Maine Educator April 2021

MAINE

Educator April 2021

www.maineea.org @maineea

MONEY TALK$ Educating yourself on salary data, saving on student loans and health care costs all add up

APRIL

CONTENTS

VOLUME 81, NUMBER 5

FEATURES Fitting In At School Isn't Just For Students While teaching in Lewiston, I have resonated and identified with over 70% of the students I have taught; being a Muslim, bilingual, and an immigrant; I unfortunately have been and still am grossly underrepresented in the educator demographic.

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Opening Bell

6

President's Letter

7

Slowly but surely...

From the MEA Executive Director

Pushing For Priority

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A Checklist to Support LGBTQ Students During Distance Learning

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Fitting In At School Isn't Just For Students

10

Pushing For Priority

While educators were busy working helping students, the Union was working hard to help key decision makers better understand why prioritization of educators for the COVID vaccine was so important.

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Money Matters

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MEA Salary Guide 2021

28

Slaying The Student Debt Monster

30

Saving Money On Healthcare

Money Matters

31

MEA Election Bios & 93rd MEA Representative Assembly

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Perspectives: Moral Injury

Educating yourself on salary data, saving on student loans and health care costs all add up.

37

Finding Mindful Moments

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Editor's Note

40

The latest information from around the state to inform and support A message from your MEA President, Grace Leavitt

Perspective from Maine Educator Editor, Giovanna Bechard highlighting key articles in the current issue

Read Across America Recommended Books - April 2021: Inspire Stewardship

Finding Mindful Moments Educators are frequently asked to manage their own well-being while also attending to the well-being of others. This is no small task and has been significantly more challenging during this unusual COVID-19 pandemic year.

April 2021 • www.maineea.org

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Opening Assessment Waivers

BELL

The Maine Department of Education is in the process of constructing a strategic waiver of assessment, accountability, and reporting requirements for the 2020-21 school year for submission to the US Department of Education. Janette Kirk, chief of Learning Systems at the DOE, says the waiver will address elements outlined in the US Department of Education's (USED) February 22 letter to chief state school officers, including waiving accountability and requirements to identify schools for additional support.

According to the letter from USED, a state receiving this waiver would not be required to implement and report the results of its accountability system. This includes:

• calculating progress toward long-term goals and measurements of interim progress or indicators, • using data from the 2020-21 school year to annually meaningfully differentiate among its public schools, • waiving the required 95% testing participation rate, • and, considering flexibility waivers around the testing itself.

States will not have to identify schools for comprehensive or targeted support and improvement and instead will continue to support schools that were identified using the 2019-20 testing data.

Kirk said that MDOE will also be seeking a waiver for districts to administer an interim assessment in lieu of a summative assessment and subsequently to not report this data publicly. However, USED argued in its Feb. 22 letter that it is important that the public have access to the data and is requiring that all state and local assessment report card requirements remain in place. MEA believes waiving the reporting requirement is appropriate. USED is also requiring that data on chronic absenteeism, access to technology, and other resources be reported to the public.

MEA and NEA leaders have questioned why the testing is needed. MEA President Grace Leavitt has advocated with the USED for waiving state level testing all together, saying data collected under the current conditions will not be useful and that any testing only takes time away from instruction and supporting our students.

Local Associations Roundup York TA donated $500 each month during April, May, and June to the York Food Pantry to support those people who needed help at the start of the pandemic. The York Teachers Association also donated $100 to the York Police Department Giving Tree at Christmas to help a family during the holidays. This money was used to purchase a gift card at Hannaford to feed a local family. The York Teachers Association also donated $1000 scholarship to a student pursuing a degree in the field of education.

RSU 13 Supports the Salvation Army As the tradition continues, staff and family of the RSU 13 and Seacoast Education Association united together to volunteer as bell ringers for the Salvation Army.

This year, volunteering was more important than ever. “Since COVID-19 hit, the need of our community has risen over 400%”, stated Keith Davis from the Rockland Salvation Army. All money raised stays within our community and goes towards food and supplies for families in need. Bell Ringing is the Salvation Army’s biggest fundraiser and they rely heavily on those donations.

Rockland Dunkin’ Donuts kindly donated gift certificates to our volunteers. Ringing bells, with Dunkin’ in hand, amongst friends and family helped bring much cheer to the front doors at a local store. With everyone’s help, RSU 13 and the Seacoast Education Association was able to raise a total of $3891.28, an increase of over 250% from 2019.

“

Since COVID-19 hit, the need of our community has risen over 400%."

New Union Organizes After a huge battle with the administration and the Board’s attorney and a great deal of organizing at George Stevens Academy, the staff’s demand for voluntary recognition to form a new union was granted by the Board of Trustees. Now, the Association has documentation of their status as the exclusive bargaining agent.

Educators Against Race Formation of “Educators Against Racism - EAR”, at Conners Emerson in Bar Harbor has been a great success. EAR is a member caucus of teachers and school employees that formed to address issues of systemic racism in education and its impact on students and school staff. Many members are active in Black Lives Matter.

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Maine Educator • April 2021

A pril 2021 What's In a Name?

As a young child, I did not like my name. There were no other ‘Graces’ in my class, nor in my grade, nor even in my school. There were a few well-known Graces—Gracie Allen (whom I liked—even at a young age, I understood her humor, but she was described as ‘zany’ and ‘scatter-brained’, at least when doing comedy routines with her husband George Burns); and there was Grace Kelly, whom I knew of more for becoming the Princess of Monaco than for her acting. Any other Graces I heard of were even older than these celebrities—someone’s great aunt or grandmother (nothing against grandmothers--I’m one now myself— but when I was young, my name seemed too old for me). I longed to have been named something more in keeping with the young girls’ names of the times. To add insult to my perceived injury, I was then and always have been pretty much of a klutz—certainly clumsy in the physical sense (though I dreamed for a while, unrealistically, of being a ballerina) and even awkward in the social sense, being rather shy and definitely introverted.

There was the religious aspect of the name, as in ‘the grace of God’.

That also was something that just didn’t seem to fit me…And there was my dad, telling me when I complained about my name that I was named after his girlfriend. That really puzzled me, since Grace was not my mother’s name, but of course he said he meant his former girlfriend…

So what does any of this have to do with now, with what is happening during this global pandemic, and all the challenges our members have been dealing with for over a year? Has the MEA President been struck with COVID fatigue and she just can’t think of what to write about for this issue?

There is a connection--maybe you have already realized it, as exhausted as I’m sure you likely are at this time of the school year.

Have you noticed just how often you have heard the word ‘grace’ throughout this crisis? This has been a time more than ever before when we all have needed to grant a bit more grace to one another--and we surely will need to continue to do so.

Whether having trouble logging on to this class or that meeting or some webinar, or the endless need to remind someone they are ‘on mute’ or the opposite, that everyone needs to mute when not speaking so we don’t hear whatever may be going on in the various backgrounds, or the unexpected—and sometimes embarrassing—interruption caused by a member of the household—including pets--suddenly appearing on the screen during a serious conversation you are engrossed in— or whatever this ‘new’ world of zoom and quarantine has caused in our lives—we all appreciate others showing us a little grace, and we hopefully can still muster up the ability to show the same to others.

And much, much more importantly, as we all endeavor to learn more about social and racial justice issues and struggle with addressing the very apparent inequities that this pandemic has made clearer to so many of us, we all can also show a little more grace to one another as we have difficult, but respectful, conversations and strive to understand better one another’s points of view and their experiences. In fact, having grace as we work on this is going to be even more essential than ever.

In Unity,

Grace Leavitt, President Maine Education Association 888-622-4418 x 2200

April 2021 • www.maineea.org

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MEA Quality Schools Summit 2021 Free Professional Development With Contact Hours Register at maineea.org/news/quality-schools-summit/

The Maine Education Association is pleased to offer its members continued professional development included in your membership.

The learning opportunities continue this April and May with our Quality Schools Summit, held virtually this year.

Members have two opportunities to learn and earn contact hoursApril 10th and May 1st!

April 10 & May 1 Keynote Speakers Keron Blair Executive Director of the Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools April 10

Sessions

Cindy Soule

MEA’s Quality Schools Summit will focus on providing members with the tools they need to recharge and reimage their work. With conference sessions focusing on equity and just schools, social and emotional learning, personal finance, and more-there is sure to be a session that piques your interest!

Maine Teacher of the Year May 1

Connecting

Download Whova on your mobile device!

Scan Here Event code vyz1en6w9c 6

Conference Info

Maine Educator • April 2021

MEA is also focused on bringing you the connections you’ve been missing from other educators around the state. We will hold virtual networking sessions to give you the opportunity to share, listen and vent.

#MEAQualitySchools

Slowly but surely...

For the first time in a while, I am more hopeful than not and am cautiously optimistic about the future. While many things are still up in the air, we have made progress in some key areas which directly impacts our ability to do some things we haven’t been able to do for a while. A number of things have contributed to my cautious hopefulness including…

1. Governor Mills announced that

“”

COVID restrictions around travel and quarantines would be relaxed or lifted as we move into the summer months. That is welcome news to many. Concurrently, safety guidelines remain in place for everyone’s protection, and we must adhere to those guidelines or risk returning to the summer of 2020 when we were sheltering in place and the world as we knew it was closed.

2. President Biden and Governor Mills made

Our board of directors and staff have been hard at work thinking about how we help members transition from hybrid remote learning to more in person if it can be done safely.

pre-K-12 educators a priority for vaccinations and have also promised vaccinations for all who want them by early summer. The vaccine pipeline is expanding, and shots in arms are on the rise. While this in and of itself is not the get out of jail free card, it goes a long way with appropriate guidelines in place for life to begin looking a little freer.

3. With the points above, it is very possible that

someday soon we all can see family and friends again. I can break bread with those closest to me, talk with them and see their reactions in real time possibly without a mask. I can hug folks who are hurting and deeply need some human interaction to make the world right again. This pandemic has been hard on us all, but toughest on those struggling with mental health issues. Not being able to do the smallest thing for others has been extremely difficult. I also look forward to meeting the MEA staff in person for the first time. While we have managed to continue the work of the Association remotely, it will be fulfilling to engage our team in real time.

4. And we will be able to travel. I love to travel

and have missed it deeply. Since moving to Maine two months ago, I have not been able to get out and meet people, most importantly MEA members to learn from all of you about this great state and organization. I look forward to doing just that in the coming months and would love to meet MEA members and help move the work forward. As a newbie to Maine, I would love to hear about your favorite place in the state or your suggestions for places for me to visit to experience the best that Maine and MEA has to offer. Please feel free to email me at rjohnson@maineea.org. I look forward to hearing from you.

Most importantly, I am hopeful because of the great team MEA is.

And as we all emerge from this pandemic and start to feel a little more normal, MEA is emerging too.

Our board of directors and staff have been hard at work thinking about how we help members transition from hybrid remote learning to more in person if it can be done safely… how we support the new reality of public education in Maine, and how we take the lessons learned in this pandemic and apply them to make the organization better, stronger and more inclusive. The mission of the organization remains strong and guides the work.

Our racial and social justice journey is more important than ever, and MEA must continue to build a dynamic, powerful and welcoming organization for all.

So with one eye to the future and one eye on the immediate path ahead, I wish everyone hope for what sustains you and lifts you up during these trying times. Take care of yourselves and each other.

MEA is here when you need us.

Best,

Rachelle Johnson MEA Executive Director April 2021 • www.maineea.org

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A Checklist to Support

Ask yourself how you are supporting LGBTQ students today:

• Does your virtual classroom include visible signs, like Zoom backgrounds or posters, showing that you are LGBTQ affirming?

• Are you normalizing pronoun sharing

LGBTQ Students During Distance Learning

by sharing your pronouns, verbally, or by adding your pronouns to your name on your virtual platform if you have the option? Are you creating spaces for students to share their pronouns?

• Are you establishing trust with LGBTQ

students by using gender-inclusive and nonheteronormative language such as “students” instead of “boys and girls” and “family” or “caring adult” instead of “mom and dad”?

• Can you confirm a private, virtual

connection with an LGBTQ student that is not supported at home, so you can check-in with them about their family dynamic and brainstorm self-care strategies?

• Have you addressed the greater risk for

During the COVID-19 quarantine, educators across the country are learning how to continue to provide a safe and affirming experience for LGBTQ students via distance learning. Recent data supports the need for educator action and focus.

Educators are uniquely positioned to provide support and resources to LGBTQ students who are now more at risk due to the pandemic.

NEA EdJustice and HRC Foundation’s Welcoming Schools have joined together to offer a checklist and resources to help educators and allies navigate how to best support LGBTQ students as schools make this unprecedented pivot to distance learning.

LGBTQ cyberbullying — as students overall spend more time online during this period of social isolation — by utilizing teachable moments to not only stop negative antiLGBTQ language and behavior, but also to educate about LGBTQ terminology, history, and current events?

• With LGBTQ drop-in centers closed and LGBTQ student clubs

(i.e. GSA’s) no longer in session, are you sharing direct, online LGBTQ resources with your students that provide affirming support and connection for LGBTQ youth in virtual settings day or night — including the Trevor Project which offers 24-hours-aday, 365-days-a-year confidential and online support for LGBTQ youth?

Maintaining inclusivity and safe spaces for LGBTQ students is more important than ever during this period of emergency online learning.

Resources

• HRC's 2018 LGBTQ Youth Report -

Educators are uniquely positioned to provide support and resources to LGBTQ students who are now more at risk due to the pandemic.

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Maine Educator • April 2021

hrc.org/resources/2018-lgbtq-youth-report

• HRC Foundation -

welcomingschools.org/

• Virtual Classroom Zoom Backgrounds -

hrc.org/resources/zoom-with-pride-using-hrcs-digitalbackgrounds

Fitting In At School Isn't Just For

Students

By Nesrene Griffin, 4th Grade Teacher, Lewiston EA

Understanding the importance of racial diversity in our schools Having just left an 8-year stint with a multinational oil company, negotiating supply contracts in Asia Pacific, in 2006, my husband and I decided to uproot ourselves and relocate halfway across the world to his hometown, in Maine. I welcomed the career change, looking forward to finding a more fulfilling and meaningful vocation, something that didn’t involve intense travel commitments and excessive amounts of airport food. I found my passion while volunteering at my daughter’s first grade class and decided to pursue teaching, securing credentials through USM’s Extended Teacher Education Program. A year passed and I had not successfully entered the field, despite submitting 16 applications to various districts. I was eventually hired as an ESP. A month into my job, an administrator took a chance on me and graced me with a position at the front of a classroom.

After more than a decade of teaching, I can sadly say that I’ve earned a regretfully necessary badge for carefully navigating these unfamiliar and difficult spaces. While teaching in Lewiston, I have resonated and identified with over 70% of the students I have taught; being a Muslim, bilingual, and an immigrant; I unfortunately have been and still am grossly underrepresented in the educator demographic.

Early in my teaching career, I had to take on my husband’s last name, learn “appropriate” social nuances, dress the part to fit the norm and constantly bite my tongue at daily micro-aggression or racist comments said directly to and around me. To stay in good standing in my position, I felt I had to learn to accommodate the comfort of others, disregarding my personal comfort and feelings. So, I had to learn to just be.

You see, teaching in white spaces means that your resume gets overlooked for having a non-white sounding name. It means that you constantly have to be on top of your game because you represent the damaging idea of a Model Minority, only to watch other white colleagues being coddled and excused for “still learning” or “going through a rough patch”.

your laborious advocacy for equitable practices goes unnoticed because it is expected. It means that you need to demand that your leaders hold space, check-in, and publicly respond in the face of a national tragedy, that you recognize has a great impact on the diverse community that you serve. So, do you continue to just be?

Much of our education system values monolithic, white middle class and Eurocentric norms, perspectives, and representations. Examples of this are rampant in standardized tests, curriculum, literature, policies, placement, as well as the expectations for how our students behave, converse, and unsurprisingly, what is deemed as acceptable student and family engagement. Now imagine being any race other than White. A race that does not fit into this standard narrative. Imagine trying to find your place, challenging the status quo, and trying to overcome these numerous barriers. Undoubtedly, you can envision an experience that speaks to what our Black, Indigenous, and students of color are facing, learning and living, as they move through our educational spaces.

This experience is not any different for educators. Oftentimes, I hear fellow educators ponder on why some students are disengaged and also wonder about why a difficulty exists in recruiting, retaining and engaging educators of color to teach in our state.

Now that the awakening from the recent tragedies has finally caught on, what will you, as an educator here in Maine do to decenter whiteness in your schools? Will you craft a balance of the voices you amplify and whose stories you allow to be told? Will you commit to flipping the narrative and norms that you uphold to reflect the communities you serve? Will you revisit your policies, remove your biases, and seek to understand students and faculty who are underrepresented? Will you realize that you have done a disservice to all your students by centering some while excluding others? Will you commit to intentionally teach a generation of citizens who are prepared to engage with people who do not think or look like them? Will you speak up and include discourse on race and racism in your classroom, school, and community? Most importantly, will you step out of your comfort zone and encourage growth to a hopeful future for ALL of your students?

We certainly hope so because we are still here and we are still navigating these spaces.

Teaching in white spaces causes you to struggle with your identity and question your intersectional experience just to conform to white norms. It means that you hear comments like, “you need the right qualifications!” despite already having them and, “who is actually in charge here?” from a bus driver right after leading a detailed field trip plan. It means that you frequently code-switch and are constantly checking for tokenism. For a long time, it meant being the only one in the room to bring up racial equity and inclusion, when actually invited to have a seat at the table.

Teaching in white spaces means you quickly learn to read the room and effectively look for allies. It means that you are forced into acculturation in order to feel like you belong, are respected, valued, and heard, yet

Nesrene Griffin is a 4th grade teacher in Lewiston. She serves as LEA’s Human, Civil Rights & Social Justice Chair and was named 2017 Androscoggin County Teacher of the Year.

April 2021 • www.maineea.org

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advocates for vaccine PUSHING MEA/NEA access for its members and succeeds FOR PRIORITY While educators were busy working helping students, the Union was working hard to help key decision makers better understand why prioritization of educators for the COVID vaccine was so important.

At the National level, The National Education Association (NEA) called on the CDC and state authorities to prioritize educators for vaccine access. The CDC earlier categorized educators and school staff as a group at “increased risk of infection” and "thus one of the critical populations that should receive priority in initial phases when vaccine supply is limited.” In Maine, MEA leaders did the same citing the necessity of our public schools and the role they play not only in a child's education, health, and safety, but also the nation's economy, and vaccinating educators will help keep a consistent learning environment for students by allowing schools to remain open in a more predictable manner.

The push to prioritize came after much public exposure, conversations with state leaders and letters to Governor Mills. Maine Educator compiled just a sample of those efforts from over the last few months to help members better understand the work that occurred to help move the dial at the national level with President Biden and state level with the Governor.

Maine teachers demand to be prioritiezed for vaccine as districts look to expand in-person learning

Maine Educators Press State to Prioritize Vaccinations For Teachers "They've been putting their lives and their families' lives at risk to provide as much in-person instruction as possible," she said in an interview. "We understand the science, but we also need to recognize the fact that our educators who are doing the work in personwhich is the vast majority-are in close promixity to a large number of people."- Grace Leavitt quoted article in the Portland Press Herald.

"This is not what we've been advocating for." MEA President on vaccinations for state's educators She and other teachers, though, applaud President Biden's call to administer at least one dose of the vaccine to all educators by the end of March to reopen more schools across the nation.

The Maine Education Association is calling for 50,000+ educators to be prioritized in the state's COVID-19 vaccine plans.

WABI TV 5

Maine educators cautiously optimistic after Biden's push to prioritized teacher vaccinations "All of these people are on the frontlines with students. and need to be prioritized for getting vaccinations." -NEWSCENTER Maine

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Maine Educator • April 2021

"I will remain very hopeful and quite confident, but we are aboslutely going to watch this very carefully," said Grace Leavitt, president of the MEA. - WMTW

Letter to Governor Mills following change in 1B designation for educators. To read the full letter log on to maineea.org

Following Biden's lead, Mills allows 50,000 Maine educators to receive COVID-19 vaccine The Maine Department of Health and Human Services said an estimated 36,400 school staff and 16,000 child care providers are now eligible to receive the vaccine.

NEWSCENTER MAINE

Maine will open vaccine eligibility to school staff regardless of age Maine's announcement came just a few days after the state said it would prioritize vaccinations based on age.

The Maine Education Association pushed back on those plans in a letter to the governor Monday, saying many educators, including young teachers with high-risk medical conditions, were angry to not be prioritized even as pressure mounts for schools to add more in-person learning.

“After months of advocacy from the MEA and the National Education Association – continued phone calls, letters and conversations about the need for a vaccine for all our educators – MEA and its pre-K-12 members are breathing a collective sigh of relief tonight,” Maine Education Association President Grace Leavitt said in a statement Wednesday. The union said it was pleased pre-K-12 educators have been heard and will be prioritized, and it will continue to advocate for vaccines to be made available to those who work in higher education.

"This is a huge, huge thing for our pre-k 12 educators in Maine and really goes a long way towards helping to ease that anxiety, that stress, and certainly helps to keep them safer as we continue to provide instruction for our students," said Leavitt. This is huge. A huge relief. We do want to keep advocating for our highered as well, we know that. But this is really, really great and appreciated very much."

WMTW, Maine to begin vaccinating all educators in response to President Biden's directive

Letter to Governor Mills urging to prioritize educators in Phase 1b from NEA President, Becky Pringle and MEA President, Grace Leavitt. To read the full letter log on to maineea.org

Portland Press Herald

April 2021 • www.maineea.org

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Money Matters How Much You Make, How To Save More, How To Get Rid of Debt

At the end of the day, while we know you’re not in this work for the salary, money does matter. Knowing how much you earn compared to districts in your geographic area can help you negotiate better pay in the future. When it comes to salaries, knowledge is power. MEA compiles a salary guide each year in the Spring to provide its members with that knowledge.

On top of making more money, there are always ways your membership can help you save money. Did you know you can receive a cash reward for simply comparing prices for certain in-network medical procedures such as mammograms, MRI’s, lab tests, and physical therapy?

MEABT’s Smart Shopper program couldn’t be easier to use and not only provides you with convenient care, but with cash back in your pocket.

Your Union can also help you get education loan payments under control, and in some cases forgiven completely.

Members here in Maine and across the country have saved thousands of dollars on student loan payments, and in one case a NEA member in New Jersey had more than $103,000 in student loans forgiven.....completely wiped out! Your membership offers you access to a program that can help you navigate your student debt and put more money back in your pocket.

Take advantage of the information your Union provides, and take the time to review the following pages closely so you can truly make the most of your membership and the money you’re earning.

Educators get an advantage with Horace Mann auto insurance!

Receive special educator and association member discounts, as well as educator-specific features and benefits at no extra charge.

Contact your local Horace Mann representative today to see how much you could save.

Richard McAdam.... Brewer .................... 207-922-2279 Martha Frost ........... Falmouth ................ 207-797-3019 Joe DeFranco ......... Bangor ................... 207-941-2121 P. J. Kinney ............. Presque Isle ........... 207-764-1283 Auburn ................... 207-783-3660 Troy True ................. Brunswick .............. 207-729-1975 Dominic Vermette ... East Waterboro ...... 207-247-0186 Paul Yarnevich ........ South Portland ....... 207-510-6600 Jeff Delisle .............. Augusta .................. 207-623-5004

Horace Mann Insurance Company and its affiliates underwrite Horace Mann auto insurance. Discounts and benefits are subject to terms and conditions and may vary be state. MEA has agreements with Horace Mann and affiliates where Horace Mann pays MEA to provide various services that are aimed at familiarizing MEA members with Mann brand, products or services.

12 the Horace Maine Educator • April 2021 CM-V41287MEA (1-21)

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E A S alary

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MEA maintains a salary database to better help members understand how educators are paid across Maine. MEA encourages you to use this information as you advocate for wages and benefits in your district. The data on the following pages is based off of contracts submitted to MEA for the 2020-21 school year. Due to space limitations, the minimum salaries for Education Support Professionals will not appear in print, but you can find them in the online version of our publication, Maine Educator Online at maineea.org.

ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY School District

BACHELOR’S MIN STEP 10

MAX

MASTER’S MIN STEP 10 MAX

Auburn Lewiston Lisbon RSU 16, Poland RSU 52, Turner RSU 73, Jay-Livermore ANDROSCOGGIN AVERAGE

$38,854 $36,300 $36,261 $37,301 $37,598 $37,153 $37,245

$61,031 $63,888 $65,507 $60,900 $67,906 $63,350 $63,764

$42,942 $38,600 $40,612 $39,078 $39,761 $38,702 $39,949

AROOSTOOK COUNTY School District

BACHELOR’S MIN STEP 10

MAX

MASTER’S MIN STEP 10 MAX

Caswell Easton Limestone RSU 29, Houlton RSU 32, Ashland RSU 39, Caribou RSU 42, Mars Hill RSU 45, Washburn RSU 50, Island Falls RSU 70, Hodgdon RSU 79, Presque Isle RSU 86, Fort Fairfield RSU 88, Van Buren Woodland AROOSTOOK AVERAGE

$35,000 $39,000 $38,000 $39,750 $37,000 $38,000 $37,000 $35,000 $35,000 $35,000 $35,000 $37,500 $37,000 $37,740 $36,856

$43,000 $64,188 $68,331 $66,000 $63,085 $68,331 $62,160 $54,000 $57,200 $57,675 $63,982 $69,800 $67,430 $53,808 $61,356

$35,000 $41,000 $40,000 $41,750 $40,000 $40,000 $39,960 $36,000 $35,000 $37,100 $36,854 $40,000 $39,000 $38,940 $38,615

CUMBERLAND COUNTY School District

BACHELOR’S MIN STEP 10

MAX

MASTER’S MIN STEP 10 MAX

Brunswick Cape Elizabeth Falmouth Gorham Portland RSU 05, Freeport RSU 14, Windham RSU 15, Gray RSU 51, Cumberland RSU 61, Bridgton Scarborough South Portland Westbrook Yarmouth CUMBERLAND AVERAGE

$39,499 $43,392 $43,458 $40,500 $37,727 $39,671 $39,524 $39,015 $45,794 $36,182 $41,466 $42,467 $35,598 $43,001 $40,521

$74,466 $75,719 $78,225 $69,834 $64,315 $67,044 $71,351 $68,218 $73,483 $52,464 $74,034 $67,948 $74,619 $76,972 $70,621

$41,870 $48,600 $47,804 $44,376 $41,320 $44,034 $43,169 $41,515 $51,454 $39,800 $45,692 $46,512 $39,157 $47,301 $44,472

FRANKLIN COUNTY School District

BACHELOR’S MIN STEP 10

MAX

MASTER’S MIN STEP 10 MAX

Flagstaff RSU, Eustis RSU 58, Phillips RSU 78, Rangeley FRANKLIN AVERAGE

$37,500 $36,820 $35,164 $36,495

$76,900 $62,285 $61,931 $67,039

$40,000 $40,370 $38,751 $39,707

$52,744 $49,368 $61,285 $45,295 $52,045 $49,125 $51,644

$41,000 $52,191 $53,110 $50,250 $52,651 $51,463 $50,320 $40,000 $39,500 $42,675 $41,854 $53,600 $53,110 $49,242 $47,926

$53,092 $62,181 $63,014 $58,363 $51,739 $55,539 $52,245 $51,465 $55,800 $50,655 $55,644 $60,668 $54,337 $64,502 $56,375

$52,672 $42,659 $45,012 $46,781

$57,925 $52,496 $68,639 $47,071 $55,039 $51,491 $55,444

$44,000 $55,371 $55,766 $52,250 $56,920 $54,036 $54,346 $42,000 $42,500 $44,775 $43,708 $56,100 $56,550 $50,442 $50,626

$57,138 $67,388 $67,360 $62,488 $60,183 $61,688 $55,890 $54,865 $62,696 $54,273 $59,622 $60,668 $57,897 $68,802 $60,783

$56,623 $46,772 $48,599 $50,665

$66,931 $67,936 $73,368 $62,900 $71,813 $66,431 $68,230

$46,000 $68,040 $71,747 $68,000 $68,200 $71,747 $67,133 $56,000 $60,200 $59,775 $65,836 $72,300 $72,150 $66,008 $65,224

$78,512 $81,967 $84,744 $73,959 $69,524 $75,851 $74,996 $72,765 $82,565 $65,128 $79,493 $76,037 $78,178 $83,423 $76,939

$82,668 $68,291 $65,518 $72,159

Steps BA MAX/MA (BA/MA) MAX (OUT OF 167) 15 101/87 19 82/83 36 68/33 20 103/112 20 41/41 18 85/91 Steps BA MAX/MA (BA/MA) MAX (OUT OF 167) 11 165/165 17 76/80 18 33/42 25 58/82 16 88/78 18 33/42 17 93/86 30 145/146 20 131/132 25 123/134 38 78/95 18 28/39 17 44/40 12 146/147 Steps BA MAX/MA (BA/MA) MAX (OUT OF 167) 24 13/15 25 7/7 25 2/1 25 27/30 31 74/58 26 50/23 24 22/27 24 37/36 36 16/5 18 148/102 30 14/11 16 40/21 50 12/17 40 3/3 Steps BA MAX/MA (BA/MA) MAX (OUT OF 167) 21 4/4 25 90/76 21 95/98

April 2021 • www.maineea.org

13

HANCOCK COUNTY School District

BACHELOR’S MIN STEP 10

MAX

MASTER’S MIN STEP 10 MAX

AOS 91 - Bar Harbor AOS 91 - Mt Desert CSD AOS 91 - Southwest Harbor AOS 91 - Tremont AOS 91 - Trenton Blue Hill Brooksville Castine Ellsworth Hancock Lamoine Otis Penobscot RSU 24, Sullivan RSU 25, Bucksport Surry HANCOCK AVERAGE

$42,500 $42,500 $42,500 $42,500 $42,500 $38,933 $35,530 $35,000 $37,667 $37,750 $39,045 $37,492 $35,000 $37,000 $36,000 $38,607 $38,783

$65,700 $65,700 $65,700 $65,700 $65,700 $44,132 $46,006 $45,433 $56,167 $51,350 $56,058 $57,309 $41,600 $57,153 $59,439 $56,616 $56,235

$45,250 $45,250 $45,250 $45,250 $45,250 $41,418 $38,168 $37,674 $40,167 $40,750 $42,535 $39,634 $35,000 $39,000 $39,000 $39,820 $41,214

KENNEBEC COUNTY School District

BACHELOR’S MIN STEP 10

MAX

MASTER’S MIN STEP 10 MAX

Augusta Fayette RSU 02, Hallowell RSU 11, Gardiner RSU 18, Oakland RSU 38, Maranacook Vassalboro Waterville Winslow Winthrop KENNEBEC AVERAGE

$38,511 $35,750 $37,660 $38,195 $38,000 $39,800 $38,272 $37,275 $37,772 $35,000 $37,624

$67,866 $57,826 $61,973 $63,611 $68,400 $64,038 $67,143 $71,353 $73,720 $59,691 $65,562

$41,118 $37,250 $42,212 $40,296 $40,000 $41,800 $40,272 $39,275 $39,689 $37,300 $39,921

KNOX COUNTY School District

BACHELOR’S MIN STEP 10

MAX

MASTER’S MIN STEP 10 MAX

Appleton Five Town CSD Hope Knox Region 8 RSU 07, North Haven RSU 08, Vinalhaven RSU 13, Rockland RSU 28, Camden St. George KNOX AVERAGE

$36,033 $42,341 $37,000 $39,324 $42,736 $39,201 $40,000 $42,341 $40,500 $39,942

$60,216 $75,609 $59,691 $65,540 $66,123 $70,000 $67,425 $75,609 $68,877 $67,677

$39,032 $45,895 $39,900 $42,824 $45,389 $40,701 $42,875 $45,895 $41,907 $42,713

LINCOLN COUNTY School District

BACHELOR’S MIN STEP 10

MAX

MASTER’S MIN STEP 10 MAX

AOS 93 - Bristol AOS 93 - Great Salt Bay CSD AOS 93 - Jefferson AOS 93 - Nobleboro AOS 93 - South Bristol AOS 98 - Boothbay AOS 98 - Edgecomb AOS 09 - Georgetown AOS 98 - Southport RSU 12, Windsor RSU 40, Waldoboro LINCOLN AVERAGE

$39,639 $42,959 $36,181 $35,500 $40,640 $37,871 $45,245 $38,179 $40,526 $36,307 $40,450 $39,409

$66,410 $66,833 $61,020 $57,464 $65,799 $73,206 $69,836 $72,061 $69,572 $64,951 $66,282 $66,676

$41,630 $44,959 $40,510 $37,500 $43,263 $39,654 $47,245 $40,283 $45,592 $39,357 $42,914 $42,082

14

Maine Educator • April 2021

$50,700 $50,700 $50,700 $50,700 $50,700 $44,132 $44,570 $43,328 $42,545 $44,250 $44,778 $46,865 $41,600 $44,606 $43,302 $46,392 $46,242

$46,120 $45,045 $43,682 $46,975 $44,200 $45,571 $51,700 $45,160 $46,163 $45,247 $45,986

$45,343 $58,249 $45,123 $50,138 $53,873 $50,289 $52,250 $58,249 $52,375 $51,765

$55,915 $52,650 $44,950 $48,383 $51,717 $49,815 $59,346 $53,580 $53,950 $44,997 $46,910 $51,110

$53,450 $53,450 $53,450 $53,450 $53,450 $48,103 $47,377 $46,638 $45,186 $47,250 $48,266 $49,007 $43,500 $46,727 $44,500 $48,575 $48,899

$49,342 $46,545 $48,961 $49,559 $46,200 $47,571 $52,357 $47,584 $48,506 $48,047 $48,467

$48,343 $61,803 $48,023 $53,638 $56,525 $51,789 $56,375 $61,803 $54,759 $54,784

$58,757 $54,650 $50,328 $51,109 $55,042 $52,161 $60,657 $55,684 $60,693 $48,047 $49,767 $54,263

$68,450 $68,450 $68,450 $68,450 $68,450 $53,303 $51,872 $52,510 $58,667 $54,350 $62,340 $59,452 $48,250 $60,350 $63,753 $59,673 $60,423

$72,607 $59,326 $69,463 $67,200 $70,400 $66,038 $69,143 $75,182 $77,461 $62,491 $68,931

$63,216 $79,162 $62,591 $69,040 $68,776 $71,500 $69,425 $79,162 $71,259 $70,459

$69,745 $68,833 $68,321 $60,701 $70,029 $76,463 $72,923 $74,165 $78,269 $68,001 $70,319 $70,706

Steps BA MAX/MA (BA/MA) MAX (OUT OF 167) 25 60/70 25 60/70 25 60/70 25 60/70 25 60/70 22 164/155 14 161/159 19 163/158 21 138/142 20 152/150 21 139/118 20 130/139 14 167/164 20 132/131 24 117/107 20 135/137 Steps BA MAX/MA (BA/MA) MAX (OUT OF 167) 28 42/37 21 125/140 22 94/60 22 83/85 28 31/53 30 77/93 27 48/62 33 21/24 30 15/18 30 114/116 Steps BA MAX/MA (BA/MA) MAX (OUT OF 167) 20 110/110 20 8/12 19 113/115 21 66/64 21 57/68 25 25/44 19 45/61 20 8/12 19 30/45 Steps BA MAX/MA (BA/MA) MAX (OUT OF 167) 15 55/58 20 53/67 20 102/75 14 129/128 17 59/56 22 17/20 16 26/35 20 20/29 18 29/16 23 72/81 23 56/55

OXFORD COUNTY School District

BACHELOR’S MIN STEP 10

MAX

MASTER’S MIN STEP 10 MAX

Fryeburg Academy RSU 10, Rumford RSU 17, South Paris RSU 44, Bethel RSU 55, Porter RSU 56, Dixfield RSU 72, Fryeburg OXFORD AVERAGE

$38,250 $38,400 $38,468 $38,327 $36,000 $38,400 $35,000 $37,549

$60,250 $68,331 $59,468 $61,898 $59,950 $68,331 $58,751 $62,426

$41,250 $41,400 $40,692 $40,681 $37,800 $41,500 $36,946 $40,038

PENOBSCOT COUNTY School District

BACHELOR’S MIN STEP 10

MAX

MASTER’S MIN STEP 10 MAX

AOS 94 - SAD 46, Dexter Bangor Brewer East Millinocket Glenburn Greenbush Hermon Milford Millinocket Northern Penobscot Region 3 Orrington RSU 19, Newport RSU 22, Hampden RSU 26, Orono RSU 31, Howland RSU 34, Old Town RSU 63, Holden RSU 64, Corinth RSU 67, Lincoln RSU 87, Carmel RSU 89, Patten Southern Penobscot Region 4 PENOBSCOT AVERAGE

$37,264 $40,605 $35,590 $35,000 $37,000 $35,000 $37,200 $37,925 $36,500 $35,741 $37,082 $35,731 $36,572 $36,500 $35,700 $39,500 $35,000 $36,414 $35,500 $35,500 $35,000 $35,000 $36,424

$65,171 $73,127 $68,349 $59,360 $67,025 $57,935 $63,152 $64,831 $58,000 $60,410 $55,306 $65,537 $66,424 $73,150 $58,000 $68,000 $49,750 $60,863 $60,000 $50,903 $60,680 $57,100 $61,958

$41,014 $43,918 $39,113 $35,871 $39,000 $36,600 $39,200 $39,525 $38,000 $$41,745 $38,881 $39,149 $38,500 $37,700 $42,000 $36,500 $38,414 $36,000 $37,200 $35,000 $35,000 $36,742

PISCATAQUIS COUNTY School District

BACHELOR’S MIN STEP 10

MAX

MASTER’S MIN STEP 10 MAX

Greenville RSU 68, Dover-Foxcroft PISCATAQUIS AVERAGE

$39,437 $35,000 $37,219

$68,119 $57,023 $62,571

$44,636 $37,000 $40,818

SAGADAHOC COUNTY School District

BACHELOR’S MIN STEP 10

MAX

MASTER’S MIN STEP 10 MAX

RSU 01, Bath RSU 75, Topsham West Bath SAGADAHOC AVERAGE

$35,442 $40,000 $36,724 $37,389

$76,466 $70,500 $76,130 $74,365

$38,986 $44,500 $40,398 $41,295

SOMERSET COUNTY School District

BACHELOR’S MIN STEP 10

MAX

MASTER’S MIN STEP 10 MAX

AOS 94 - Harmony Athens RSU 49, Fairfield RSU 53, Pittsfield RSU 54, Skowhegan RSU 59, Madison RSU 74, Anson RSU 82, Jackman RSU 83, Bingham SOMERSET AVERAGE

$36,094 $40,189 $39,000 $35,000 $37,750 $37,230 $37,339 $36,044 $35,000 $37,072

$48,469 $55,793 $67,000 $61,169 $67,210 $61,057 $55,412 $62,178 $62,800 $60,121

$39,193 $45,012 $41,000 $39,236 $40,950 $40,230 $38,563 $38,848 $39,326 $40,262

$45,250 $53,110 $46,868 $46,115 $42,800 $53,110 $43,716 $47,281

$44,608 $55,572 $53,399 $40,974 $49,650 $47,958 $47,200 $44,331 $42,000 $48,940 $46,046 $45,933 $46,198 $48,550 $41,000 $50,750 $43,750 $45,049 $40,500 $41,311 $39,960 $44,300 $45,817

$53,778 $42,431 $48,105

$53,163 $56,200 $54,124 $54,496

$45,613 $49,552 $45,000 $46,925 $45,480 $50,633 $45,220 $49,062 $53,680 $47,907

$48,250 $57,093 $49,092 $48,904 $44,600 $57,093 $46,802 $50,262

$63,250 $73,455 $61,692 $65,161 $61,750 $73,455 $62,899 $65,952

$48,358 $60,106 $58,206 $42,174 $51,650 $49,258 $49,200 $45,931 $43,500

$68,921 $79,093 $74,501 $60,560 $69,025 $59,235 $65,293 $66,431 $59,500 $$49,901 $59,990 $49,083 $68,687 $49,466 $70,903 $50,550 $75,150 $43,000 $60,000 $53,250 $70,500 $45,250 $51,250 $47,049 $62,863 $41,500 $62,000 $43,011 $52,603 $42,960 $63,680 $46,200 $60,600 $48,076 $61,854

$58,977 $73,317 $45,505 $61,155 $52,241 $67,236

$56,707 $60,700 $57,796 $58,401

$52,952 $55,498 $49,000 $51,541 $48,680 $53,633 $47,395 $51,866 $60,315 $52,320

$80,414 $75,100 $80,061 $78,525

$68,087 $62,489 $70,000 $65,784 $70,410 $64,057 $66,825 $64,982 $70,562 $67,022

Steps BA MAX/MA (BA/MA) MAX (OUT OF 167) 22 109/109 18 33/31 22 116/121 22 96/101 24 112/120 18 33/31 19 121/113 Steps BA MAX/MA (BA/MA) MAX (OUT OF 167) 26 69/66 21 19/14 16 32/28 26 118/130 18 51/65 16 124/141 22 87/100 22 73/92 40 122/138 12 108/167 20 143/134 24 67/69 23 54/46 24 18/25 24 122/133 20 39/51 16 157/160 23 104/114 30 111/119 20 154/157 23 107/108 20 133/129 Steps BA MAX/MA (BA/MA) MAX (OUT OF 167) 20 38/34 26 134/124 Steps BA MAX/MA (BA/MA) MAX (OUT OF 167) 20 5/9 17 23/26 20 6/10 Steps BA MAX/MA (BA/MA) MAX (OUT OF 167) 22 159/79 24 140/117 25 52/57 25 99/96 31 46/52 30 100/106 25 142/89 19 92/103 17 89/49

April 2021 • www.maineea.org

15

WALDO COUNTY School District

BACHELOR’S MIN STEP 10

MAX

MASTER’S MIN STEP 10 MAX

Lincolnville Northport RSU 03, Unity RSU 20, Searsport RSU 71, Belfast Waldo Region 7 WALDO AVERAGE

$40,936 $37,167 $37,000 $35,292 $35,380 $39,632 $37,568

$67,061 $63,948 $57,550 $60,783 $63,935 $54,149 $61,238

$44,436 $39,832 $40,500 $37,576 $37,580 $41,716 $40,273

WASHINGTON COUNTY School District

BACHELOR’S MIN STEP 10

MAX

MASTER’S MIN STEP 10 MAX

A0S 77 - Alexander AOS 77 - Charlotte AOS 77 - Eastport AOS 77 - Lubec AOS 77 - Pembroke AOS 77 - Perry AOS 90 - Baileyville AOS 90 - Princeton AOS 96 - East Machias AOS 96 - Jonesboro AOS 96 - Machias AOS 96 - Whiting Calais Cherryfield Culter East Range CSD Machiasport Moosabec CSD RSU 37, Harrington Washington Academy WASHINGTON AVERAGE

$35,000 $35,000 $35,000 $35,000 $35,715 $35,000 $35,000 $35,000 $35,000 $35,000 $35,000 $33,000 $35,000 $35,000 $35,000 $35,000 $35,000 $36,194 $35,000 $35,450 $35,018

$59,200 $42,605 $57,600 $59,200 $51,665 $59,600 $64,963 $55,650 $51,218 $50,419 $50,274 $46,500 $61,516 $52,600 $45,800 $56,500 $49,500 $52,094 $51,618 $56,600 $53,756

$37,000 $35,000 $36,925 $37,000 $37,265 $36,500 $36,647 $35,000 $36,363 $35,000 $33,524 $35,000 $35,000 $36,100 $36,575 $37,000 $36,000 $36,994 $35,767 $37,450 $36,106

YORK COUNTY School District

BACHELOR’S MIN STEP 10

MAX

MASTER’S MIN STEP 10 MAX

Acton Biddeford Dayton Kittery RSU 06, Buxton RSU 21, Kennebunk RSU 23, Old Orchard Beach RSU 35, Eliot RSU 57, Alfred RSU 60, Berwick Saco Sanford Thornton Academy Wells-Qgunquit CSD York YORK AVERAGE STATEWIDE AVERAGE

$38,541 $37,150 $37,861 $42,864 $40,320 $42,993 $36,550 $43,843 $39,500 $36,053 $37,949 $39,065 $37,948 $49,870 $48,289 $40,586 $37,856

$64,541 $63,155 $63,569 $65,028 $61,763 $75,515 $62,281 $70,343 $65,660 $63,914 $67,208 $67,547 $60,717 $79,359 $75,053 $67,044 $63,901

$41,318 $40,865 $40,147 $46,014 $43,344 $47,393 $39,766 $48,227 $42,886 $39,048 $40,909 $42,000 $41,743 $54,207 $53,117 $44,066 $40,517

$53,651 $53,065 $46,000 $48,649 $51,125 $48,964 $50,242

$52,800 $35,612 $52,800 $52,800 $41,215 $51,200 $49,972 $43,500 $38,563 $39,919 $39,024 $38,000 $46,137 $43,000 $39,800 $47,500 $40,000 $44,194 $41,759 $43,200 $44,050

$51,541 $55,725 $49,942 $54,779 $51,763 $57,098 $51,024 $57,693 $51,300 $50,925 $51,270 $52,399 $56,922 $65,048 $64,116 $54,770 $49,406

$57,151 $55,730 $49,500 $50,932 $53,325 $51,048 $52,948

$54,800 $37,560 $55,000 $54,800 $43,265 $52,700 $53,304 $46,200 $41,063 $40,419 $41,024 $40,800 $49,213 $44,100 $41,575 $52,000 $41,625 $45,294 $43,663 $45,200 $46,180

$54,318 $59,440 $52,171 $57,930 $54,793 $61,498 $54,240 $61,427 $54,686 $53,920 $54,230 $55,335 $60,717 $69,384 $70,527 $58,308 $52,667

$70,561 $66,613 $61,050 $63,066 $65,862 $56,253 $63,901

$61,200 $44,554 $59,800 $61,200 $54,665 $61,100 $68,288 $58,350 $54,218 $50,919 $53,774 $51,000 $64,592 $53,700 $48,575 $61,000 $53,500 $53,194 $54,717 $58,600 $56,347

$67,318 $72,443 $65,531 $70,601 $64,808 $80,415 $65,498 $77,377 $69,046 $66,909 $70,396 $70,792 $75,896 $83,694 $82,556 $72,219 $67,883

Steps BA MAX/MA (BA/MA) MAX (OUT OF 167) 21 49/50 15 79/90 21 128/126 24 105/111 15 80/94 15 144/145 Steps BA MAX/MA (BA/MA) MAX (OUT OF 167) 14 49/50 25 79/90 12 128/126 14 105/111 29 80/94 16 144/145 30 71/77 27 141/144 28 153/151 24 155/162 27 156/152 27 160/161 40 98/105 22 147/153 24 162/163 16 137/127 30 158/154 23 149/156 24 151/148 27 136/143 Steps BA MAX/MA (BA/MA) MAX (OUT OF 167) 20 74/84 17 86/38 19 84/97 15 70/48 25 97/104 28 10/8 16 91/99 15 24/19 22 65/63 18 81/88 19 47/54 19 43/47 18 106/22 23 1/2 14 11/6

The following are the maximums and minimums for the job classifications submitted by local associations. To see previous years please visit maineea.org

16

Maine Educator • April 2021

Bus Drivers Minimum Maximum Rank District 1 RSU 73, Jay-Livermore 2 Blue Hill 3 RSU 75, Topsham 4 RSU 05, Freeport 5 RSU 52, Turner 6 Cape Elizabeth 7 Falmouth 8 RSU 51, Cumberland 9 South Portland 10 AOS 93 - Jefferson 11 RSU 18, Oakland 12 St. George 13 RSU 15, Gray 14 RSU 40, Waldoboro 15 RSU 13 16 Scarborough 17 RSU 61, Bridgton 18 RSU 28, Camden 19 RSU 71, Belfast 20 RSU 38, Maranacook 21 Hermon 22 AOS 91 - Bar Harbor 23 RSU 11, Gardiner 24 RSU 04, Sabattus 25 RSU 67, Lincoln 26 RSU 21, Kennebunk 27 Dayton 28 RSU 29, Houlton 29 Biddeford 30 RSU 78, Rangeley 31 Lisbon 32 RSU 80, Guilford 33 RSU 10, Rumford 34 RSU 56 - Dixfield 35 RSU 54, Skowhegan 36 RSU 02, Hallowell 37 Saco 38 AOS 93 - Great Salt Bay CSD 39 RSU 09, Farmington 40 AOS 95 - SAD 27, Fort Kent 41 RSU 03, Unity 42 RSU 74, Anson 43 AOS 94 - SAD 46, Dexter 44 RSU 58, Phillips 45 RSU 31, Howland 46 RSU 12, Windsor 47 RSU 23, Old Orchard Beach 48 RSU 50, Island Falls 49 AOS 90 - Baileyville 50 Woodland 51 AOS 77 - RSU 85, Lubec 52 Caswell 53 Athens 54 AOS 96 - East Machias 55 AOS 96 - Machias 56 RSU 83, Bingham 57 AOS 77 - Pembroke 58 AOS 96 - Whiting 59 AOS 77 - Eastport 60 RSU 64, Corinth 61 AOS 96 - Machiasport

Mean $16.39 $19.84 Minimum $20.90 $20.81 $19.93 $19.89 $19.65 $19.56 $19.45 $19.33 $19.29 $19.00 $18.86 $18.72 $18.57 $18.19 $18.00 $17.89 $17.81 $17.78 $17.58 $17.57 $17.50 $17.43 $17.25 $17.23 $17.14 $17.03 $16.81 $16.80 $16.54 $16.52 $16.40 $16.40 $16.31 $16.31 $16.27 $16.13 $16.05 $16.00 $15.79 $15.61 $15.50 $15.39 $15.37 $15.12 $15.00 $14.63 $14.51 $14.15 $14.05 $14.05 $14.00 $14.00 $13.48 $13.19 $12.80 $12.69 $12.58 $12.50 $12.46 $12.30 $12.00

Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61

District RSU 21, Kennebunk RSU 05, Freeport RSU 12, Windsor Falmouth Cape Elizabeth Biddeford RSU 23, Old Orchard Beach RSU 75, Topsham St. George RSU 40, Waldoboro RSU 28, Camden AOS 93 - Great Salt Bay CSD Dayton RSU 51, Cumberland RSU 13 Saco RSU 15, Gray RSU 38, Maranacook RSU 73, Jay-Livermore RSU 02, Hallowell Blue Hill Scarborough RSU 52, Turner Lisbon RSU 61, Bridgton South Portland RSU 74, Anson AOS 77 - RSU 85, Lubec RSU 71, Belfast AOS 91 - Bar Harbor RSU 78, Rangeley RSU 18, Oakland AOS 90 - Baileyville Woodland RSU 11, Gardiner RSU 09, Farmington AOS 93 - Jefferson RSU 10, Rumford RSU 56 - Dixfield RSU 80, Guilford RSU 67, Lincoln Caswell RSU 31, Howland RSU 50, Island Falls RSU 04, Sabattus AOS 77 - Eastport AOS 96 - East Machias RSU 83, Bingham RSU 54, Skowhegan AOS 94 - SAD 46, Dexter RSU 03, Unity AOS 96 - Whiting Hermon AOS 77 - Pembroke AOS 96 - Machias AOS 95 - SAD 27, Fort Kent Athens RSU 58, Phillips RSU 64, Corinth RSU 29, Houlton AOS 96 - Machiasport

Maximum $23.93 $23.54 $23.21 $23.16 $22.95 $22.85 $22.71 $22.47 $22.47 $22.43 $22.37 $22.34 $22.16 $22.02 $22.00 $22.00 $21.98 $21.32 $20.90 $20.86 $20.81 $20.73 $20.50 $20.31 $20.31 $20.30 $20.01 $20.00 $19.94 $19.93 $19.60 $19.52 $19.44 $19.44 $19.25 $19.20 $19.00 $19.00 $19.00 $18.95 $18.61 $18.50 $18.50 $18.35 $18.28 $18.26 $18.19 $18.16 $18.11 $17.99 $17.70 $17.50 $17.50 $17.33 $17.30 $17.17 $17.07 $16.53 $16.30 $15.23 $14.64

April 2021 • www.maineea.org

17

Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67

18

Cook/Food Service Minimum Maximum District Yarmouth AOS 91 Bar Harbor RSU 71, Belfast Scarborough RSU 73, Jay RSU 67, Lincoln Yarmouth RSU 75, Topham Lewiston Gorham Portland RSU 10, Rumford Cape Elizabeth RSU 38, Maranacook RSU 61, Bridgton Sanford Blue Hill Northport Wells-Ogunquit Gorham Scarborough Five Town CSD RSU 28, Camden York Sanford RSU 13, Coastal RSU 05, Freeport RSU 53, Turner RSU 22, Hampden Lisbon St. George Lewiston RSU 89, Patten RSU 15, Gray RSU 54, Skowhegan Greenville RSU 04, Sabattus RSU 06, Buxton Portland RSU 38, Maranacook Winthrop Greenville RSU 59, Madison Auburn RSU 51, Cumberland Acton Kittery RSU 31, Howland AOS 95 SAD 27, Fort Kent RSU 80 Gilford AOS 98, Boothby Harbor CSD RSU 78, Rangeley RSU 74, Anson RSU 19, Newport AOS 77 Charlotte RSU 31, Howland RSU 60, Berwick RSU 02, Hallowell RSU 11, Gardiner RSU 18, Oakland Winslow RUS 03, Unity RSU 19, Newport RSU 29, Houlton Machias Glenburn AOS 77 Perry Maine Educator • April 2021

Mean $13.53 $16.99 Minimum $18.97 $16.93 $16.85 $16.51 $16.45 $16.39 $16.30 $16.26 $16.19 $16.11 $15.97 $15.87 $15.76 $15.41 $15.36 $15.24 $15.20 $15.10 $14.92 $14.75 $14.55 $14.40 $14.40 $14.27 $14.22 $14.00 $13.95 $13.90 $13.87 $13.81 $13.79 $13.73 $13.71 $13.51 $13.46 $13.43 $13.39 $13.39 $13.32 $13.26 $13.17 $13.10 $13.09 $13.00 $12.97 $12.84 $12.79 $12.75 $12.73 $12.68 $12.64 $12.59 $12.56 $12.55 $12.50 $12.50 $12.50 $12.48 $12.48 $12.48 $12.48 $12.35 $12.30 $12.30 $12.25 $12.24 $12.23

Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67

District York Portland Acton Yarmouth Gorham Northport Wells-Ogunquit AOS 91 Bar Harbor RSU 38, Maranacook Gorham Scarborough RSU 23, Old Orchard AOS 93 Jefferson RSU 51, Cumberland RSU 75, Topham Cape Elizabeth RSU 23, Old Orchard RSU 15, Gray Yarmouth RSU 13, Coastal RSU 71, Belfast RSU 73, Jay RSU 22, Harrington RSU 67, Lincoln RSU 61, Bridgton RSU 89, Patten AOS 77 Charlotte Winslow Blue Hill St George Portland RSU 38, Maranacook Lisbon RSU 12, Windsor Kittery Winthrop East Machias Whiting AOS 77 Perry RSU 83, Bingham Greenville RSU 05, Freeport RSU 16, Poland RSU 59, Madison RSU 74, Anson Scarborough AOS 93 Great Salt Bay CSD Machias RSU 60, Berwick AOS 90 Baileyville Woodland Hermon Lewiston Caswell AOS 98, Boothby Harbor CSD RSU 19, Newport Five Town CSD RSU 28, Camden RSU 18, Oakland RSU 06, Buxton RSU 50, Island Falls RSU 02, Hallowell AOS 93 Southport RSU 26, Orono RSU 19, Newport RSU 64, Corinth RSU 10, Rumford

Maximum $22.57 $21.57 $21.24 $20.97 $20.73 $20.32 $20.01 $19.43 $19.43 $19.38 $19.35 $19.20 $18.75 $18.66 $18.32 $18.28 $18.20 $18.16 $18.03 $18.00 $17.99 $17.95 $17.91 $17.87 $17.86 $17.77 $17.75 $17.58 $17.56 $17.54 $17.49 $17.28 $17.09 $17.07 $17.05 $17.04 $17.00 $17.00 $16.98 $16.97 $16.87 $16.84 $16.83 $16.83 $16.81 $16.80 $16.75 $16.75 $16.75 $16.64 $16.64 $16.60 $16.57 $16.50 $16.43 $16.39 $16.29 $16.29 $16.26 $16.22 $16.17 $16.15 $16.14 $16.11 $16.07 $16.00 $15.87

Cook/Food Service Continued District RSU 74, Anson Millinocket RSU 83, Bingham RSU 26, Orono RSU 16, Poland AOS 90 Baileyville Woodland RSU 50, Island Falls AOS 93 Great Salt Bay CSD AOS 93 Jefferson Caswell RSU 23, Old Orchard RSU 64, Corinth Athens AOS 93 Southport Hermon East Machias Whiting RSU 12, Windsor RSU 23, Old Orchard Machiasport Custodian Minimum Maximum Rank District 1 RSU 73, Jay-Livermore 2 Yarmouth 3 Scarborough 4 Cape Elizabeth 5 RSU 52, Turner 6 RSU 05, Freeport 7 RSU 75, Topsham 8 AOS 98 - Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor CSD 9 South Portland 10 Millinocket 11 RSU 71, Belfast 12 Gorham 13 RSU 61, Bridgton 14 Five Town CSD 15 RSU 28, Camden 16 AOS 91 - Bar Harbor 17 Falmouth 18 Scarborough 19 Blue Hill 20 Wells-Ogunquit CSD 21 RSU 51, Cumberland 22 RSU 06, Buxton 23 RSU 15, Gray 24 RSU 34, Old Town 25 St. George 26 RSU 04, Sabattus 27 RSU 22, Hampden 28 RSU 54, Skowhegan 29 Northport 30 RSU 38, Maranacook 31 RSU 11, Gardiner 32 RSU 13 33 RSU 25, Bucksport 34 RSU 58, Phillips 35 York 36 Dayton 37 RSU 40, Waldoboro 38 Bangor 39 RSU 21, Kennebunk 40 Auburn 41 RSU 09, Farmington 42 RSU 89, Patten Rank 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88

Minimum $12.21 $12.20 $12.16 $12.15 $12.12 $12.02 $12.02 $12.01 $12.00 $12.00 $12.00 $12.00 $12.00 $12.00 $12.00 $12.00 $12.00 $12.00 $12.00 $12.00 $12.00 Mean $14.67 $18.59 Minimum $20.90 $20.81 $19.62 $18.97 $18.60 $18.47 $18.44 $17.92

Rank 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88

District Sanford Greenville RSU 11, Gardiner RSU 31, Howland RSU 53, Turner RSU 31, Howland RSU 74, Anson RSU 80 Guilford RSU 29, Houlton RUS 03, Unity Sanford Athens RSU 78, Rangeley RSU 54, Skowhegan Millinocket Glenburn Sabattus AOS 95 SAD 27, Fort Kent Lewiston Machiasport Auburn

Maximum $15.80 $15.72 $15.63 $15.55 $15.38 $15.30 $15.22 $15.09 $15.02 $14.95 $14.80 $14.76 $14.75 $14.70 $14.60 $14.48 $14.46 $14.35 $13.73 $13.52 $13.00

Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

District York Scarborough Acton Yarmouth RSU 05, Freeport Wells-Ogunquit CSD Gorham Five Town CSD

Maximum $23.66 $23.28 $23.18 $23.12 $22.13 $21.93 $21.72 $21.55

$17.76 $17.70 $17.58 $17.38 $17.06 $16.98 $16.98 $16.93 $16.90 $16.81 $16.76 $16.37 $16.32 $16.01 $16.00 $15.58 $15.57 $15.55 $15.43 $15.12 $15.10 $15.10 $15.04 $15.00 $14.90 $14.84 $14.83 $14.80 $14.72 $14.71 $14.70 $14.63 $14.63 $14.53

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42

RSU 28, Camden Northport RSU 23, Old Orchard Beach Cape Elizabeth RSU 73, Jay-Livermore RSU 75, Topsham Falmouth AOS 93 - Jefferson RSU 34, Old Town Scarborough Saco RSU 22, Hampden Millinocket RSU 15, Gray RSU 51, Cumberland Dayton RSU 71, Belfast RSU 21, Kennebunk RSU 19, Newport RSU 61, Bridgton RSU 83, Bingham RSU 40, Waldoboro RSU 52, Turner AOS 91 - Bar Harbor Augusta RSU 38, Maranacook RSU 13 RSU 12, Windsor RSU 06, Buxton AOS 93 - Great Salt Bay CSD AOS 93 - South Bristol South Portland St. George RSU 02, Hallowell

$21.55 $21.47 $20.96 $20.95 $20.90 $20.84 $20.64 $20.45 $20.37 $20.23 $20.20 $20.17 $20.10 $20.07 $20.06 $20.05 $19.94 $19.65 $19.63 $19.58 $19.55 $19.53 $19.45 $19.43 $19.26 $19.12 $19.00 $18.95 $18.83 $18.69 $18.59 $18.59 $18.57 $18.47

April 2021 • www.maineea.org

19

Custodian Continued Rank District 43 RSU 16, Poland 44 RSU 02, Hallowell 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87

Saco Acton RSU 59, Madison RSU 74, Anson RSU 83, Bingham RSU 18, Oakland RSU 78, Rangeley RSU 31, Howland RSU 10, Rumford RSU 56 - Dixfield AOS 94 - SAD 46, Dexter AOS 93 - Great Salt Bay CSD RSU 23, Old Orchard Beach RSU 80, Guilford AOS 93 - South Bristol Portland Waldo Region 7 Augusta AOS 77 - Alexander AOS 93 - Jefferson Greenville RSU 50, Island Falls RSU 53, Pittsfield AOS 96 - Machias Athens RSU 19, Newport RSU 26, Orono Glenburn AOS 77 - Eastport RSU 24, Sullivan AOS 77 - RSU 85, Lubec RSU 03, Unity RSU 64, Corinth AOS 90 - Baileyville Woodland AOS 77 - Pembroke RSU 29, Houlton AOS 96 - East Machias AOS 96 - Whiting RSU 12, Windsor Milford Hermon AOS 96 - Machiasport Ed Tech I Minimum Maximum Rank District 1 Brunswick 2 RSU 75, Topsham 3 RSU 05, Freeport 4 Cape Elizabeth 5 Yarmouth 6 Gorham 7 RSU 52, Turner 8 RSU 71, Belfast 9 RSU 56 - Dixfield 10 Scarborough 11 Bangor 12 RSU 44, Bethel 13 Brewer 14 Portland 15 Northport 16 Wells-Ogunquit CSD 17 Blue Hill 18 RSU 51, Cumberland 20

Maine Educator • April 2021

Minimum $14.44 $14.27

Rank 43 44

Maximum $18.42 $18.37

45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87

District Auburn AOS 98 - Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor CSD Blue Hill RSU 89, Patten Waldo Region 7 RSU 16, Poland RSU 09, Farmington RSU 25, Bucksport RSU 18, Oakland Hermon AOS 77 - Alexander Bangor RSU 59, Madison Portland RSU 53, Pittsfield Milford AOS 96 - Machias AOS 90 - Baileyville Woodland Greenville RSU 31, Howland AOS 96 - East Machias AOS 96 - Whiting AOS 77 - Pembroke RSU 11, Gardiner AOS 77 - Eastport RSU 24, Sullivan RSU 74, Anson RSU 10, Rumford RSU 56 - Dixfield RSU 26, Orono RSU 50, Island Falls RSU 04, Sabattus AOS 77 - RSU 85, Lubec RSU 58, Phillips RSU 64, Corinth RSU 54, Skowhegan Athens RSU 78, Rangeley RSU 80, Guilford AOS 94 - SAD 46, Dexter Glenburn RSU 29, Houlton RSU 03, Unity AOS 96 - Machiasport

$14.27 $13.88 $13.77 $13.71 $13.70 $13.63 $13.63 $13.60 $13.42 $13.42 $13.41 $13.39 $13.36 $13.33 $13.32 $13.32 $13.20 $13.19 $13.13 $13.10 $13.06 $12.84 $12.83 $12.80 $12.78 $12.71 $12.66 $12.61 $12.51 $12.50 $12.39 $12.35 $12.30 $12.27 $12.27 $12.23 $12.15 $12.15 $12.15 $12.15 $12.15 $12.15 $12.15 Mean $13.48 $17.43 Minimum $17.35 $17.07 $16.99 $16.47 $16.23 $16.11 $16.02 $16.00 $15.66 $15.55 $15.46 $15.41 $15.12 $15.12 $15.10 $14.92 $14.79 $14.71

Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

District York Portland Brunswick RSU 05, Freeport Cape Elizabeth Acton AOS 77 - Eastport Gorham Scarborough Northport West Bath RSU 01, Lower Kennebec Area Wells-Ogunquit CSD RSU 71, Belfast Yarmouth Waldo Region 7 RSU 60, Berwick RSU 75, Topsham

Maximum $23.21 $22.45 $22.08 $21.30 $21.29 $21.24 $21.20 $20.84 $20.74 $20.32 $20.32 $20.30 $20.01 $20.00 $19.94 $19.81 $19.65 $19.65

$18.36 $18.36 $18.12 $18.05 $18.04 $17.90 $17.88 $17.80 $17.63 $17.62 $17.57 $17.49 $17.41 $17.40 $17.30 $17.23 $17.23 $17.20 $17.10 $17.00 $17.00 $16.98 $16.90 $16.86 $16.85 $16.83 $16.82 $16.82 $16.79 $16.76 $16.62 $16.59 $16.30 $16.30 $16.29 $16.18 $15.97 $15.69 $15.68 $15.63 $15.23 $14.95 $13.52

Rank 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86

Ed Tech I Continued District Lisbon York RSU 22, Hampden South Portland Waldo Region 7 RSU 04, Sabattus RSU 89, Patten Appleton RSU 06, Buxton RSU 45, Washburn Lewiston RSU 34, Old Town RSU 49, Fairfield Millinocket Greenville RSU 58, Phillips RSU 35, Eliot RSU 50, Island Falls Lamoine RSU 24, Sullivan RSU 54, Skowhegan RSU 01, Lower Kennebec Area West Bath Kittery RSU 40, Waldoboro RSU 61, Bridgton Medway RSU 60, Berwick RSU 74, Anson RSU 59, Madison RSU 15, Gray Winthrop RSU 21, Kennebunk RSU 13 RSU 25, Bucksport RSU 38, Maranacook RSU 80, Guilford RSU 67, Lincoln East Millinocket Acton AOS 77 - Alexander RSU 02, Hallowell St. George Dayton Auburn RSU 29, Houlton AOS 93 - South Bristol AOS 77 - RSU 85, Lubec AOS 77 - Eastport Hermon RSU 31, Howland Sanford RSU 09, Farmington AOS 94 - SAD 46, Dexter RSU 19, Newport Calais Vassalboro Winslow RSU 18, Oakland RSU 11, Gardiner RSU 64, Corinth AOS 90 - Baileyville Woodland AOS 77 - Charlotte AOS 96 - Machias Glenburn RSU 53, Pittsfield AOS 95 - SAD 27, Fort Kent

Minimum $14.69 $14.67 $14.63 $14.59 $14.42 $14.36 $14.36 $14.30 $14.28 $14.19 $14.13 $14.04 $14.02 $14.00 $13.99 $13.89 $13.86 $13.74 $13.70 $13.65 $13.60 $13.58 $13.58 $13.57 $13.37 $13.35 $13.28 $13.25 $13.22 $13.21 $13.17 $13.09 $13.05 $13.00 $13.00 $12.97 $12.93 $12.91 $12.90 $12.84 $12.81 $12.74 $12.65 $12.62 $12.61 $12.57 $12.56 $12.53 $12.50 $12.50 $12.50 $12.45 $12.44 $12.42 $12.40 $12.37 $12.36 $12.34 $12.31 $12.30 $12.30 $12.27 $12.27 $12.25 $12.25 $12.24 $12.24 $12.17

Rank 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86

District Bangor Waterville RSU 22, Hampden RSU 35, Eliot Brewer RSU 49, Fairfield RSU 23, Old Orchard Beach RSU 15, Gray Lewiston AOS 93 - Jefferson RSU 19, Newport RSU 02, Hallowell Kittery Dayton RSU 51, Cumberland Lisbon South Portland RSU 11, Gardiner RSU 40, Waldoboro AOS 77 - RSU 85, Lubec RSU 06, Buxton RSU 74, Anson AOS 93 - South Bristol RSU 52, Turner RSU 61, Bridgton Appleton Winslow RSU 44, Bethel AOS 77 - Alexander Vassalboro AOS 77 - Charlotte Winthrop RSU 13 RSU 38, Maranacook RSU 83, Bingham RSU 59, Madison Greenville AOS 90 - Baileyville Woodland RSU 18, Oakland RSU 89, Patten AOS 96 - Machias Milford RSU 56 - Dixfield RSU 54, Skowhegan Millinocket RSU 80, Guilford AOS 77 - Pembroke Blue Hill Hermon Lamoine RSU 64, Corinth RSU 21, Kennebunk RSU 24, Sullivan RSU 26, Orono RSU 58, Phillips RSU 53, Pittsfield AOS 93 - Great Salt Bay CSD Auburn RSU 25, Bucksport Sanford Calais RSU 12, Windsor RSU 67, Lincoln St. George AOS 95 - SAD 27, Fort Kent AOS 94 - SAD 46, Dexter AOS 96 - East Machias

Maximum $19.51 $19.40 $19.14 $18.99 $18.96 $18.85 $18.70 $18.68 $18.67 $18.66 $18.52 $18.47 $18.43 $18.32 $18.18 $18.17 $18.12 $17.84 $17.83 $17.78 $17.69 $17.66 $17.54 $17.51 $17.43 $17.40 $17.39 $17.36 $17.31 $17.26 $17.25 $17.12 $17.00 $16.99 $16.97 $16.94 $16.93 $16.87 $16.87 $16.85 $16.78 $16.75 $16.65 $16.50 $16.43 $16.40 $16.40 $16.38 $16.37 $16.35 $16.30 $16.30 $16.25 $16.25 $16.11 $16.10 $16.07 $16.06 $16.00 $16.00 $15.83 $15.78 $15.69 $15.69 $15.65 $15.53 $15.42 $15.33

April 2021 • www.maineea.org

21

Ed Tech I Continued District RSU 83, Bingham RSU 26, Orono RSU 03, Unity RSU 23, Old Orchard Beach AOS 77 - Pembroke AOS 96 - East Machias RSU 12, Windsor RSU 68, Dover-Foxcroft Athens AOS 93 - Jefferson AOS 93 - Great Salt Bay CSD Milford Waterville RSU 78, Rangeley Ed Tech II Minimum Maximum Rank District 1 AOS 98 - Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor CSD 2 RSU 75, Topsham 3 Cape Elizabeth 4 Brunswick 5 Yarmouth 6 RSU 71, Belfast 7 RSU 01, Lower Kennebec Area 8 West Bath 9 RSU 56 - Dixfield 10 Gorham 11 RSU 05, Freeport 12 AOS 91 - Bar Harbor 13 Biddeford 14 Northport 15 Falmouth 16 RSU 44, Bethel 17 RSU 54, Skowhegan 18 Blue Hill 19 RSU 52, Turner 20 Scarborough 21 RSU 15, Gray 22 RSU 70, Hodgdon 23 RSU 51, Cumberland 24 Waldo Region 7 25 Portland 26 Wells-Ogunquit CSD 27 RSU 17, Paris 28 RSU 34, Old Town 29 RSU 06, Buxton 30 RSU 67, Lincoln 31 RSU 04, Sabattus 32 Brewer 33 St. George 34 RSU 40, Waldoboro 35 Bangor 36 Appleton 37 RSU 22, Hampden Rank 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100

38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47

York Kittery RSU 21, Kennebunk Winthrop RSU 89, Patten Lewiston Millinocket Lisbon RSU 02, Hallowell RSU 13

22

Maine Educator • April 2021

Minimum $12.16 $12.15 $12.10 $12.10 $12.03 $12.00 $12.00 $11.99 $12.00 $12.00 $12.00 $12.00 $12.00 $12.00 Mean $15.01 $18.99 Minimum $19.88

Rank 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100

District RSU 31, Howland RSU 34, Old Town RSU 04, Sabattus RSU 50, Island Falls RSU 68, Dover-Foxcroft Athens RSU 09, Farmington RSU 45, Washburn RSU 03, Unity Glenburn RSU 29, Houlton Medway East Millinocket RSU 78, Rangeley

Maximum $15.30 $15.19 $15.15 $15.15 $15.03 $14.90 $14.81 $14.80 $14.60 $14.48 $13.83 $13.28 $12.90 $12.77

Rank 1

District RSU 17, Paris

Maximum $27.44

$18.65 $18.12 $17.92 $17.65 $17.42 $17.18 $17.18 $17.15 $16.99 $16.99 $16.93 $16.88 $16.60 $16.58 $16.56 $16.53 $16.37 $16.34 $16.30 $16.25 $16.25 $16.18 $16.15 $16.12 $15.93 $15.85 $15.84 $15.81 $15.68 $15.67 $15.65 $15.57 $15.47 $15.46 $15.45 $15.43

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

$24.37 $24.28 $23.93 $23.56 $23.29 $23.20 $23.18 $23.15 $22.67 $22.51 $22.18 $22.11 $22.08 $21.97 $21.90 $21.75 $21.71 $21.70 $21.70 $21.45 $21.38 $21.36 $21.35 $21.32 $21.30 $20.81 $20.65 $20.50 $20.15 $20.10 $19.96 $19.95 $19.95 $19.94 $19.94 $19.88

$15.40 $15.39 $15.35 $15.30 $15.28 $15.22 $15.20 $15.11 $15.10 $15.00

38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47

York Biddeford Portland South Portland RSU 49, Fairfield RSU 01, Lower Kennebec Area Acton West Bath Brunswick Cape Elizabeth Waldo Region 7 RSU 75, Topsham AOS 77 - Eastport Gorham RSU 02, Hallowell Scarborough RSU 71, Belfast Waterville Yarmouth AOS 77 - RSU 85, Lubec RSU 15, Gray Falmouth Wells-Ogunquit CSD Northport RSU 05, Freeport RSU 23, Old Orchard Beach RSU 22, Hampden RSU 60, Berwick Lewiston RSU 51, Cumberland Winthrop RSU 19, Newport RSU 40, Waldoboro Brewer RSU 11, Gardiner AOS 98 - Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor CSD Dayton Kittery RSU 44, Bethel RSU 06, Buxton RSU 54, Skowhegan RSU 89, Patten AOS 90 - Baileyville Woodland Bangor AOS 91 - Bar Harbor

$19.83 $19.81 $19.79 $19.64 $19.63 $19.61 $19.55 $19.55 $19.51 $19.43

Rank 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107

Ed Tech II Continued District RSU 49, Fairfield RSU 38, Maranacook Lamoine Auburn RSU 24, Sullivan RSU 74, Anson Hermon RSU 58, Phillips RSU 61, Bridgton RSU 59, Madison RSU 45, Washburn RSU 29, Houlton Greenville Dayton RSU 35, Eliot RSU 18, Oakland RSU 78, Rangeley AOS 90 - Baileyville RSU 16, Poland Woodland Medway Acton AOS 77 - Alexander RSU 03, Unity RSU 25, Bucksport South Portland East Millinocket RSU 50, Island Falls AOS 93 - South Bristol AOS 93 - Great Salt Bay CSD RSU 11, Gardiner RSU 23, Old Orchard Beach RSU 60, Berwick Sanford RSU 12, Windsor RSU 31, Howland AOS 77 - RSU 85, Lubec RSU 68, Dover-Foxcroft AOS 95 - SAD 27, Fort Kent AOS 94 - SAD 46, Dexter Vassalboro AOS 96 - Machias RSU 80, Guilford RSU 19, Newport Athens RSU 53, Pittsfield AOS 77 - Eastport RSU 83, Bingham AOS 77 - Pembroke AOS 96 - East Machias RSU 09, Farmington RSU 26, Orono Glenburn RSU 64, Corinth Winslow AOS 77 - Charlotte Milford AOS 96 - Whiting AOS 93 - Jefferson Waterville

Minimum $14.95 $14.79 $14.75 $14.71 $14.70 $14.61 $14.60 $14.45 $14.39 $14.36 $14.29 $14.27 $14.23 $14.18 $14.16 $14.15 $14.06 $14.05 $14.05 $14.05 $13.98 $13.88 $13.83 $13.80 $13.75 $13.74 $13.67 $13.61 $13.57 $13.50 $13.48 $13.41 $13.40 $13.40 $13.34 $13.25 $13.20 $13.20 $13.14 $13.08 $13.08 $13.02 $13.00 $12.92 $12.89 $12.83 $12.80 $12.77 $12.74 $12.74 $12.69 $12.66 $12.61 $12.60 $12.55 $12.50 $12.50 $12.40 $12.26 $12.25

Rank 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107

District RSU 56 - Dixfield RSU 74, Anson AOS 93 - Jefferson RSU 18, Oakland RSU 12, Windsor RSU 13 RSU 35, Eliot Appleton RSU 21, Kennebunk AOS 93 - South Bristol AOS 93 - Great Salt Bay CSD Hermon RSU 38, Maranacook RSU 61, Bridgton Sanford RSU 16, Poland Lisbon Auburn St. George RSU 67, Lincoln AOS 77 - Pembroke AOS 77 - Alexander RSU 83, Bingham Vassalboro Milford RSU 59, Madison RSU 50, Island Falls Blue Hill RSU 52, Turner RSU 70, Hodgdon AOS 77 - Charlotte Winslow Millinocket AOS 96 - Machias RSU 53, Pittsfield Greenville Lamoine RSU 24, Sullivan RSU 34, Old Town AOS 94 - SAD 46, Dexter RSU 26, Orono AOS 95 - SAD 27, Fort Kent RSU 25, Bucksport RSU 58, Phillips RSU 04, Sabattus RSU 78, Rangeley RSU 64, Corinth RSU 80, Guilford Athens RSU 29, Houlton RSU 03, Unity RSU 68, Dover-Foxcroft AOS 96 - East Machias RSU 31, Howland RSU 09, Farmington Glenburn AOS 96 - Whiting RSU 45, Washburn Medway East Millinocket

Maximum $19.27 $19.25 $19.16 $19.14 $19.07 $19.00 $18.99 $18.95 $18.95 $18.94 $18.85 $18.85 $18.81 $18.78 $18.78 $18.77 $18.72 $18.67 $18.57 $18.44 $18.40 $18.33 $18.26 $18.26 $18.15 $18.10 $18.05 $17.97 $17.94 $17.87 $17.75 $17.68 $17.60 $17.52 $17.41 $17.40 $17.35 $17.30 $17.08 $16.89 $16.79 $16.77 $16.75 $16.75 $16.71 $16.67 $16.60 $16.54 $16.32 $16.31 $16.30 $16.25 $16.07 $16.05 $16.01 $15.63 $15.18 $14.90 $13.98 $13.67

April 2021 • www.maineea.org

23

Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6

Ed Tech III Minimum Maximum

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57

RSU 44, Bethel RSU 60, Berwick RSU 21, Kennebunk RSU 01, Lower Kennebec Area West Bath AOS 98 - Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor CSD RSU 71, Belfast Wells-Ogunquit CSD Brewer Cape Elizabeth RSU 54, Skowhegan Brunswick RSU 56 - Dixfield RSU 75, Topsham RSU 29, Houlton RSU 67, Lincoln Falmouth Appleton Yarmouth RSU 52, Turner RSU 51, Cumberland Waldo Region 7 East Millinocket RSU 05, Freeport Blue Hill AOS 91 - Bar Harbor Portland RSU 04, Sabattus Gorham Scarborough Northport RSU 74, Anson RSU 38, Maranacook Medway RSU 40, Waldoboro RSU 89, Patten RSU 15, Gray RSU 70, Hodgdon RSU 13 RSU 49, Fairfield RSU 06, Buxton Lisbon St. George Kittery Winthrop RSU 17, Paris Lamoine RSU 24, Sullivan RSU 02, Hallowell RSU 22, Hampden Millinocket York Sanford Acton Bangor RSU 78, Rangeley RSU 34, Old Town

58 59 60 61 62 63 64

RSU 18, Oakland Auburn Dayton Lewiston RSU 58, Phillips RSU 59, Madison RSU 50, Island Falls

24

Maine Educator • April 2021

Mean $16.39 $20.53 Minimum $22.47 $21.83 $21.10 $20.45 $20.45 $20.42

Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6

$20.29 $20.27 $20.17 $19.92 $19.63 $19.16 $19.16 $19.02 $19.00 $18.86 $18.75 $18.52 $18.37 $18.35 $18.22 $18.17 $18.14 $18.10 $17.97 $17.93 $17.67 $17.50 $17.38 $17.38 $17.35 $17.34 $17.25 $17.24 $17.18 $17.09 $17.06 $17.02 $17.00 $17.00 $16.82 $16.79 $16.79 $16.73 $16.69 $16.44 $16.35 $16.30 $16.24 $16.23 $16.20 $16.18 $16.04 $15.95 $15.90 $15.86 $15.84

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57

$15.77 $15.76 $15.74 $15.69 $15.55 $15.51 $15.46

58 59 60 61 62 63 64

RSU 17, Paris West Bath RSU 01, Lower Kennebec Area Wells-Ogunquit CSD Acton Brewer Portland York Waldo Region 7 Cape Elizabeth Northport RSU 71, Belfast AOS 77 - RSU 85, Lubec Waterville AOS 77 - Eastport Brunswick Falmouth RSU 02, Hallowell South Portland RSU 21, Kennebunk RSU 54, Skowhegan Scarborough RSU 51, Cumberland RSU 23, Old Orchard Beach RSU 44, Bethel RSU 19, Newport Yarmouth RSU 89, Patten Gorham RSU 75, Topsham RSU 05, Freeport RSU 15, Gray RSU 22, Hampden RSU 74, Anson RSU 40, Waldoboro Dayton Appleton RSU 60, Berwick Winthrop RSU 67, Lincoln RSU 49, Fairfield Lisbon Kittery RSU 38, Maranacook RSU 56 - Dixfield St. George RSU 50, Island Falls RSU 13 AOS 90 - Baileyville Woodland Lewiston RSU 06, Buxton RSU 12, Windsor RSU 18, Oakland AOS 91 - Bar Harbor AOS 77 - Pembroke AOS 98 - Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor CSD RSU 29, Houlton RSU 11, Gardiner Sanford RSU 09, Farmington Bangor RSU 52, Turner RSU 61, Bridgton

Maximum $28.03 $27.63 $27.59 $27.17 $27.05 $26.23 $26.23 $25.65 $24.96 $24.75 $24.47 $24.28 $24.24 $24.00 $23.96 $23.91 $23.57 $23.56 $23.56 $23.40 $23.21 $23.18 $23.15 $23.03 $22.69 $22.64 $22.59 $22.58 $22.48 $22.48 $22.41 $22.36 $22.17 $22.16 $22.15 $22.03 $21.94 $21.83 $21.78 $21.72 $21.54 $21.47 $21.41 $21.27 $21.27 $21.19 $21.09 $21.00 $20.92 $20.92 $20.82 $20.80 $20.52 $20.49 $20.43 $20.42 $20.42 $20.40 $20.30 $20.25 $20.11 $20.10 $20.06 $20.04

Ed Tech III Continued District RSU 09, Farmington RSU 61, Bridgton AOS 77 - RSU 85, Lubec Hermon AOS 90 - Baileyville RSU 35, Eliot Woodland RSU 03, Unity RSU 16, Poland AOS 77 - Alexander RSU 23, Old Orchard Beach RSU 12, Windsor RSU 45, Washburn Greenville RSU 25, Bucksport RSU 31, Howland RSU 80, Guilford RSU 19, Newport AOS 95 - SAD 27, Fort Kent AOS 77 - Eastport AOS 93 - South Bristol AOS 94 - SAD 46, Dexter RSU 83, Bingham AOS 93 - Great Salt Bay CSD Athens Milford Glenburn RSU 11, Gardiner RSU 68, Dover-Foxcroft AOS 96 - Machias South Portland Calais Vassalboro Winslow RSU 53, Pittsfield Waterville AOS 96 - East Machias RSU 26, Orono AOS 77 - Pembroke RSU 64, Corinth AOS 77 - Charlotte AOS 93 - Jefferson AOS 96 - Whiting Secretary Minimum Maximum Rank District 1 Yarmouth 2 RSU 01, Lower Kennebec Area 3 West Bath 4 RSU 75, Topsham 5 Appleton 6 Falmouth 7 Millinocket 8 RSU 51, Cumberland 9 York 10 AOS 91 - Bar Harbor 11 RSU 34, Old Town 12 Brunswick 13 Gorham 14 RSU 05, Freeport 15 RSU 17, Paris 16 RSU 04, Sabattus 17 RSU 13 18 Wells-Ogunquit CSD 19 Waldo Region 7 20 Portland 21 Blue Hill Rank 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107

Minimum $15.41 $15.37 $15.24 $15.10 $15.09 $15.09 $15.09 $15.00 $14.96 $14.85 $14.83 $14.54 $14.51 $14.42 $14.35 $14.25 $14.19 $14.17 $14.11 $14.10 $14.07 $14.06 $14.02 $14.00 $14.00 $14.00 $13.89 $13.84 $13.83 $13.80 $13.74 $13.64 $13.60 $13.57 $13.53 $13.50 $13.48 $13.42 $13.25 $12.90 $12.75 $12.75 $12.60 Mean $15.17 $19.53 Minimum $21.08 $18.52 $18.52 $18.44 $18.35 $18.33 $18.20 $17.88 $17.75 $17.43 $17.38 $17.35 $17.04 $17.02 $17.01 $17.00 $17.00 $16.87 $16.81 $16.70 $16.37

Rank 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107

District Auburn RSU 83, Bingham AOS 93 - Jefferson AOS 77 - Alexander RSU 16, Poland Milford AOS 93 - South Bristol Blue Hill AOS 93 - Great Salt Bay CSD Hermon RSU 35, Eliot RSU 59, Madison Winslow Greenville Vassalboro Lamoine RSU 24, Sullivan RSU 78, Rangeley Millinocket RSU 70, Hodgdon RSU 04, Sabattus RSU 53, Pittsfield AOS 96 - Machias AOS 77 - Charlotte East Millinocket AOS 94 - SAD 46, Dexter RSU 58, Phillips AOS 95 - SAD 27, Fort Kent RSU 80, Guilford RSU 26, Orono RSU 31, Howland Athens RSU 03, Unity Calais RSU 25, Bucksport Medway RSU 34, Old Town Glenburn RSU 64, Corinth RSU 68, Dover-Foxcroft AOS 96 - East Machias AOS 96 - Whiting RSU 45, Washburn

Maximum $20.00 $20.00 $19.90 $19.80 $19.69 $19.65 $19.64 $19.57 $19.55 $19.35 $19.25 $19.24 $19.11 $19.02 $18.98 $18.95 $18.90 $18.83 $18.60 $18.60 $18.54 $18.36 $18.30 $18.25 $18.14 $18.13 $18.02 $18.01 $17.98 $17.79 $17.75 $17.73 $17.50 $17.43 $17.35 $17.24 $17.08 $16.90 $16.90 $16.86 $16.81 $15.37 $15.11

Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

District York RSU 01, Lower Kennebec Area West Bath Yarmouth Acton Appleton Falmouth Waldo Region 7 Sanford Portland RSU 51, Cumberland Wells-Ogunquit CSD RSU 34, Old Town RSU 60, Berwick Brunswick RSU 05, Freeport Gorham RSU 23, Old Orchard Beach RSU 22, Hampden RSU 02, Hallowell RSU 75, Topsham

Maximum $28.25 $24.96 $24.95 $23.34 $23.18 $23.10 $23.09 $23.09 $22.80 $22.75 $22.72 $22.63 $22.29 $22.10 $22.08 $22.05 $22.04 $21.38 $21.23 $21.10 $20.84

April 2021 • www.maineea.org

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32 33

Secreatary Continued District RSU 22, Hampden RSU 04, Sabattus RSU 52, Turner RSU 71, Belfast RSU 29, Houlton RSU 10, Rumford RSU 44, Bethel RSU 38, Maranacook Kittery AOS 98 - Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor CSD Bangor RSU 61, Bridgton

34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74

RSU 54, Skowhegan RSU 23, Old Orchard Beach Greenville RSU 18, Oakland RSU 73, Jay-Livermore RSU 15, Gray RSU 78, Rangeley Lisbon RSU 31, Howland RSU 60, Berwick RSU 09, Farmington Winthrop RSU 02, Hallowell RSU 67, Lincoln RSU 06, Buxton RSU 25, Bucksport AOS 77 - RSU 85, Lubec Sanford Calais Acton Winslow AOS 94 - SAD 46, Dexter RSU 26, Orono RSU 80, Guilford Athens RSU 83, Bingham RSU 16, Poland RSU 03, Unity AOS 96 - Machias RSU 19, Newport AOS 77 - Eastport Auburn RSU 64, Corinth AOS 77 - Alexander AOS 77 - Charlotte AOS 93 - South Bristol Glenburn AOS 77 - Pembroke AOS 93 - Jefferson RSU 12, Windsor AOS 93 - Great Salt Bay CSD

Rank 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Minimum $16.36 $16.14 $16.02 $16.00 $15.99 $15.96 $15.86 $15.73 $15.71 $15.68

Rank 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

District RSU 15, Gray Kittery Millinocket RSU 17, Paris Greenville RSU 19, Newport RSU 61, Bridgton RSU 13 RSU 71, Belfast AOS 91 - Bar Harbor

Maximum $20.71 $20.65 $20.60 $20.51 $20.42 $20.33 $20.13 $20.00 $20.00 $19.93

$15.55 $15.42

32 33

$19.75 $19.60

$15.41 $15.38 $15.30 $15.27 $15.21 $15.16 $15.15 $15.11 $15.10 $14.70 $14.65 $14.65 $14.55 $14.38 $14.28 $14.25 $14.07 $13.94 $13.89 $13.88 $13.77 $13.59 $13.31 $13.16 $13.10 $13.07 $12.98 $12.90 $12.80 $12.73 $12.71 $12.61 $12.60 $12.56 $12.50 $12.31 $12.24 $12.23 $12.06 $12.00 $12.00

34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74

RSU 38, Maranacook AOS 98 - Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor CSD AOS 77 - RSU 85, Lubec Winslow Winthrop Bangor RSU 18, Oakland Lisbon RSU 83, Bingham RSU 12, Windsor RSU 31, Howland AOS 77 - Eastport RSU 44, Bethel RSU 04, Sabattus Blue Hill RSU 10, Rumford RSU 29, Houlton RSU 78, Rangeley AOS 77 - Charlotte Calais Auburn RSU 06, Buxton RSU 26, Orono AOS 94 - SAD 46, Dexter RSU 52, Turner RSU 73, Jay-Livermore RSU 09, Farmington RSU 54, Skowhegan RSU 67, Lincoln AOS 96 - Machias RSU 25, Bucksport RSU 80, Guilford AOS 93 - South Bristol RSU 04, Sabattus AOS 77 - Alexander AOS 77 - Pembroke AOS 93 - Jefferson RSU 64, Corinth Athens RSU 16, Poland AOS 93 - Great Salt Bay CSD RSU 03, Unity Glenburn

To see previous years salary data for K-12 and ESP positions please visit maineea.org

26

Maine Educator • April 2021

$19.47 $19.40 $19.23 $19.08 $19.00 $18.72 $18.68 $18.63 $18.60 $18.51 $18.26 $18.07 $17.97 $17.94 $17.81 $17.79 $17.75 $17.70 $17.69 $17.69 $17.66 $17.56 $17.51 $17.38 $17.34 $17.34 $17.34 $17.30 $17.25 $17.25 $17.19 $17.14 $17.06 $16.98 $16.84 $16.60 $16.59 $16.44 $16.18 $15.65 $14.78

g n i y T a h l

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Debt Monster

Your Union Can Help You Get Your Education Loans Under Control

By Mary Ellen Flannery, NEA Today

T

he story of Sean Ichiro Manes, a New Jersey music teacher who won federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) in 2020, is a portrait in persistence.

For years, Manes doggedly chased FedLoan Servicing—the scandal-plagued company that runs PSLF for the U.S. Department of Education—to prove his qualifications for loan forgiveness.

He called. He emailed. He filed public records requests. Still he got no answers.

He knew he met all of the requirements for having his debt erased: He had worked for 10 years and made more than 120 on-time loan payments. Yet he continued paying more than $700 a month on his student loans.

So, first, he brought in U.S. Sen. Cory Booker’s office. Then, he rolled in the big guns: NEA’s Office of General Counsel.

NEA attorneys pursued Manes’ case for PSLF with passion and knowhow. “The obstacles and delays had gone on long enough,” says NEA attorney Eric Harrington.

Finally, last year, Manes got good news: After nearly 11 years of loan payments—almost a year more than required for PSLF—not only were his federal student loans canceled, but FedLoan also returned the payments he was forced to make while the company dragged its feet.

The balance forgiven? $103,464.64

salary hike, the next big car, the next exciting vacation, the perfect romantic relationship, or winning the lottery will make them happy.

Or that some people are just born happier than others. According to Sonja Lyubomirsky, a positive psychology researcher, 50 percent of our happiness level is determined by genetic factors, only 10 percent is determined by life's circumstances, and a whopping 40 percent is what we have complete control over. This is good news!

So, what we do with this 40 percent can be a game changer for our happiness, which Lyubomirsky defines as the experience of joy, contentment, or positive wellbeing, combined with a sense that one's life is good, meaningful, and worthwhile.

You create your own unhappiness by the way you think about your life and your world. In the words of the Dalai Lama, "Happiness is not something readymade. It comes from your own actions." The secret to happiness and fulfilment does not lie in the things you have, but in the way you think about things. Becoming aware of your own thoughts, understanding their dysfunctionality in your life, and replacing them with happier thoughts holds the key. So, what are some of the possible shifts in thinking that we need to bring about?

NEA’s student debt navigator can help Manes isn’t the only NEA member to get loan forgiveness with the help of his national union, either through legal services or the experts with NEA Student Debt Navigator—a free members-only service that helps identify the best repayment plan and even fills out the yearly paperwork for PSLF.

The payments refunded? $7,958.73

“I tried working it on my own … and it didn’t work out, so I just kept paying,” says Chris Howell, a teacher in Washington state who last year had $22,000 in debt erased after learning about NEA’s tools.

Manes’ response? “Relief !”There are several myths surrounding happiness that makes people believe that the next promotion, the next

“I was ecstatic,” says Howell, who was able to buy a new house and now lives without the “mental weight” of his student debt.

28

Maine Educator • April 2021

Your union is working to fix Public Service Loan Forgiveness Established by the U.S. Congress, PSLF is a promise to educators and other public service workers. Basically, it recognizes that you aren’t paid fairly—for work that is vital to society—and that you likely borrowed tens of thousands of dollars from the government to pay for the education your career requires.

It’s also one answer to the national teacher shortage, especially for Black and Hispanic teachers who borrow disproportionately to pay for college and are underrepresented in schools. (Another answer? Pay teachers more!)

But the promise remains unfulfilled. The original PSLF was rigid, excluding many workers. In 2018, Congress stepped in, establishing the Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness (TEPSLF) program and funding it with $700 million.

By June 2020, only 2,860 of the first 159,274 PSLF applicants had received forgiveness-a startling 2 percent approval rate.

And yet, problems with FedLoan and its federal overseers persist.

By June 2020, only 2,860 of the first 159,274 PSLF applicants had received forgiveness—a startling 2 percent approval rate.

That’s why NEA leaders continue to press lawmakers for additional fixes, including across-the-board cancellation of student debt. In October, Minnesota high school teacher Krista Detloff met virtually with policy experts in the office of U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), telling them, “I’ve basically been dealing with debt for 25 years. At first, it hampered us from buying a home and a second car. Now, since I got my master’s degree in 2015, I still owe $38,000. I’m 48 years old and I’m going to have this debt into retirement.”

When it comes to debt, there is hope!

The promise of loan forgiveness isn’t why any educator joins the profession. It certainly wasn’t Manes’ reason. As a child, Manes grew up in Japan, moving to Doylestown, Pa., as a sixth grader.

“I was the only Asian student in the whole class. Culturally, it was very different. I was different,” he recalls. “It was in the music program where I was able to connect with other people. I saw it as a way to bridge cultures.”

Today, in his own classroom, Manes fosters the same kind of connections between students and cultures. But he faced significant tolls on his road to becoming an excellent teacher. While his Ph.D. was university funded, Manes borrowed more than $100,000 to pay for two master’s degrees.

For years, he lived with his mother and worked second and third jobs.

It wasn’t until two years ago, at age 42, that he could afford a mortgage on his own condo.

This is a common story among NEA members. In Washington state, science teacher Susan Armbruster, 61, has been paying on student loans for nearly 40 years, and still owes around $90,000. A few years ago, she finally bought a home—but 50 minutes away from her classroom in a more affordable community.

Like Manes, Armbruster tried for years to get records of her payments from FedLoan. Recently, she connected with the experts at NEA Student Debt Navigator, and they managed to wrest the necessary records from FedLoan, which show that her last payment is just a few more months away.

Manes adds, “This was my first contact with the national [union]. And I’m very much in debt to your services!”

NEED HELP?

The NEA Student Debt Navigator is free to NEA members for one year! The program staff can help you figure out your best repayment plan and will even file your paperwork for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Check it out at neamb.com/GetNavNEA.

American Opportunity Tax Credit Per the IRS: The American opportunity tax credit (AOTC) is a credit for qualified education expenses paid for an eligible student for the first four years of higher education. You can get a maximum annual credit of $2,500 per eligible student. If the credit brings the amount of tax you owe to zero, you can have 40 percent of any remaining amount of the credit (up to $1,000) refunded to you.

The amount of the credit is 100 percent of the first $2,000 of qualified education expenses you paid for each eligible student and 25 percent of the next $2,000 of qualified education expenses you paid for that student. But, if the credit pays your tax down to zero, you can have 40 percent of the remaining amount of the credit (up to $1,000) refunded to you.

To be eligible for AOTC, the student must:

•

Be pursuing a degree or other recognized education credential • Be enrolled at least half time for at least one academic period* beginning in the tax year • Not have finished the first four years of higher education at the beginning of the tax year • Not have claimed the AOTC or the former Hope credit for more than four tax years • Not have a felony drug conviction at the end of the tax year *Academic period can be semesters, trimesters, quarters or any other period of study such as a summer school session.

The schools determine the academic periods. For schools that use clock or credit hours and do not have academic terms, the payment period may be treated as an academic period.

April 2021 • www.maineea.org

29

Savin

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Amy earned a cash reward. Get yours!

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With SmartShopper, use and not only provides you with convenient care,earned but witha cash Amy found a location, cashback in yoursaved pocket.

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The Personal Assistant Team is available Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

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The SmartShopper program is offered by Sapphire Digital, an independent company. Incentives available for select procedures only. Payments are a taxable form of income. Rewards may be delivered by check or an alternative form of payment.

Members with coverage under Medicaid or Medicare are not eligible to receive incentive rewards under the SmartShopper program.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Community Insurance Company. Independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Anthem is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc.

30

Maine Educator • April 2021

2021 MEA Election Bios President – Grace Leavitt During my time as your President, I have certainly grown more accustomed to expecting the unexpected!

I am proud of what MEA has accomplished in the face of great challenges, keeping safety the priority, but there is more to do. I am committed to continuing our work on racial and social justice issues in order to support all our members and students, and to continuing to increase public support for our schools and institutions of higher learning so that we can make the vision of a great public education for every student a reality.

My 43+ years of classroom experience, and nearly as many years as an association leader on the local, state, and national levels, prepared me well for these past three years and the many transitions that took place, both within and outside the organization. The relationships I have since established with the leaders of NEA state affiliates and other organizations provide a strong foundation for continued progress for all MEA members. My passion for public education and my dedication to doing what is right are as strong as ever. I would greatly appreciate your support once again. Together we will keep moving forward!

Vice President – Jesse Hargrove A few years ago, my oldest son turned and said to my wife and I, “I think I have an advantage, because both of my parents are teachers.” Education is a family matter. My two sons, Aden and Rylan, attend RSU 3 schools, where I have served on the Board of Directors for the past 9 years. I also serve on the Waldo County Technical Center Cooperative Board. My career includes 8 years as a Special Education Teacher, and 12 years as a Social Studies teacher. I have been President of the Hermon Education Association for the past 5 years, and am in my third year serving as the MEA Vice President. We teach, we learn.

Every role I’ve taken on has been an educational experience and every experience has made more appreciative of the work done by those before me. It has been a pleasure to grow as an educator and advocate with my colleagues, near and far, in the MEA. Treasurer – Beth French Greetings MEA Family! I’m Beth French and I’m running for re-election as your MEA Treasurer.

For the past three years, it has been my distinct pleasure to diligently serve as your MEA Treasurer.

I’m a third grade teacher, an active local President of RSU 71 Education Association, and Chief Negotiator. I serve as Chair of Strategic Budget Committee, in President’s Advisory Council, as an ACES advocate in the State House, and as an MEA Representative Assembly and NEA Representative Assembly Delegate. I have served on the Government Relations Committee, Resolutions Committee, and in the President’s Cabinet. Over that time, I have made many connections and participated in numerous trainings through my NEA State Leadership Cohort which sharpened my skills as a state officer.

During this unprecedented pandemic, I am pleased to report that our organization is in strong fiscal health under current leadership. My desire is to continue with the important work that is ahead of all of us.

As your re-elected MEA Treasurer, I will continue to faithfully put this organization first by pledging to serve to the very best of my ability.

2021 PROPOSED CONSTITUTION CHANGES ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP Section 1. Categories of Membership Membership in the Association shall consist of the following classes: Active, Active Education Support, Past President, Retired, Student, Reserve, Staff, Non-Teaching Professionals Community Ally and such other classes as may be provided by the Bylaws.

Section 2. Membership Eligibility D. Community Ally Persons interested in advancing the cause of public education who are granted membership and who are not eligible for any other category of membership shall not have the right to serve as officers of the Association, as members of the Board of Directors, or as delegates to the Representative Assembly.

Rationale This will help the MEA include more community members that want to help and support education at local, state, and national levels.

Submitted by: Structure and Bylaw Committee ARTICLE II. PURPOSE The purpose of the Association is to protect the rights of professional and support educators and advance their interests and welfare; advance the cause of public education for all individuals in the State of Maine; promote and protect human and civil rights, promote social and racial justice, especially those of professional and support educators; advocate professional excellence among professional and support educators and secure the autonomy of the profession; and guarantee the independence of the professional and support educators and assure its benefits to every affiliated association.

Rationale: MEA needs to be explicit about social and racial justice being an ongoing priority of the Association and so it should be clearly stated in the purpose of the MEA. Submitted by: Grace Leavitt ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP Section 2. Membership Eligibility B. Members shall adhere to the National Education Association Code of Ethics of the Education Profession and the Professional Educators of Maine Code of Ethics.

Rationale: To make it clear and explicit that MEA has adopted a Code of Ethics particular to Maine, as stated in our Resolutions.

Submitted by: Grace Leavitt ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP Section 2. Membership Eligibility C. The Association shall not deny membership to individuals on the basis of race, creed, national origin, age, color, gender, gender identity, handicap, marital status, sexual orientation, or economic status, nor shall any organization, which so denies membership, be affiliated with the Association.

Rationale: To be sure MEA is inclusive of all gender identities.

Submitted by: Grace Leavitt April 2021 • www.maineea.org

31

BYLAW CHANGE REQUESTS 2021 ARTICLE II. REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY Section 1. Allocation of Delegates D. Delegates representing student members shall be apportioned in accordance with the following: 1. student affiliates with 35 to 199 members shall be entitled to one two(1 2) delegates; 2. student affiliates with 200 to 499 members shall be entitled to two three(2 3) delegates; 3. student affiliates with 500 to 799 members shall be entitled to three four (3 4) delegates.

Rationale Attending the MEA/RA can be intimidating, especially for student members. Increasing the minimum number of student delegates to two (2) will encourage student(s) to attend the MEA/RA, as they will be attending with a peer delegate which will enable them to discuss mutual concerns, and to more easily navigate the RA process.

Submitted by Structure and Bylaw Committee Section 2. Standing Committees A. Government Relations Committee A Government Relations Committee shall consist of members representing each of the UniServ Districts, one (1) education support professional member, one (1) Maine Education Association retired member, and one (1) student. Where representation from each UniServ District is not feasible, the President shall have the option of filling committee positions with at-large appointments for not more than one (1) year. Committee members shall be appointed for three-year (3) terms. If there are no ethnic minority members on the committee, the President shall have the option of creating and filling an at-large ethnic minority seat on the committee for a term of not more than one (1) year.

C. Instruction and Professional Development Committee An Instruction and Professional Development Committee shall consist of one (1) member from each of the UniServ Districts, one (1) education support professional member, one (1) member of the Maine Education Association retired, and one (1) student. Where representation from each UniServ District is not feasible, the President shall have the option of filling committee positions with at-large appointments for not more than one (1) year. Committee members shall be appointed for three-year (3) terms. If there are no ethnic minority members on the committee, the President shall have the option of creating and filling an at-large ethnic minority seat on the committee for a term of not more than one (1) year.

D. Statewide Bargaining Committee A Statewide Bargaining Committee shall consist of one (1) member with bargaining expertise from each UniServ District, one (1) education support professional member selected from the state at-large, one (1) Maine Education Association retired member, and one (1) student member. Where representation from each UniServ District is not feasible, the President shall have the option of filling committee positions with at-large appointments for not more than one (1) year.

Committee members shall be appointed for three-year (3) terms. If there are no ethnic minority members on the committee, the President shall have the option of creating and filling an at-large ethnic minority seat on the committee for a term of not more than one (1) year.

Rationale This proposal relates to one of the tasks on the S&B Committee’s charge: “In 2020-2021, review the Constitution, Bylaws, and Standing Rules through a racial equity lens to recommend any proposed changes to ensure there are no barriers to engagement with and participation of all members.” The proposed language is inspired by language that already exists in Constitution Article VI. Section 2.

Submitted by: Structure and Bylaw Committee ARTICLE I. MEMBERSHIP Section 1. Membership Categories New J - Community Ally Community Ally membership shall be open to any person 32

Maine Educator • April 2021

interested in advancing the cause of public education, who supports the mission, vision, and core values of the Association, and who is not eligible for any other MEA membership category. The MEA Board of Directors shall adopt rules to implement this membership category.

Community Ally members shall not have the right to nominate or vote for candidates for elected office, nominate, or vote for delegates to the Representative Assembly, or hold any elected office or appointed committee position in the Association.

Rationale: This will help the MEA include more community members that want to help and support education at local, state, and national levels.

Submitted by: Structure and Bylaw Committee ARTICLE II. REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY Section 3. Delegates/Alternates Who File Late A. Members who file notices of intent to become delegates/ alternates after May 1 shall be considered late and shall meet with the Structure and Bylaws Committee prior to the first business session for an orientation session regarding seating procedures. Members will be required to: 1. provide proof of membership, and 2. submit a Certificate of Election signed by the local president or a Board of Directors member who represents the member. If MEA receives both a Certificate of Election signed by the local president and a Certificate of Election signed by a Board of Directors member the one signed by the local president shall prevail.

Members are responsible for confirming that MEA has received all necessary documents.

Rationale: One significant barrier that makes it difficult to fill RA seats is the exclusive reliance on local presidents to facilitate the process. In some cases, local presidents are difficult to get in touch with either by the MEA or by a member who is interested in being a delegate.

Filling more RA delegates seats is key to making sure the RA is as representative of membership as a whole as possible. Furthermore, being an RA delegate is a great way to involve members in the work of MEA and develop the pipeline of future local and MEA leaders.

Submitted by: Tom Walsh ARTICLE VI. COMMITTEES Section 2. Standing Committees B. Human, Civil Rights, and Social Justice Committee A Human, Civil Rights, and Social Justice Committee of eleven (11) members shall advocate for minority involvement in the Association and educational and training programs designed to enhance human and civil rights and shall make recommendations on ways for the Maine Education Association to promote social justice. Committee members shall be appointed for three-year (3) terms.

Rationale: The proposed description more accurately reflects the work the HCRSJ Committee does. The previous description included a phrase that describes the work of the ad hoc Members of Color Committee, and there is a proposed Bylaw change to establish the Members of Color Committee as a Standing Committee which will have the task of the work previously included in the description of the HCRSJ Committee.

Submitted by: Grace Leavitt ARTICLE VI. COMMITTEES Section 2. Standing Committees NEW G. Black, Indigenous, People of Color Committee Black, Indigenous, People of Color Committee of 11 (eleven) members shall advocate for minority involvement and pathways to leadership, support educators and students of color, promote and support Anti-Racist education, and identify policies and practices that further support the MEA becoming an inclusive, equitable, and diverse organization. Committee members shall be appointed for a three-year (3) term.

Rationale: Having a Black, Indigenous, People of Color Standing Committee will

encourage our members to share their experiences, passions, expertise, concerns, and voices to build community and strengthen relationships; advocate for professional development training for all that focuses on anti-racism; advance efforts to recruit and retain more educators of color; advocate for an inclusive curriculum to reflect the diversity within school systems and the people’s history of our country.

Submitted by: Members of Color Committee STANDING RULES CHANGE REQUESTS 2021 RULE 2. ELECTIONS PROCEDURES Section 1. Elections Conducted at the MEA Representative Assembly A. Notices of Intent For publication in the Maine Educator or other official MEA publication sent to members by the date determined by the Structure and Bylaws committee. Notice of Intent to run for any Association office elected by the Representative Assembly shall be filed with the Executive Director on or prior to the date set by the Elections Committee which shall be not less than seventy-five (75) days prior to the annual meeting. In order to be considered as a candidate for any Association office elected by the Representative Assembly, Notice of Intent must be filed with the Executive Director no later than thirty (30) calendar days prior to the first day of the Representative Assembly.

Rationale: This is good professional practice for education during a state/national health crisis.

Submitted by: Resolutions Committee Sonya Verney & Jen Perry, Committee Co-Chairs 2 - New B RESOLVED: that the MEA believes that during any time of remote learning, all staff must be provided the necessary technology tools, training and time to learn these technology tools that are required to teach students.

Rationale: Educators need to be prepared to provide appropriate remote learning by receiving the necessary professional development.

Submitted by: Resolutions Committee Sonya Verney & Jen Perry, Committee Co-Chairs 3 - New E RESOLVED: that the MEA believes and advocates that all students should be able to play and participate in school sports teams, clubs, and activities that match their gender identity best, including gender neutral students.

Rationale: MEA Core Values of Equal Opportunity and a Just Society.

Public education is vital to building respect for the worth, dignity, and equality of every individual in our diverse society.

Submitted by: Human, Civil Rights & Social Justice Committee Olivia Brown & Emily Albee, Committee Co-Chairs

Rationale: The proposed change allows for flexibility in the date of publication and/or the number of issues of the Maine Educator but still provides communication to members about candidates who have filed a notice of intent to run for an Association office.

Submitted by: Grace Leavitt

4 - New F RESOLVED: that the MEA believes that every student deserves a nutritional breakfast and lunch free of charge during a health crisis.

Rationale: Students should be adequately fed in order to learn.

Submitted by: Resolutions Committee Sonya Verney & Jen Perry, Committee Co-Chairs

RULE 2. ELECTIONS PROCEDURES Section 5. Campaigning

5 - Proposed Amendment of A11 A11.RESOLVED: That the MEA believes in and supports the guiding principles on school funding: • that life-long learning is essential in creating a productive citizenry • that there should be a state-wide minimum property tax effort for education • that the local, state and federal governing bodies need to ensure that an equitable public education be fully funded • that educational equity should be the guiding principle for determining school funding, including when remote learning is necessary (Adopted 1995; Amended 2006; Amended 2009) Rationale: updating for relevancy Submitted by: Resolutions Committee Sonya Verney & Jen Perry, Committee Co-Chairs

C. Maine Education Association Resources Available to Candidates: 2.

Announcement in the Maine Education Association's Maine Educator or other official MEA publication : Candidates who have filed a Notice of Intent to run for at-large or governance district office may submit a picture and a biographical sketch with the Notice of Intent.

The MEA Executive Director shall publish the submitted pictures and biographical sketches of candidates whose elections are held prior to the MEA Representative Assembly in an the February issue of the Maine Educator or other official MEA publication sent to all members, as determined by the Structure and Bylaws Committee." The length of each biographical sketch submitted shall be two hundred (200) words or fewer and shall be written in paragraph format. The Executive Director shall publish the submitted pictures and biographical sketches of candidates whose elections are held at the MEA Representative Assembly in an the April issue of the Maine Educator or other official MEA publication sent to all members, as determined by the Structure and Bylaws Committee. Paid advertisements for political campaigns shall not be accepted by the Maine Education Association.

Rationale: The proposed changes allow for flexibility in the date of publication and/or the number of issues of the Maine Educator but still provides communication to members about candidates who have filed a notice of intent in a timely fashion as determined by the Structure and Bylaws Committee.

Submitted by: Grace Leavitt 2021 PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS New, Amendments and Deletions 1 - New B RESOLVED: that the MEA believes during a state health crisis, a maximum class size/teacher ratio should be 7:1 for kindergarten, 9:1 for grades 1 – 6 and 9:1 for grades 7 – 12 per instructional classroom, and should follow the social distancing rules given by the Maine State CDC.

6 - Proposed Amendment of A20 A20. RESOLVED: That the MEA believes that all children should have access to public Pre-K and K programs that are developmentally appropriate, whether in person or remote: • mandatory, full-day, free, publicly funded, developmentally appropriate, quality kindergarten programs in all school districts; • optional, full-day, free, publicly funded, developmentally appropriate, quality universal pre-kindergarten programs for all three- and four-year old children whose parents choose to enroll them; • dedicated funding for early childhood education; • increased publicly funded support services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, et al, for children, birth through age 5, in disadvantaged families; • increased access to Early Head Start programs.

(Adopted 2019) Rationale: updating for relevancy Submitted by: Resolutions Committee Sonya Verney & Jen Perry, Committee Co-Chairs 7 - Proposed Amendment of B4 B4.

RESOLVED: That the MEA supports maximizing educationally effective and appropriate use of student and teacher educator time as an alternative to increasing the length of the school April 2021 • www.maineea.org

33

day or the number of days in the school year. (Adopted 1989; Amended 2002; Amended 2020) Rationale: updated the word teacher to educator to include both teachers and ESP Submitted by: Resolutions Committee Sonya Verney & Jen Perry, Committee Co-Chairs 8 - Proposed Amendment of B9 B9.

RESOLVED: That the MEA supports the use of technology as a supplement to within the educational process when prescribed delivered by a properly trained educator. (Adopted 1993; Amended 2009; Amended 2013) Rationale: updated for relevancy Submitted by: Resolutions Committee Sonya Verney & Jen Perry, Committee Co-Chairs 9 - Proposed Amendment of B11 B11. RESOLVED: That the MEA believes every student has the right to receive an excellent education at a great public school. The MEA believes Great Public Schools have: • safe, secure and supportive environments for all students and staff • parent and community involvement and support • educator involvement in educational policy • fully qualified teachers and Education Support Professionals committed to students and their learning • appropriate funding and resources, including technology • appropriate technology and accessibility • highly skilled and collaborative professional leadership • challenging curricula that are flexible, innovative, diverse and complete • well-maintained facilities with appropriate space and proper heating/cooling/ventilation systems.

(Adopted 1995; Amended 1997; Amended 2002; Amended 2012; Amended 2013; Amended 2015; Amended 2019) Rationale: updated for relevancy Submitted by: Resolutions Committee, Sonya Verney & Jen Perry, Committee Co-Chairs 10 - Proposed Amendment of B17 • B17.

RESOLVED: That the MEA believes that members need to be professional proactive advocates for children and public education. To accomplish that objective, the MEA also believes that: • members can be more effective at Individual Education Plan meetings if they are knowledgeable about special education laws and regulations, transition regulations, and 504 regulations.

• local associations should have a resource person knowledgeable in special education/inclusion/504.

• local associations should negotiate additional resources and improved working conditions in special education.

• state and local organizations involved in special education need to coordinate their services.

• members need to be knowledgeable of legal protections against harassment, student violence, and other unsafe working conditions for educators or students.

• members need to gain knowledge about issues that face our increasingly diverse students and staff, including the District’s Lau Plan • members need training on the social and emotional needs of students.

• members need current training on bullying prevention.

• members need training on implicit bias.

• members need support in all of the above issues through local professional development.

(Adopted 2003; Amended 2012; Amended 2015; Amended 2019) Rationale: updated for relevancy Submitted by: Resolutions Committee Sonya Verney & Jen Perry, Committee Co-Chairs 11 - Proposed Amendment of C26 C26. RESOLVED: That the MEA believes that school personnel should be protected from workplace and cyber harassment and 34

Maine Educator • April 2021

bullying. (Adopted 2015) Rationale: updated for relevancy Submitted by: Resolutions Committee Sonya Verney & Jen Perry, Committee Co-Chairs 12 - Proposed Amendment of D24 D24. RESOLVED: That the MEA believes that the collective bargaining process is the most effective guarantee for economic and professional security of school personnel.

Negotiated comprehensive contracts between governance affiliates and the appropriate educational governing body should include agreements on: • compensation commensurate with the fundamental importance and worth of education to society that reflects the skill, training and experience brought to the education profession • working conditions, including but not limited to: » establishment of viable limits on class size and work loads » hybrid/remote learning models » release from non-teaching duties » health and dental insurance benefits » duty-free lunch period » time for planning » personal and sick leave plans including a sick leave bank » child care leave » professional leave » sabbatical leave • the utilization of support professionals in well-defined support positions • contract grievance provisions, including: » binding arbitration to resolve disagreements » due process and just cause in the layoff or dismissal of members, or the non- renewal of member contracts » a procedure for monitoring the contract by a grievance committee advocating and guarding member rights • full salary compensation for members selected for jury duty, or ordered to training duty with a military unit (Adopted 2004; Amended 2014; Amended 2017) Rationale: updated for relevancy Submitted by: Resolutions Committee Sonya Verney & Jen Perry, Committee Co-Chairs 2021 MEA Election Results Board of Directors Lisa Leduc District O Jan Murphy District F Christopher Jones District M Jamie McAlpine District ESP Ellen Payne District C Allison Lytton District I NEA At Large Delegate Jill Watson Tom Walsh James Ford Rebecca Cole MEA Retired MEA Representative Delegates Paul Bouchard Lois Kilby-Chesley Claudette O'Connell Jane Conroy MEA Retired NEA Delegates and Alternates Kay Grindall Lois Kilby-Chesley Rheba Michaud Claudette O'Connell

3 Year Term 3 Year Term 3 Year Term 2 Year Term 2 Year Term 2 Year Term 2 Year Term 2 Year Term 2 Year Term 2 Year Term

13 - Proposed Amendment of D33 D33. RESOLVED: That the MEA supports negotiating adequate teacher-directed preparation and planning time, free of other assignments and activities, of at least the equivalent of a class period daily. (Adopted 2020) Rationale: updated for relevancy Submitted by: Resolutions Committee Sonya Verney & Jen Perry, Committee Co-Chairs 14 - Proposed Amendment of E12 E12.

RESOLVED: That the MEA supports the expansion of the role of the state and local association’s involvement in professional, educational, and community activities and encourages training opportunities that include human and civil rights and social justice topics. (Adopted 1996; Amended 2002) Rationale: updated for relevancy Submitted by: Resolutions Committee Sonya Verney & Jen Perry, Committee Co-Chairs 15 - Proposed Amendment of E14 E14.

RESOLVED: That the MEA supports Human and Civil Rights and Social Justice programs, initiatives and statutes to improve the learning environment for all Maine students. (Adopted 1997; Amended 1999; Amended 2011) Rationale: updated for relevancy Submitted by: Resolutions Committee Sonya Verney & Jen Perry, Committee Co-Chairs

2.

RESOLVED: that the MEA will offer opportunities for LGBTQIA+ trainings for all educators on a variety of platforms.

Specifically, trainings including current language practices and rights of the student and educators.

RATIONALE: We believe public education is vital to building respect for the worth, dignity, and equality of every individual in our diverse society. Should be minimal budgetary impact with the goal of achieving common understanding. Existing training opportunities can be offered via webinar, DBC's, state/national conferences.

MEA Working Conditions Goal, Objective #2: #2. Ensure workplace environments for all educators and students are free from discrimination and oppression.

Submitted by: Human, Civil Rights & Social Justice Committee, Olivia Brown & Emily Albee, Committee Co-Chairs Estimated budgetary impact: minimal

16 - Proposed Amendment of E24 E24.

RESOLVED: That the MEA believes that all transgender students should be able to use the bathroom or locker room of the gender with which they identify, including gender neutral students.

The MEA supports the goal of creating gender neutral public restrooms in all Maine educational institutions. (Adopted 2018) Rationale: Aligning with the MEA Core Values of equal opportunity and a just society. We believe public education is a gateway to opportunity. All students have the human and civil right to a quality public education that develops their potential, independence, and character. We believe public education is vital to building respect for the worth, dignity, and equality of every individual in our diverse society.

Submitted by: Human, Civil Rights & Social Justice Committee Olivia Brown & Emily Albee, Committee Co-Chairs 2021 PROPOSED NEW BUSINESS ITEMS 1.

RESOLVED: that the MEA when meeting virtually will encourage participants to list their personal pronouns.

RATIONALE: We believe public education is vital to building respect for the worth, dignity, and equality of every individual in our diverse society.

MEA Working Conditions Goal, Objective #2: #2. Ensure workplace environments for all educators and students are free from discrimination and oppression.

Submitted by: Human, Civil Rights & Social Justice Committee, Olivia Brown & Emily Albee, Committee Co-Chairs Estimated budgetary impact: $0

April 2021 • www.maineea.org

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Moral Injury

By Gary McGrane, MEA-Retired President-Elect Ed Pontius, M.D.

e are learning about a variety of ways in which the COVID-19 virus can hurt us, especially educators. Harms can include pneumonia, severe fatigue, difficulties with concentration, mood and sleep, and a loss of smell and taste. Aside from the physical harm there may be psychological harm or moral injury. Social distancing does not allow teachers or support staff help pre-k students zip their coat; helping first graders put on their little rubber boots or mittens, or unable to flash a broad unseen smile because of a face mask or to be able to give a comforting hug to show affection or emotional support for a job well done. These are only a few examples of the teacher’s mental struggles in providing emotional and psychological support for our many students.

This creates a constant state of exhaustion and frustration when teachers are conflicted with “Should I…, May I” or “Will I get into trouble if I revert to pre-pandemic norms?”

W

What we are seeing is not just harm to the student, but also the harm that occurs to educators and support staff attempting to do their work.

Professionals and ESP’s spend years training to do their work, and individually, most of us have a clear sense of what it means to do a job well. We have standards and expectations of ourselves. In the midst of this pandemic, things have changed, and we have all been required to adapt. Now we are meeting one another with masks on, socially distancing, and washing our hands more frequently. And we have been required to teach and help our students in unusual ways day after day, month after month. These unusual times can change almost weekly from in person, to a hybrid or to a fully remote model of teaching and back again. This has been a challenge to say the least.

None of us were trained to do our work this way. Our habits and expectations are still there from before, but we are not doing things in the way that feels comfortable and sometimes the results do not feel quite right. The difference between the way we think we should be working and the way we must work now, creates an unsatisfied gap between the results we expect and the results you can manage. This gives rise to a type of psychological harm, that can only be described “moral injury”.

Educators and support staff are experiencing this “moral injury”. In the hospital the masked nurse trying to speak to an elderly patient dealing with hearing impairment and confusion may feel great distress- it feels wrong for it to be so hard to communicate and frustrating to be unable to comfort the patient. But the same can also be true in the school environment. Teachers and other educators have had years of training and many have decades of facilitating a learning environment. Much of that has been set aside to protecting students and protecting staff during the pandemic crisis. The changes have been made to protect life and avoid death. And yet it does not feel right trying to teach from behind a mask. It is frustrating trying to reassure a student with the usual smilea smile the student cannot see. And it is frustrating to have technology issues interfering as you try to connect with a student.

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Maine Educator • April 2021

In this prolonged disaster we are not able to achieve what we hope to achieve in our work.

Maine educators are working hard to achieve what they have always worked for- to give every student in Maine a quality educational experience. Hybrid or remote teaching methods require students to acquire knowledge and skills in a very untraditional way. There are not enough hours in the day to get through all of the curriculum, and some students and families are challenged in connecting with this new educational home school environment.

Maine educators are very much aware that not all of education is not about gaining knowledge and skills it is also about socialization, working together and sharing personal experiences. Maine educators are very much concerned about the inability to provide their students with the same opportunities to interact and develop socially that happen last year. They are missing out on sports, band practice, drama throughout the school year.

Gary McGrane is working as a volunteer for the Maine FrontLine WarmLine program.

FrontLine WarmLine helps Maine educators, health care workers and first responders manage the stress of serving on the front lines of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The following is his perspective as a staffed volunteer helping educators deal with anxiety, irritability stress, poor sleep, grief or worry and more. The FrontLine WarmLine is available from 8 AM to 8 PM, 7 days a week by calling (207) 221-8196 or Text the word “frontline” to 898-211 for support.

Moral Injury is real for Maine educators. A serious bruise to the most important part of who they are. Wounded in this time of an unrelenting crisis. At some point during the day or the week it is important to take stock of what it is that feels wrong about our work, and to acknowledge it to ourselves I could use a little help from my friends. It may help to allow ourselves to grieve about what we are missing that smile, that pat on the back or a hug to lets the student know it is alright to be sad or disappointed and to be able to connect with our colleagues who may share frustrations or anxiety. We do better when we realize we do not have to shoulder these feelings alone. Taking care of ourselves makes us less likely to become morally injured. There are steps we can take to improve our resilience and reduce the trauma.

Breathing techniques, grounding techniques, connection with others can help us all reduce the moral injury.

Finding Mindful

Moments

By Emily McRobbie, EdD Assistant Professor of Adult and Higher Education University of Southern Maine | Photo Credit: Emily McRobbie

Educators are frequently asked to manage their own well-being while also attending to the well-being of others. This is no small task and has been significantly more challenging during this unusual COVID-19 pandemic year.

Educators who practice mindfulness report many benefits, including improved concentration, greater sense of calm, improved relationships, and even better sleep. Mindfulness practice provides a break from overthinking and multitasking.

Mindful moments invite us to focus on the present moment with open awareness. We pause to notice details happening in real time. We observe sounds, sights, body sensations, emotions, or thoughts. The key is to simply observe without attempting to change the experience. For example, instead of thinking during a walk we can turn our focus to the environment around us. We can pause and notice how an emotion exists in our body. Where do I feel tired? This practice of noticing expands awareness and relaxes the nervous system.

Even 30 minutes of mindfulness practice each day can make a significant difference in our lives. Yet fitting 30 more minutes into an already full day is not easy. The good news is that we can embed mindful moments throughout a day.

Here are several quick and simple practices.

Waking with Awareness

Begin the day with awareness before getting out of bed. Upon waking, listen to the sounds in the room and notice your breath for a few moments. You might enjoy taking a couple slow, deep breaths followed by full exhalations.

Mindful Stretch

At any time during the day, take one or two stretches of your choice and observe. One to try is stretching arms overhead and reaching one hand higher than the other followed by the second hand, back and forth a few times.

Another is sitting tall and observing shoulder rolls.

Mindful Listening

Many times when we are listening to another person we are not fully listening.

We may be thinking about other topics or considering how we might respond.

Choose someone in your life and dedicate 5 minutes to listen deeply and from a place of curiosity. Focus fully on their message, do not respond while they are speaking, and do not offer advice. Simply allow their message to be heard and allow for silence. If you feel the need to say something once they have finished, you can reflect back what you heard them say. What happened?

Mindfulness practice is one of many tools that can help reduce stress and strengthen well-being. When beginning a new mindfulness practice, be gentle and kind to yourself. It takes time to strengthen focus and commitment.

Simply bringing our attention back to the present moment more frequently can begin to bring greater balance to our lives.

April 2021 • www.maineea.org

37

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Editorial Staff Managing Editor Rachelle Johnson Editor Giovanna Bechard Layout Design Shawn Berry Leadership President Grace Leavitt Vice President Jesse Hargrove Treasurer Beth French NEA Director Rebecca Cole Board of Directors District A Robert "Bo" Zabierek District B Suzen Polk-Hoffses District C Ellen Payne District D Cedena McAvoy District E Ken Williams District F Janice Murphy District G Nancy Mitchell District H Dennis Boyd District I Allison Lytton District J Amy O'Brien-Brown District K Tom Walsh District L Rebecca Manchester District M Donna Longley District O Lisa Leduc District P Dina Goodwin Disrtict R Gary McGrane District ESP Jamie McAlpine Student MEA N/A Maine Educator (ISSN #1069-1235) is published by: Maine Education Association 35 Community Drive, Augusta, ME 04330-8005 207-622-4418; fax 207-623-2129 POSTMASTER: send address changes to: Maine Educator 35 Community Drive, Augusta, Maine 04330-8005

E D I TO R ' S N OT E - A P R I L 2 0 21

O' The Places I Wish I Could Go...

I

f I had a buck for every time I thought... “I’d love to be in Hawaii right now” I wouldn’t need this job, or any other.

I spend free time researching vacations I hope to take some day, dreaming about the one that was cancelled with my now 88-year-old grandfather who only hopes he has enough time to be able to fulfill his dream of going to Spain with his family. Sure, these are totally not “problems” when you look at the big picture and the true casualty of this pandemic, which is horrifying.

But, when you step back after counting your blessings for being healthy, the mind wanders to the day-to-day—the things we (at least I) continue to ponder: How many more times do I have to explain how to divide to my child? Why are people STILL not washing their hands when they go to the bathroom?! How, after a year, do we still have to tell people-”you’re on mute"? When will I feel safe to get on a plane and actually go somewhere? These are just some of the questions that I know I can’t answer, yet they still occupy my mind. The unknowns of all of this have been one of the toughest parts, particularly for people who like consistency and predictability to feel comfortable.

I rely heavily on schedules and have an almost unhealthy fear of being late-just ask my children who are routinely the first ones to any practice or event and are forced to sit in the car and wait.

Sometimes, timing is everything—which proved to be true when it came to the COVID-19 vaccine.

There was some comfort in knowing when I would be eligible for the vaccine and I know many of our members found that same peace of mind in being named in a specific category. Being placed in that 1B category meant something for educators—it meant not only were you a priority, but you also had a sense of timing. MEA understood this and advocated from the beginning for that designation.

When that roll-out system went away, concern (rightfully) grew and MEA worked hard, along with NEA to help leaders at the state and federal level understand that vaccinating educators kept students safe and kept our schools open; vaccinated educators don’t need to quarantine if they’re exposed.

Vaccinated educators mean there is enough staff to keep kids learning in-person. The news from President Biden, followed by the Governor is both a literal and figurative shot in the arm to keep the train on the track for the rest of the year...because the end is in sight.

That’s the other obvious big thought that swirls around in my mush brain—is there an end-when will this be over? I think about it all the time. The only thing that gets me through it really is the reality that the school year is almost over, and frankly school is one of the hardest parts for me as a working mother trying to navigate a demanding job with a child who has every right to be confused by two digit division. So, if I think about the fact that the school year is nearing the end, and warmer temperatures (hopefully) with sunshine are in the future, I know I can power through. I’m hopeful that a renewed sense of strength will come for all of us as we navigate the latter end of the school year—that, another vacation brochure and a few more games of family Risk may do the trick.

Non-Profit US Postage paid at Augusta, Maine and additional mailing offices.

For advertising rates and information please contact: Shawn Berry 35 Community Dr., Augusta, ME 04330 207-622-4418 ext. 2206

Follow us on social media Giovanna Bechard Editor editor@maineea.org

April 2021 • www.maineea.org

39

NEA’s NEA’s READ READ ACROSS ACROSS AMERICA: AMERICA: CELEBRATING CELEBRATING A A NATION NATION OF OF DIVERSE DIVERSE READERS READERS

April 2021 - Inspire Stewardship

Cover images used with permission.

Cover images used with permission.

TITLES FOR TEEN READERS TITLES FOR TEEN READERS

Help students see their place in the natural world. Use books and poetry to help students exlore, interpret, and connect to nature.

Two African-American teens find themselves working together solve Two African-American teenstofind the murderworking of a mutual friend, themselves together toParis solve Secord, aka DJ ParSec. the murder of a mutual friend, Paris Secord, aka DJ ParSec.

The students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High share their The students ofSchool Marjory Stoneman emotional journeys that began on Douglas High School share their February 14, 2018, and continue today. emotional journeys that began on February 14, 2018, and continue today.

Elementary

Middle Grade

We Are Water Protectors In this raw graphic memoir, Jarrett J. Krosoczka shares his day-to-day life with In this raw graphic memoir, Jarrett J. his grandparents andhis hisday-to-day difficult interactions Krosoczka shares life with his with his heroin-addicted grandparents and his difficultmother. interactions with his heroin-addicted mother.

by Carole Lindstrom & illustrated by Michaela Goade

Through 100 chapters, each 100 words, sixteen-year-old Will walks the streets of Through 100 chapters, each 100 words, L.A. to deal with and loss. of sixteen-year-old Willtragedy walks the streets L.A. to deal with tragedy and loss.

Seventeen stories that offer unique perspectives to explore what it Seventeen stories that offer unique means to be young and black perspectives to explore what in it America today. means to be young and black in America today.

Young Adult

The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez

Butterfly Yellow

by Adrianna Cuevas

by Thanhha Lai

Darius’ life of dealing with depression and high school takes unexpected Darius’ life ofbullies dealing withan depression and turn travels to Iran to meet his highwhen schoolhe bullies takes an unexpected for to theIran firsttotime. turngrandparents when he travels meet his grandparents for the first time.

After Rukhsana’s conservative Muslim parents catch her kissing her girlfriend After Rukhsana’s conservative Muslim Ariana, they herher away to parents catch herwhisk kissing girlfriend Bangladesh andwhisk a world tradition Ariana, they herofaway to and arranged marriages.

Bangladesh and a world of tradition and arranged marriages.

The lives of two cursed sisters become entwined with enchanted boys in The lives of twotwo cursed sisters become this contemporary of “Snowentwined with tworetelling enchanted boys in White and Rose-Red’ and “Swan Lake.” this contemporary retelling of “SnowWhite and Rose-Red’ and “Swan Lake.”

When Nestor and his mother move in with his grandmother, Nestor is forced to use his secret ability to communicate with animals to save the inhabitants of his new home town when they are threatened by a tule vieja, a witch that transforms into animals.

Hằng, a refugee from Việt Nam who has traveled to Texas to find her little brother who was taken from her years ago, is helped by LeeRoy, a city boy with big rodeo dreams.

THEMES:

THEMES:

THEMES:

Activism, Culture, Environment

Activism, Courage, Culture, Environment, Friendship

Courage, Culture, Family, Friendship, Immigration

A young girl learns from her Nokomis (grandmother) about protecting our shared planet and invites all to become stewards of Earth.

Epic heart-pounding fantasy set in an alternate ancient India whereset a rebel Epic heart-pounding fantasy in and a reluctant anassassin alternate ancient India soldier where afind rebel forbidden as they battlefind assassin and alove reluctant soldier to save their forbidden love as lands. they battle to save their lands.

Heartbreaking and hopeful stories about

Best friends Chelsea and Jasmine

A Muscogee (Creek) girl attending an

notmuch U.S. citizens. with a secret for of their lives: they are not U.S. citizens.

wrongs in their community.

difficulties of “dating whilewith Native.”

Louise “Lou” Wolfe deals the difficulties of “dating while Native.”

nine courageous young adults stories who have lived find and use their voices toJasmine confront white school,an Heartbreaking and hopeful about Best friends Chelsea and Aoverwhelmingly Muscogee (Creek) girl high attending For resources on tohave teach these books to with courageous a secret for muchhow of theirwho lives: they are stereotypes, biases, andtoyour societal Louise “Lou” Wolfe deals with the nine young adults lived find and use their voices confront class visit: overwhelmingly white high school,

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Maine Educator • April 2021

stereotypes, biases, and societal http://bit.ly/AprilBooks21 wrongs in their community.

Celebrating A Nation of Diverse Readers Celebrating A Nation of Diverse Readers readacrossamerica.org readacrossamerica.org 26713.0120.JR 26713.0120.JR

Graduate Programs That Change Lives M.S.Ed in Educational Leadership — Enrolling a New Cohort This Summer!

Those Who Can, Teach.

Those Who Teach, Advance Their Careers at Farmington.

Whether you’re seeking to earn the credentials, knowledge and skill sets to climb the ladder at your current school, to become a more valuable educator wherever you choose, or to be the kind of educator other teachers want to emulate, the University of Maine at Farmington M.S.Ed. in Educational Leadership will help you get there.

M.S.Ed. in Educational Leadership is designed for professional educators who want to become leaders in their classrooms, schools, school districts or other educational settings.

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• Delivered in blended format: 70% online / 30% face-to-face • Emphasizes school improvement knowledge and skills grounded in research • Organized in a collaborative cohort format Other Graduate Programs Offered at Farmington • M.S.Ed. in Early Childhood • M.S.Ed. in Special Education • M.A. in Counseling Psychology - Emphasis in Creative Arts • Online M.Ed. in Instructional Technology • Certificate in Administration • Certificate in Assistive Technology • Certificate in Gifted and Talented Education • Certificate in Math Leadership • And more!

Accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)

Learn More: www.farmington.edu/edleader-1