The New England Board of Higher Education has honored the University of Southern Maine and 15 other Maine colleges with Excellence Awards for their outstanding teacher preparation programs.
Dr. Andrea Stairs-Davenport, Associate Dean of the School of Education and Human Development, and Dr. Fiona McDonnell, Director of Educator Preparation and Accreditation, represented USM at the awards ceremony in Augusta on November 21.
“It is a very special honor for USM to be recognized for excellence in educator preparation alongside our colleagues from Maine’s other colleges and universities who also offer teacher preparation programs,” Stairs-Davenport said.
The award honored 16 public and independent higher education institutions in Maine, recognizing the collective efforts of all to prepare the next generation of teachers.
“This award illustrates our collective commitment to meeting Maine’s and the nation’s workforce needs with highly prepared, competent, and caring educators,” Stairs-Davenport said. “These educators make a difference in students’ and families’ lives every day, and we could not be prouder of the hard work of our faculty and staff to ensure excellent preparation for the realities of today’s classrooms.”
University of Maine System Chancellor Dannel Malloy nominated Maine’s educator preparation programs for the award. At the ceremony in Augusta, he spoke about those students who pursue a teaching career.
“There’s no higher calling than being a teacher…and, I would argue, no higher return,” said Malloy, who is a member of the Maine delegation of the New England Board of Higher Education.
Malloy also commented on the role of teachers in the community, saying: “We are better and stronger as a democracy because of a great public education system.”
USM offers nationally accredited teacher certification programs in art education, elementary education, secondary education (including English, math, life science, physical science, and social studies), world languages (French and Spanish), music education, special education, and teaching English to speakers of other languages.
In addition to USM, the award honored:
Bates College
Bowdoin College
Colby College
College of the Atlantic
Eastern Maine Community College
Husson University
Maine College of Art and Design
St. Joseph’s College
Thomas College
University of Maine
University of Maine at Augusta
University of Maine at Farmington
University of Maine at Machias
University of Maine at Presque Isle
University of New England