to the Maine Department of Education (MDOE). Additionally, UMA hosted a site review team from the MDOE in December 2019 resulting in the site team’s recommendation for approval to the State Board of Education. Due to the pandemic, the final vote by the State Board of Education was delayed from April to July. On July 15, the Board voted unanimously for approval.

State approval allows UMA graduates of the Education Program to be certified through institution recommendation rather than transcript analysis. State approval also eliminates the requirement for the Principles of Learning and Teaching exam and provides greater reciprocity for those graduates seeking to teach in other states.

The endorsements approved by the Board of Education are in undergraduate minors and post-baccalaureate certificates of study for Early Elementary Education and Elementary Education, as well as minors in Secondary Education in the areas of English, Life, Physical Science, Social Studies and Mathematics.

“We are very excited for our graduates and the opportunities this approval by the Maine Board of Education will provide,” stated Cindy Dean, Associate Professor of Education and Coordinator of Teacher Education at UMA. “This certification allows our students to move more quickly into much-needed teaching positions upon graduation.”

“This approval would not have happened without the dedication of our faculty and staff in the Education Program,” said UMA President Rebecca Wyke. “I am grateful for their efforts to provide our students with this opportunity.”

UMA transforms the lives of students of every age and background across the State of Maine and beyond through access to high-quality distance and on-site education, excellence in student support, civic engagement, and professional and liberal arts programs.

Â鶹APP Education Department prepares students for a career in education by completing one of several degree plans through courses, fieldwork, service learning, and student teaching. Embedded in each teacher education pathway are robust courses, field experiences, service learning, and collaboration with peers and faculty that help provide the necessary competencies of Maine’s Common Core Teaching Standards.

UMA is unique in offering distance learning for aspiring teachers. Students can earn their degree in a range of places, times, and circumstances by taking classes on-site, online, and/or at UMA Centers located across the state. Upon successful completion of all program and state requirements, graduates are eligible to apply for Maine Teacher Certification.