FARMINGTON, Maine (February 26, 2024)—The University of Maine at Farmington is hosting an education career fair that is free and open to the public and is open to employers from school districts and educational institutions across the state. The event will be held on Monday, March 4th from 1:00pm to 3:00pm in the North Dining Hall of the UMF Olsen Student Center, 111 South Street, Farmington.
This event is tailored for graduating K-12 education majors and is interested in hiring qualified early childhood education, special education, full-time K-12 teachers, instructional technicians, and substitute teachers. More than 32 school districts and organizations in Maine will participate. Interested candidates are encouraged to bring a copy of their resume and current contact information.
UMF is dedicated to teacher training and is helping to address Maine's severe teacher shortage. Of particular importance is providing in-service educators with effective teaching strategies and a network of professional support to prepare them for the challenges of today's classrooms.
UMF Theodora J. Kalikow Education Center
To support these goals, UMF and Educate Maine, a career readiness nonprofit organization, partnered with Maine's Teacher of the Year educators to present more than 70 UMF student teachers in advance of the Education Career Fair. offers morning hours of professional development.
Jennifer Dorman, 2015 Maine Teacher of the Year, said, “Teachers of the Year are winners who demonstrate the strength of their work to demonstrate how collaboration with other educators and stakeholders improves student outcomes. “It's a powerful model.” “In addition to providing support for their learning, the connections we made with Farmington student teachers during this event modeled how collaboration contributes to teacher effectiveness in the classroom. It will become.”
Dorman will be joined in the morning session by 2024 Maine ToY finalist Lacey Todd. Jenny France, 2020 Somerset County Toys. Shanna Goodall, 2018 Penobscot County Toys. Katie Clark, 2022 Sagadahoc County ToY. Miranda Engstrom, 2023 Hancock County Toys. and Selina Warren, 2016 Franklin County City Councilor, will share their professional experiences on current important issues in education.
“Professional learning sessions and opportunities to enter the teaching profession are invaluable experiences for student teachers and new educators. These practices not only prepare educators who graduate from UMF to teach, but also to It also helps prepare them to become leaders,” said Hiram Sibley, UMF Field Services Director.
Paige Ruskczyk, of Farmington, is a senior who completed her UMF student teaching at Mount Blue High School.
“I feel very fortunate to have a student teaching position,” Ruskczyk said. “My mentor teachers have been very supportive and I am so excited that I chose the right career path for me. I love teaching. It's a really great way for me to continue learning, whether it's through my connections or on my own.”
“Teaching in your own classroom can feel isolating for novice teachers. UMF's initial and ongoing classroom experiences, including opportunities like this to learn from experienced teachers, are a great way for new teachers to learn in a degree program. “It fosters collaboration that increases the likelihood that students can tackle challenges in the classroom while applying innovative skills,” Dorman said.
The Education Career Fair is made possible through the generous support of Biddeford Schools, Lewiston Public Schools, Old Orchard Beach Schools, and the Mount Blue School District.
Learn more about University of Maine at Farmington
As a nationally recognized public liberal arts college, known for its commitment to the creative arts, teacher training, health arts and sciences, environment, business, and public service, UMF prepares students for both careers and further study. We provide a challenging yet supportive environment that fosters the development of. Located in the heart of Maine's four-season outdoor recreation region, UMF is a welcoming, close-knit school that prepares students for rich professional careers, active citizenship, and a lasting passion for learning. It's an academic community.
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Editor's note:
Image: https://www.umf.maine.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1/2024/02/RP234-042.jpg
Photo caption: UMF Theodora J. Kalikow Education Center
Photo credit: UMF Images