Maine Teacher of the Year and Maine County Teachers of the Year

07/07/2026

It takes outstanding educators to inspire language learning—and dedicated students to achieve true biliteracy.

At Augusta's Cony Middle and High School, back-to-back Kennebec County Teachers of the Year, Gretchen Livingston (2026) and Deb Backman (2025), have helped build a world languages program where students are encouraged to challenge themselves, embrace new cultures, and earn the Maine Seal of Biliteracy.

This year, 19 Cony students earned the Seal, demonstrating proficiency in English and at least one additional language—a remarkable accomplishment that opens doors for college, careers, and global opportunities.

Read how exceptional teachers, a strong world languages program, and hardworking students are making multilingualism a point of pride in Augusta: https://mainedoenews.net/2026/07/07/back-to-back-kennebec-county-teachers-of-the-year-highlight-the-power-of-multilingual-learning-through-the-maine-seal-of-biliteracy/

The Maine Teacher of the Year program is brought to you by the Maine Department of Education and Educate Maine.

07/06/2026

This is what our network is all about - two educators, different schools, same district, one powerful idea, and a ripple effect that carried students from a sound mapping trail in the woods all the way to a chorus room. A Julia and Jessica collaboration- so proud to share this one!

07/03/2026

How could we have missed this one? End of year hecticness strikes again, but this post from Julia Edwards is truly too good not to share, even a few weeks late!

06/27/2026

The 2026 CTOY cohort kicked off their journey together! These incredible educators gathered at the UNE Biddeford Campus for an opening retreat, connecting, collaborating, and setting the stage for a year of meaningful impact on education in Maine. A huge thank you to our partner, UNE, for making it such an unforgettable experience!

06/23/2026

Take a pause with Julia Edwards: 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year, for another powerful message about how *music can* bring cultures together through athletics, unison singing, and a shared moment of community!

06/11/2026

That one time...at Maine Arts Integration Camp...
The Teach Maine Center is hosting the first Maine Educators Summer Camp for Integrating the Arts.
Are you a classroom teacher looking to integrate more of the arts in your classroom instruction? Do you like to network with other amazing Maine educators and share your passion for the arts? Are you looking for ways to engage reluctant learners in meaningful ways?
Then this unique PD experience is for you!
For more information and to register click here: https://loom.ly/Jmbk_K0

06/09/2026

Way to represent Maine on the national stage, Laurie and Tonya!

Tonya Prentice (2020 Oxford CTOY) and Laurie Spooner (2025 Aroostook CTOY) recently presented at the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Conference in Anaheim, California where they shared strategies for supporting STEM educators through collaborative peer leadership and professional community building.

Their session, titled Fostering Educator Belonging Through Safe and Supportive Peer Leadership, highlighted the important role that Connected Learning Ecosystems (CLEs) play in supporting educators as they navigate STEM teaching and climate education.

During their presentation, Tonya and Laurie focused on how CLEs foster educator belonging, create psychologically safe spaces for professional growth, and empower STEM educators through supportive peer leadership. They shared examples of how collaborative educator networks can reduce professional isolation, encourage innovation in teaching, and strengthen educators’ ability to bring authentic, community-connected STEM learning experiences to students

Thank you Tonya and Laurie for representing and advocating for our teachers here in Maine!

Maine County and State Teachers of the Year Association Gulf of Maine Research InstituteMaine Department of Education Educate Maine National Science Teaching Association

Teachers know that some of their most valued support comes from other teachers! It’s especially important in the evolving universe of STEM teaching. This spring Tonya Prentice, the 2020 Oxford County Teacher of the Year, and Laurie Spooner, 2025 Aroostook County Teacher of the Year, shared their strategies for supporting STEM educators at the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Conference in Anaheim, Calif. To Tonya and Laurie it’s all about collaborative peer leadership and professional community building. In the end, our students benefit. To learn more: https://www.educatemaine.org/news/post/teach-maine-tuesday-in-evolving-stem-education-collaboration-is-key

06/05/2026

Congratulations to Ben Johnson, 2025 Penobscot County Teacher of the Year, for receiving the 2026 Award for Excellence in Creating Technology-Based Educational Resources!

The award recognizes educators who create engaging digital content that makes classical studies more accessible and inspiring for learners.

At the center of Johnson’s work is his own platform, LatinTutorial.com, and the accompanying LatinTutorial YouTube channel, which has grown to more than 125,000 subscribers worldwide. Through hundreds of videos that he has written, filmed, and edited himself, Johnson helps students navigate Latin grammar, literature, and Roman culture, while supporting teachers who use the resources to supplement classroom instruction.

Johnson’s passion for making classical studies accessible extends beyond his video content. He has developed several digital learning tools, including Aeneid.co, a platform that helps students engage with Vergil’s Aeneid through guided passages, instructional videos, and learning supports. He also created Hexameter.co, another resource designed to help students master the complexities of Latin poetry. Together, his online tools are used by tens of thousands of learners worldwide.

https://mainedoenews.net/2026/06/05/2025-penobscot-county-teacher-of-the-year-ben-johnson-earns-national-recognition-for-innovative-latin-education-resources/

Ben Johnson, the 2025 Penobscot County Teacher of the Year and a finalist for 2026 Maine State Teacher of the Year, has earned national recognition from the American Classical League for his outsta…