Nominated by:  JoAnna Colbath, Parent

Katie is everything a parent could dream a teacher to be. She takes her time to develop a personal connection with each child as a way to individualize learning and build a lasting connection. Her students truly look forward to going to school each day to be a part of her class. She has built a learning environment that is welcoming and encourages learning to be fun. The lessons taught in her room are not only academic but lifelong social skills. Her students think of each other as family and have learned to appreciate and respect one another.

Nominated by: Brian Cronin, Colleague

Bill's guidance at helping students become informed citizens takes place both in and out of the classroom. He has organized trips that have allowed students to visit places and see different sites that have been discussed in class, making the content more engaging to them. A student in Bill's class, learns more about our local community by participating in the Amazing Race, biking to various businesses around Presque Isle and answering questions that Bill has provided. In order to do this, Bill has community members volunteer as chaperones. His Amazing Race has been featured on MPBN. Bill holds his students accountable for achieving and exceeding learning goals, guiding them in improving their work. To prevent students from settling with "good enough", Bill coordinates with other study hall teachers to have them send students to him. Presque Isle Middle School is a better place because Bill Guerrette is there and we couldn't be happier to have him on our team.  

Nominated by: Ronald Greco, Parent

Connie is a great motivator. She gets the most out of her students and prepares them for success at future levels. Our daughter transformed from a timid writer and reader to someone confident in her literacy. She is addicted to books and consistently reads books multiple levels above her age level with confidence and understanding.  According to her principal, Connie has been instrumental in creating a looping structure for second and third graders. This two-year relationship allows her to better understand the needs of her students and therefore can tailor her instruction to meet their strengths and challenges from one year to the next. Connie’s classroom fosters relationships and community. Her students become “experts” on everything from using the stapler to double digit addition. Connie’s contributions to MSAD#51 are too many to count.

Nominated by:  Matthew Gilbert, Parent

As a father, I was very concerned about my son’s transition into high school. He is a reluctant learner who needs a caring and patient teacher to guide him. Mrs. Ellingwood connected with my son and realized how to motivate him in the classroom by connecting with his interests. She has set high standards for him as a math student and has not wavered. At the same time, she has been more than willing to put in the extra time and effort needed to help my son reach his potential. Mrs. Ellingwood is also active in the school community as the adviser for the National Honor Society and Cross Country coach. She connects with her students by being a positive role model and showing a genuine interest in their lives. She has also supported my son with his pursuits after high school. She has gone out of her way to find opportunities which would enrich his life and help him determine his pathway towards a brighter future. As an administrator, I believe she is the type of teacher you want to have in the classroom and serving as a leader on the faculty.

Nominated by:  Adam Rabasca, Colleague

For over 20 years, Ms. Farnham has excelled as a teacher and leader within her school, first as a kindergarten teacher and now as a special education teacher. She has demonstrated mastery over instruction, official documentation, staff oversight of education technicians, proactive inter-faculty communication, community relations, and demonstrating compassion to her students. In this year, she is mentoring several teachers, two of whom are first year teachers in special education, to the extent that she supports them with case management, report writing, and state-based paperwork. Ms. Farnham has undeniably exhibits the core values one seeks in an educationalemployee.

Nominated by: Nicholas Weiss, Student

Let me tell you a little bit about a teacher who is really special and extraordinary: Mrs. Jones.  Mrs. Jones is a wonderful teacher and, as a student, I really enjoy being in her class every day. She challenges us to read new and harder books. She also makes her assignments more interesting and fun. English and Reading are not exactly my favorite subjects, but if Mrs. Jones keeps up the good work at teaching, that may change! Every day, Mrs. Jones teaches us something new, and it's not always Language Arts related, and I really like that. I wish Mrs. Jones taught at the high school too so I can see her over there too.

Nominated by: Christina Labbe, Nancy Stover, Christina Wotton, Principals

Mr. Lufkin is an exceptional art teacher who balances his job responsibilities between three small schools. He is a leader in his professional learning community content area team working to build the curriculum for the district art department. Anthony plans annual Art Shows for the three schools, coordinates a Gifted and Talented Art program, teaches our pre-k program and Rivers Alternative Middle School in addition to his 21 regular art classes. The challenges of being in three schools with separate administrators and different school environments can be challenging however, Anthony does it with a smile and always has a growth mindset. This nomination is fully endorsed by all three of Mr. Lufkin’s Administrators.

Nominated by: Darcy Grindal, Colleague

Dan Hupp is extraordinary because he goes above and beyond to make his students feel cared for and safe inside the classroom. He encourages students to take a chance when answering questions in class promoting that his classroom is a safe place and even when wrong answers are given he praises them for taking a chance and encourages them to call on other classmates for help. Instead of sending a child to the office for having a tough time in the classroom, he sits with the child and tries to get to the root of the behavior. There are a lot of students in his classroom who can test the boundaries but Dan finds a way to explain the consequences to the student. Dan impresses me with his patience daily.

Nominated by: Paul Bickford, Principal

In the classroom, Jess helps make math come alive. She has outstanding content knowledge and develops positive relationships with students. Jess allows students to discover math relationships rather than providing solutions, creating a sense of intellectual curiosity among her students. She is the leader of her interdisciplinary team and involved in district Math Subject Area and PEPG Committees. Jess is talented with technology and often shares her expertise with fellow staff members both informally and as PD opportunities. Students find Ms. McGreevy kind, approachable, supportive. In short, Jess is a valuable school leader and an outstanding teacher who makes a significant positive impact on her students and fellow staff members.

Nominated by: Reg Ruhlin, Principal

Shana demonstrates all the characteristics of a successful teacher. She stimulates, directs, and paces interaction with the class while encouraging independent thought. She uses humor effectively, and students view Shana as an approachable, valuable source of information and guidance. She is one of the first teachers in the building each morning. She models lifelong learning, as evidenced by her embrace of technology and her quest to find new ways to present material. She has an aura of self-confidence, and always presents herself in a professional manner. She conveys a love for the craft of teaching and working with teenagers. Shana’s colleagues rely on her teamwork and collaboration. She is one of the bedrocks of Orono High.

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Nominated by: John Keane, Principal

Mr. Hennessey is a unique and highly effective teacher. His formal manner and personality combined with a dry sense of humor and setting high standards for his students, make him an icon of our school. He is a co-teacher and original designer of a high-level class entitled, Camden Conference. Modeled after the actual Camden Conference, our students pick an aspect of the conference that they delve further into and present their findings in persuasive form. This experience is as academic as it can get in a high school setting. The students report the class actually enlightened them to change their mind on what they want to study in college and what they believed about the world around them. With only four years with us, he has become legendary amongst his students and their families. Watching him in class is truly watching a person who has honed his craft to perfection.

Nominated by: Anna Cox, Student

Ms. Del Rossi is part of the wonderful art department here at Mt Ararat High school. In her drawing class, she nurtures students who aspire to create wonderful things and simultaneously keeps disruptive children focused. In her AP course, she is incredibly helpful to students of all skill levels and helps to map a course for each of them, whether they decide to submit a portfolio to the college board or not. In her class I get to experiment with mediums I wouldn't have pushed myself to try on my own, and her use of gentle peer critiques makes the class feel like it's tailored to each and every student. I feel that Ms. Del Rossi believes in each and every one of us, and tries her best to help us blossom into artists.

Nominated by:  Michelle and Arvid Robbins, Parents  

Patti is just one of those teachers that you just want to say “THANK YOU for helping my daughter grow!” She is such a caring, nurturing, patient, kind and giving teacher! We love her as a part of our family. I have witnessed her teaching. She does not judge, criticize, favor, her students one from another. She treats them all with respect and understands her students are all learning and have different personalities and embraces them fully. In a time when kindness and encouragement is needed she gives her students 110%! My daughter still talks about Patti and gives her huge hugs when she sees her. My daughter is in third grade now and Patti still makes time for her past students to gather after school just to catch up and be together.... now that, my friends, is one special teacher! Sincerely Michelle & Arvid Robbins

Nominated by: Mary Alice McLean, Principal

David Coffey is one of the most talented and effective educators with whom I've had the pleasure of working. His classroom instruction is exceptionally distinguished. His concerts are unfailingly inspired, evocative, moving and well-organized and well-orchestrated, showcasing his natural showmanship and enabling our students to really shine. He is rightly held in high regard by everyone in the district and is considered a treasure, one of our finest assets. He has a gift for coaching and provides very specific feedback in a good-humored way. He is conversant with best practices in his field and with PBE. He hosted the KVMEA Music Festival this year and works with our select a cappella choir, Belfast Voices. He initiated a partnership with our district's new curriculum coordinator to develop a K-12 music curriculum that has been approved by the school board. We are exceptionally fortunate to have this thoughtful, purposeful and accomplished educator on our faculty, where his magic makes beautiful learning experiences happen for multitudes.

Nominated by:  Ann Luginbuhl, Colleague and 2014 Washington County Teacher of the Year

Kailee is a teacher who always goes the extra mile. When I send students from my school to high school at Washington Academy, I always know I can tell them they can depend on Mrs. Colbeth if they need extra help. She is committed and caring. She isan expert in her subject of mathematics and she possesses the perfect balance of subject expertise, ability to adapt to all types of learners and the ability to show empathy for students. She also is a calming, stabilizing influence on students with struggles while garnering the respect of academic high flyers. The great work she does with students in the classroom is bolstered by her actions outside of the classroom. She attends all of the events that her students are participating in. You can always see her cheering them on and supporting them evenings and weekends with her two young daughters in tow. During the holidays and vacation breaks she and her family host international students that cannot afford to travel back home to their own families.

Nominated by: Ben Harris, Principal

The role of an educator goes far beyond academics. It is about knowing students as individuals, as people, and making sure that they know that they are loved. It is about pushing students to do their best, to see their worth and to only accept their personal best. Kristin Klin is the epitome of this. Not only is her classroom meticulously organized, it is a safe space where students feel welcomed and confident. Her intuitive instruction reaches students of all abilities, as do her high expectations. She is an incredible teacher because she genuinely loves her students, her school, and her community.