Annual Recognition Event Celebrates Excellence in Early Childhood and Out-of-School Time Education
Maine Roads to Quality Professional Development Network (MRTQ PDN), with support from Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), will host its Annual Recognition Event on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at Thomas College in Waterville. Each year, this celebration brings together early childhood and out-of-school time professionals from across Maine to recognize excellence, dedication, and achievement in the field.
The event honors recent Maine Credential recipients, T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Scholarship graduates, and the esteemed Marcia Lovell Award winners—eight practitioners, each representing one of Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services Districts.
The Marcia Lovell Awards celebrate individuals who embody the spirit, passion, and commitment of the late Marcia Lovell, a respected advocate for quality, inclusive early education. Marcia served as a program specialist at the Maine DHHS Office of Child Care and Head Start for over 20 years, dedicating her career to supporting young children, families, and responsive systems across Maine.
Lovell was instrumental in the establishment of Maine Roads to Quality in 1999 and was known for her deep belief in inclusion, creativity, and the power of the arts to nurture the whole child. Her legacy continues to inspire early childhood professionals throughout the state.
“Early childhood educators are incredible members of our society,” said Jordan Detwiler-Michelson, Director of Maine Roads to Quality Professional Development Network. “Not only are they entrusted with the safety of our most precious members, but they also play an important role during the most pivotal years of human development, which have a lasting impact on a person’s long-term education, health, well-being, and the ability to contribute to our communities as adults. By recognizing today’s recipients, we hope to inspire greater appreciation for the skill, experience, and care that early childhood education professionals bring to their work.”
Maine Roads to Quality Professional Development Network exists to increase the knowledge and professionalism of all early childhood education and out-of-school time providers in the state of Maine. Operating out of the Catherine Cutler Institute at the University of Southern Maine through funding from Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child and Family Services, MRTQ PDN develops and maintains a system of service that includes consultation, training, a professional development registry, and a statewide quality rating and improvement system. Since its creation in 1999, MRTQ PDN has offered services to thousands of programs across the state of Maine.
The Annual MRTQ PDN Recognition Event is a joyful occasion celebrating the passion, perseverance, and professionalism of those who care for and educate Maine’s youngest learners.
For more information about MRTQ PDN and its services, please visit mrtq.org.