It is not a surprise that the arts are playing a part in helping to heal and supporting Mainers during this time to make sense of the tragedy in Lewiston. As we learn more details we are also learning the ways that the arts are a vehicle for helping us to ease the pain and process the event. Below I’ve included some that have come to me through multiple avenues. I invite you to share some of what you are involved with or are aware of by “leaving a comment” at the bottom of this blog post or by emailing me at meartsed@gmail.com. I have been making cards and sending them to those who I know personally that have been impacted by the event. If you know of someone who could benefit from a handmade card please email me. My heart goes out to the families and loved ones of the victims and to all the educators who are there for students. Please remember that whatever you’re doing is enough and the right thing.
Turner Art Teacher
Miia Zellner, an art teacher from Turner, Maine, attaches a heart cut-out with a message of positivity to a tree in downtown Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. Zellner wanted to show her love and support for the community in the wake of Wednesday’s mass shootings. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Medomak Valley High School in Waldoboro
James Taylor
Known as the Battle of the Bridge, last weeks football game featured cross-river rivals Lewiston High School and Edward Little High School of Auburn. James Taylor was there to sing an acoustic version of the National Anthem before the kick-off of the game.
L/A Arts – the Arts agency for the cities of Lewiston and Auburn
An open call for artworks to individuals and organizations at the local, state and national level to express your thoughts in the form of a postcard. We call upon all mothers, fathers, and children; teachers and their students at all levels; artists, whether novice or seasoned; wordsmiths; dreamers, thinkers, feelers and doers of all ages and backgrounds. Share your hopes and your fears, your remembrances and your well-wishes.
These postcards can be addressed directly to the victims and/or their families, the immediate community of Lewiston impacted by the tragedy, or more broadly address growing concerns over the horrific frequency of gun violence across the nation.
The leaves had just started to turn their brilliant colors as I followed the windy road west to Rangeley from my home in the mid-coast. It was a warmish and beautiful day. I haven’t traveled to western Maine in a few years and surprisingly during my 13 years working for the state (Maine Department of Education, 7 years and Maine Arts Commission, 6 years), I didn’t visit the Rangeley Lakes School. (I say surprisingly because during those 13 years I visited about 450 schools.)
Sonja Johnson and Maryam Emami
I’ve know Rangeley art teacher Sonja Johnson and English teacher Timothy Straub for many years. More recently, I met Maryam Emami, graphic arts and history teacher and the 2023 Franklin County Teacher of the Year. I was excited to visit the Rangeley Lakes School and to learn more about Maryam and Sonja’s collaborative project. I shared my recently published book, Catching Fireflies, that I’ve co-authored with poet Jean Feldeisen. I learned about the community project that Sonja and Maryam have had underway for almost 10 years called Words of Wisdom. Students have made beautiful black and white photographs and collected stories from almost 100 community members. We discussed ideas on how they can move forward to complete this comprehensive historical and artistic project this school year. The lessons learned in creating Catching Fireflies have been many and I was happy to share them.
Along with the collaborative project I had a chance to learn about some of the recent engaging curriculum work Maryam had underway with students. You’ll find descriptions below of two units plus Words of Wisdom. It was fun for me to talk with students as they worked in the classroom space and the hall gallery they were creating with the completed work.
Graphics Arts
Retail Design: Part 1. The Logo-Create a fictitious company. Begin by naming it. Once the name has been selected everything else falls into place. Think of who your audience is and the company’s personality. The logo design will be most effective when the spirit of the store is clearly thought through. Keep in mind that you will be using the logo for a broad range of applications. The typographic symbol is usually, but not always, the expression of a unified design for advertising and manufacture. It must be original and simple in form, have a very high degree of memorability, and be easily recognized and noticeable. A symbol either brings letters together to make a new form, or illustrates the product or does both. A symbol is something completely different and of higher importance than a monogram (a sign of identity usually formed by the combined initials of a name). A faulty symbol is far worse than none at all, and a bad symbol can be disastrous to a product.
Humanities II
Historical Exhibit: Students curate artifacts which can include music, visual art, videos, digital media, information about important individuals from the time/culture, and cultural/historical items in their exhibit. Artifacts should be cataloged and given museum tags. And, students should be able to act as a docent to visitors to the classroom exhibit. When designing your exhibit, consider incorporating a mix of artifacts, documents, interactive displays, and multimedia presentations to engage visitors and provide a comprehensive view of your Empire’s history and cultural heritage. The Empires are the Inca, Songhai, Ayuttyha, and the Ottomans.
Words of Wisdom
Sonja and Maryam plan to publish a book with the information below that students have collected from almost 10 years of community members. The information supports the beautiful black and white photos students took and developed. These are older community members, at this point some of them have passed away. One student is the child of a student from 10 years ago when the project first got underway.
what is your full name including nickname
how old or young are you
where do you live in rangeley
what is your connection to rangeley how did you get here how long have you lived here
what was/is your occupation
what do you enjoy doing now
describe your family background
what are some of your interests/hobbies
Last piece: please share with us any additional details about your life or anything else you would like to share with future generations.
There is nothing more wonderful than learning about teachers collaborating in an impactful way. The information is of course, authentic and somewhat raw. I spent a few minutes reading through the answers, looking into the eyes of the portraits. I couldn’t help but wish this project could be carried out in every school in the state. This is a gift to the students who participated in so many ways. They’ve had a chance to learn about the individuals (in some cases relatives), to learn the history through the lives of community members, and to reflect on who they are as young people because of the people who live in their own community. Very, very powerful work! I look forward to holding the book in my hands in the future.
I’ll let you know when the project is complete. Good luck to Maryam and Sonja and to the students as they move to complete this gift to the community!
If you’d like to purchase my book Catching Fireflies it is available at THIS LINK.
They’ve done it again! Today the Union of Maine Visual Arts (UMVA) journal was published and it is jam packed with amazing articles; something for everyone! The fall issue, Materiality has a variety of thought provoking articles written by artists, writers, and educators.
Maine Arts Journal Fall 2023 cover (Rosamond Purcell’s studio, Somerville, MA, with a detail of Wall, mixed-media installation, photo: Veronique Plesch, May 2018).
Introduction by Veronique Plesch
For this issue we invited our contributors to reflect upon the many ways in which their work engages with the notion of materiality, considering the different stages of the creative process, starting with their choice of medium and how tools and materials interact, all the way to the tangible objects they produce. The topic proved inspiring: the responses address the centrality of the choice and handling of the medium. We read about materials’ possibilities and limitations, about how one might attempt to control them or instead submit to them (some materials seem to remain indomitable while others readily—willingly?—cooperate in allowing the artist to reach their goals). Contributors discuss the importance of tools to obtain certain desired effects, while they also marvel at the resulting unexpected and welcome surprises. The process’s dynamic nature is made clear by how often notions such as fluidity, transformation, transmutation, and metamorphosis are mentioned, suggesting that materials have an agency of their own. As we read through the issue, it becomes clear that materials are more than a driving force in the creative process: they are true partners, at once inspiring and motivating, starting point and goal.
This issue includes a piece written for the education column, Insight/Incite by Maryam Emami. Maryam is the 2023 Franklin County Teacher of the Year, has been teaching graphics and social studies at Rangeley Lakes Regional School since 1995. The article includes a variety of images that Maryam’s students have created.
If you’d like to learn more, become a member of UMVA, and support this fabulous organization you may do so at THIS LINK. UMVA hopes that you will subscribe to AND support the journal by becoming a member of the Union of Maine Visual Artists by clicking here. You can subscribe for free by clickinghere.
If you’re interested in writing for the journal please contact me Argy Nestor at meartsed@gmail.com or go to THIS LINK.
Explore archived journals (from the past 10 years) at THIS LINK.
During the pandemic I found myself making more art than any other time in my life (other than during my four years in undergraduate school). When a long time poet friend asked about working on a collaborative project, I didn’t hesitate. One thing led to another and before we knew it over the next almost two years our collaboration has turned into a book. I loved the process and now I’m very excited about the results. And, now the book is available for you to purchase! It’s called Catching Fireflies and contains 20 poems and 20 images. In the beginning of the process I started illustrating her poems. That felt too much like ‘frosting on the cake’ to me so we switched and she started responding to my images with a poem. The last one we actually did simultaneously about ‘being grateful’. We are both in touch with the changing of the seasons and the outdoors so the book contains five poems and five images for each session. Below is the press release; you can purchase it at THIS LINK.
MAINE WOMEN COLLABORATE ON BOOK OF POETRY AND ART
Chasing Fireflies was released on September 1st, printed by Downeast Graphics.
UNION, ME, September 3, 2023─ Jean Anne Feldeisen and Argy Nestor are excited to announce the release of their joint work, Chasing Fireflies. Readers will find images and poetry capturing unique snapshots of the seasons: the elusive color of the Maine sky in winter, the unsullied beauty of Pemaquid Point, the quirky way Spring begins before it really begins in Maine, and the creep of a harsh November cutting into the beauty of October. Says Jean, “Fireflies is a product of our long friendship, our love of Maine and the changing seasons here, and a desire to do something unique together. I think this book has fulfilled our dream.” Says Argy, “I think the results are magical. Chasing Fireflies exemplifies collaboration– Jean and I taking turns creating and responding to each other’s work.”
Artist Natasha Mayers says, “Argy’s artwork is rich and experiential, the images look concentrated and elegantly framed, all perfectly lovely and inviting.”
Argy Nestor has dedicated her life to education. She taught middle school in the mid-coast for 32 years and worked at two state agencies advocating for excellent visual and performing arts education and access to it for all learners. She is Maine’s 1995 Teacher of the Year, participated in the Japanese Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher’s program, and has received awards for her commitment to education. Her art-making has been integrated throughout her work and exhibited in multiple shows. Find her blog at meartsed.wordpress.com.
Jean Anne Feldeisen is a practicing psychotherapist, a grandmother, and a writer. She has written for “Next Avenue,” ” Chicken Soup for the Soul,” and is a host for the Crows Feet: Life As We Age Podcast. Her poetry has been published in “Thimble Literary Magazine,” “The Raven’s Perch,” “The Hopper,” and “Spank the Carp.” Main Street Rag Publishing Company released her first poetry chapbook, “Not All Are Weeping,” in May 2023. Follow her at jeanfeldeisen.com.
As we know the summer is filled with opportunities around the arts. The Farnsworth Art Museum is no exception; they provide exhibits, classes, lectures and other learning situations. Here is some the latest information from the Farnsworth, even a job opportunity.
ARTS@THEINTERSECTION 2023
In its first year, Arts@theIntersection worked with schools in Knox, Lincoln, and Waldo counties, lifting up the voices of midcoast youth. Museum staff start by building trust with students in their own classrooms. They engage with teachers to understand the relationships at play in each class, then build programs and community connections to best meet both teacher and student goals.
“Arts@theIntersection gives students a voice in their education and a choice about how they can engage with it most effectively.” ~Alexis Saba, School Programs Manager at Farnsworth Art Museum.
The Farnsworth’s education staff are all part of the Learning & Engagement Department. They have a job opening for the Academic and Program coordinator.
The Farnsworth Art Museum seeks a creative and collaborative Academic Programs Coordinator to join the Learning & Engagement department. The core responsibilities of this role include supporting arts integration and K-12 programming at the museum, primarily the Farnsworth’s Arts@theIntersection year-long program. The Farnsworth Art Museum is located in Rockland, Maine and the Academic Programs Coordinator role is an on-site position with some travel required throughout the area.
Reporting to the Senior Manager of Academic Programs, the coordinator will provide support for the implementation of our Arts@theIntersection program, a year-long arts integration program working with midcoast Maine area middle and high school students. This position will also work closely with Learning and Engagement staff members to develop core components of K-12 online learning units to align with current education standards and collections-based learning in museum environments. This position supports department program implementation as needed.
The duties, qualifications and application are located at THIS LINK.
PICTURE BOOK: DANIEL MINTER’S BLUE
Join Coretta Scott King and Caldecott Honor winner Daniel Minter for a reading of Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond’s Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky, which he illustrated. The book addresses the question, ‘where did the color blue come from-and how did it evolve to be the color we know today?’
Tomorrow, Wednesday, August 23, 10:30-11:30, the Farnsworth Library. For more information CLICK HERE.
I live in a community where some individuals have requested that the school board have certain books removed from our classrooms and library book shelves. The conversation went on for months with both sides taking time to express their opinions. Some advocacy is based on fact and research while others are based on personal beliefs/choices and emotions. These conversations are similar to others going on across our state and the country. We all have opinions and lately I’ve been wondering how individuals can express their options in a way that provides a ‘point of view’, not in a way that comes across as “I am right and if you don’t agree with me, you are wrong”. Most importantly, I wonder how opinions can be expressed without negatively impacting the education of young people? After all, we know they’re watching and listening.
Every year before the July 4th parade in Whitefield, a small town located not a 30 minute drive from Augusta, an artist gathers with other artists and friends to shed light on a ‘challenging topic’ to include in the parade. Artist Natasha Mayers has been doing this for years. Some of you are familiar with the marvelous film that was made to document Natasha’s life story called Natasha Mayers: An Unstill Life. The film chronicles her life as an artist and activist. You can access the trailer and rent the entire film at THIS LINK.
Some of the many participants presenting ‘banned books’ at the Whitefield parade
For this years parade the group focused on books that have been banned and created giant books that are included on a list. They passed out more than 100 children’s books wrapped in caution tape, with bookmarks listing banned books. I’m sure many of you are familiar with some or all of these books, I’ve listed them below.
Its one thing to be aware of banned books but it’s another to express your opinion or to take action. I’ve given some thought about my beliefs and I’m reading, listening and watching. One of my summer goals is to read more of the books on banned book lists. When I participate in a conversation it will be based on my reading and my understanding through my own lens. I attended my town’s candidates forum this spring where the candidates were asked their opinions on banning books from our schools, specifically the book Queer Gender by Maia Kobabe. The two individuals who strongly opposed hadn’t read the book, one had looked at the pictures. I’ve noticed that many people who are opposed to certain books also have strong feelings about the curriculum being taught in our schools. In addition, their rhetoric includes wanting the power to make curriculum decisions. As a teacher I am totally committed to working with parents to educate the child. But I am opposed to parents making decisions for other families. Should parents be making decisions for their own children or all children? Some advocates are attempting to undermine the wisdom of teachers and educational experts who are trained to make curriculum decisions and choices about teaching and learning. I realize that not all educators are ‘experts’ and I’m not suggesting that educators make all the decisions. Policy’s and procedures are in place with curriculum committees that include teachers, administrators, and school board members to guide and make decisions on curriculum.
Handing out books to children
I’m not offering answers, only questions. My baseline question that has always guided me: what is in the best interest of all students? Some folks are saying ‘best interest’ has become murky. Well, no one said that education wasn’t messy business. It feels like we’re at a critical moment so I ask you: will you be part of the problem or part of the solution? How can arts educators use artistry to help at this moment in the history of education?
Banned books for teens and adults
FICTION, FANTASY, ETC.
The Bluest Eyes, Tony Morrison
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie
The Call of the Wild, Jack London
The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas
The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Mark Haddon
The DaVinci Code, Dan Brown
Black Boy, Richard Wright
Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
Running with Scissors, Augusten Burroughs
Looking for Alaska, John Green
The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton
Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf
The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath
NONFICTION
A People’s History of the United States, Howard Zinn
Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out, Susan Kuklin
The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story, Nikole Hannah-Jones
The Autobiography of Malcolm X & Alex Haley
Silent Spring, Rachel Carson
You Can’t Read This: Why Books Get Banned, Pamela Jain Dell
COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
Maus, Art Spiegelman
Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi
March (series), John Lewis & Andrew Aydin
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, Alison Bechdel
Queer: A Graphic History, Meg-John Barker
Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty, Gregory Neri & Randi DuBurke
Blankest, Craig Thompson
This One Summer, Mariko Tamaki
Banned booksfor children
PICTURE BOOKS
Donovan’s Big Day, Leslea Newman
It’s a Book, Lane Smith
The Day in June, Gayle Pitman & Kristyna Litten
The Snowy Day, Ezra Jack Keats
In Our Mother’s House, Patricia Polacco
Flabby Cat and Sleepy Dog, Jeanne Willis
Little Red Riding Hood, Trina Schart Hyman
Nappy Hair, Carolina Herron
Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, Bill Martin
Nasreen’s Secret School: A True Story From Afghanistan, Jeanette Winter
The Paper Bag Princess, Robert Munsch
The Dumb Bunnies, Dav Pilkey
Strega Nona, Tomie DePaola
The Stupids (series), Harry Allard & James Marshall
CHAPTER BOOKS
The Watsons go to Birmingham, 1963, Christopher Paul Curtis
Julie of the Wolves, Jean Craighead Goerge
The Giver, Lois Lowry
Melissa, Alex Gino
A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L’Engle
Go Ask Alice, Anonymous
Charlotte’s Web, E.B. White
The View From Saturday, E.L. Konigsburg
An Indigenous People’s History of the United States, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
At the end of the 2022-23 school year MAEA president Cory Bucknam provided several book titles for independent reading during the summer. At the next LGBTQIA+ meeting on Monday, September 11th at 5:00 over Zoom the participants will discuss these two books.
Fiction:Small Joys, Elvin James Mensah
Non-fiction:Pageboy: A Memoir, Elliot Page
The MAEA LGBTQIA+ Interest Group was Inspired by the National Art Education Association’s (NAEA) LGBTQ+ Interest Group. A few passionate MAEA members wanted to create a version of that in Maine. Not all MAEA members are NAEA members, and the organization wanted to give teachers access to a group that supports those who identify as LGBTQIA+ and also help all teachers to support their LGBTQIA+ students and coworkers.
The LGBTQIA+ Interest Group will meet monthly, with virtual meetings to prevent excluding members because of geography, and possibly a few in-person meetings throughout the state for fostering connections and socializing. The LGBTQIA+ Interest Group has three main goals group:
Continue developing a vision and mission for the group
Learning for ourselves (example: the summer reading group)
Sharing learning with others (example: creating a resource page on the MAEA website)
Below, a list of books MAEA provided members.
Heart Stopper by Alice Oseman
Baby by Torrey Peters
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera
Small Joys by Elvin James Mensah
All My Mothers Lovers by Ilana Masad
Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
Grace Needs Space! by Benjamin Al Wilgus and Rii Abrego
The Lesbiana’s by Sonora Reyes
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
While we’re on the topic, the state professional organization representing music educators, Maine Music Educators Association (MMEA), created this Pride statement:
As Pride Month draws to a close, MMEA shines a light on LGBTQ+ artists and music educators and all their contributions within our classrooms. While Pride is the focus during the month of June, our LGBTQ+ colleagues, students, families, and community members value representation and affirmation within the education community all year long. Thank you for continuing to create an inclusive music classroom where all individuals feel welcome.
It seems to me like each issue of the Union of Maine Visual Arts (UMVA) journal is better than the one before. The summer issue, In Balance/Imbalance is no exception; filled with thoughtful and thought provoking articles.
This issue includes a piece written for the education column, Insight/Incite by Sharon Gallant, a veteran Gardiner High School Science teacher who has taken many workshops and classes on Bookmaking. Sharon is the 2023 Kennebec County Teacher of the Year and she is always seeking understanding in all facets of bookmaking. She is recognized for a teaching style that is participatory, interdisciplinary, and academically sound. She was selected for a 100 hour apprenticeship with Richard Reitz Smith to expand her bookmaking knowledge and to create a book which will be a reference tool for teachers wanting to use bookmaking in the classroom. I wrote a blog post about Sharon’s work in the classroom earlier this year at THIS LINK.
Véronique Plesch’s introduction says it best, for the summer issue of the UMVA journal:
Although each of our contributors conceives and experiences the dual notions of balance and its lack or loss in remarkably varied and personal ways, what emerges from this issue is that balance is fundamentally dynamic in nature. As a process, it is impermanent and fleeting. It is a negotiation, a dance with the entropic forces of chaos. It is a drive, a desire—perhaps even an unattainable goal. It is the pursuit of such goals, even of those that may never be fully reached, that effect profound change. Artists can contribute by spreading awareness of the imbalances that surround us. The concert of their voices motivates us and gives us the necessary strength to face the task at hand to rebalance our world.
If you’d like to learn more, become a member of UMVA, and support this fabulous organization you may do so at THIS LINK. If you’re interested in writing for the journal please contact me at meartsed@gmail.com or go to THIS LINK.
I think the video embedded below was a Coca-Cola commercial for this year’s Super Bowl; yup, back in February 2023. I don’t know exactly how it was created but Artificial Intelligence, AI was part of it. This came out about the same time that I started to see more information and reading about AI. Some people closest to my circle were concerned, and still are, about the negative impact AI might have on education, learning (or the lack of), creativity, and originality. I find it difficult to take a stand, for or against. For me there is too much grey area on the topic. Take this commercial, for example. I’m guessing that we can all agree that it is well done on all levels, creative and inspiring. It includes many known art works. An entire lesson could be formed around or built on the idea. An integrated lesson for music and visual art and actually many subject areas.
One comment from someone in the advertising community said: “that’s the proper way to use ai stuff. not to make the entire content, but to work alongside traditional methods”. I do agree!
I dug a little to learn about it and this is what I found: The new campaign from Coca-Cola features a combination of film, 3D, and Stable Diffusion, which is deep learning, text-to-image AI model. Traditional production methods coupled with artificial intelligence will bring the next level of creativity to the advertising industry.
I suggest that as educators responsible for the arts, use this as an example of how we can utilize AI for the expansion of the creative process. What do you think?
“I teach because it is so much fun and extremely fulfilling. I absolutely love it. With constant encouragement, a lot of elbow grease on everybody’s part, and many pep talks, I witness, every year, young adults become excited and enthusiastic about their future, full of dreams and big ideas.” ~Maryam Emami, 2023 Franklin County Teacher of the Year
Maryam being recognized as Franklin County Teacher of the Year, Hall of Flags, State House, May 2023
Nothing compares to attending events where teachers are recognized for their contributions to outstanding teaching and learning. The light shines brightly for the individuals and also for the most important profession in the world, education. This spring I had the chance to connect with teachers I’ve known for years and met other teachers for the first time. In March I wrote a blog post on Sharon Gallant who not too long afterwards was named the 2023 Penobscot County Teacher of the Year. In May I met Maryam Emami for the first time, even though she has been following this blog for many years. Maryam was named the 2023 Franklin County Teachers of the Year. After an initial conversation I felt like I knew Maryam for many years. This is her story….
Maryam has been a high school Social Studies and Graphics teacher for 28 years at Rangeley Lakes Regional School, grades K through grade 12. The district, RSU 78, with just under 200 students is located in western Maine and includes the towns of Dallas Plantation, Magalloway Plantation, Rangeley, Rangeley Plantation and Sandy River Plantation. Maryam’s classes include Humanities I, II, U.S. History, AP European History, AP U.S. History, AP Seminar, and Graphics. She teaches 40-60 students each year. In addition to teaching her responsibilities include Student Council Advisor, Garden Club Advisor, Leadership Team member, and Class advisor.
Maryam’s colleague Timothy Straub, in his nomination for her as teacher of the year, captures the essence of Maryam:
“Maryam Emami is the whole package: Master teacher, advisor/mentor, Leadership Team, Quiz Bowl coach, and a sundry of other responsibilities and roles she assumes without expectation of recognition. She embodies the teacher’s mission of always keeping the best interests of the student first. Maryam lives the highest ideasl of what makes a historian a historian. Her mastery of content knowledge is unsurpassed. I have sat in her classroom, freshmen-senior, AP, honors, and Humanities, and witnessed an educator dedicated to the future of her students. Her primary aim is to instill a sense of connectedness and civic mindedness within her students. Semester after semester, year after year, for over 25 years, Maryam Emami’s dedication to the sanctity of providing an equitable education to all is the driving force behind her purpose.”
Tim and Maryam
What were your feelings after you learned that you were named Franklin County Teacher of the Year? What was the response from colleagues, learners, and community members?
There was great excitement among my students. When I returned from the announcement, which took place at the Hall of Flags in the State House in Augusta, they flooded my room with flowers, hugs, congratulatory messages, and cards, and many were disappointed that I had not informed them since they wanted to take a bus to the ceremony. They complained that I had told a former graduate who attended instead of them. Tim brought me flowers, another colleague gave me a Kata in a ceremonial act of blessing and gratitude, I received amazing cards and letters from colleagues, and I received so many wonderful comments on social media from colleagues, parents, and former superintendents (it was wonderful that multiple former superintendents I served under commented), and former graduates expressing how my teachings are still being utilized.
The following email was sent by a former student who is now the media manager at Hood College. “Sending a quick message to say congratulations on your recent honor! Even though it was only now recognized, the impact you have made and continue to make on your students cannot be understated. Personally, I’m still reminding myself of your advice to use the Zoom tool instead of pushing my nose up against the screen whilst designing. Maybe it’ll stick one day. Thank you for the wisdom you imbued on my young mind (I was listening, I swear). We, as students, never make it easy… but it means the world to us! Congrats!!” There was so much love. I am so blessed and thankful.
What have been the benefits of becoming involved in the CTOY (County Teacher of the Year) program?
I am receiving so much support from my CTOY family. There is a larger CTOY family as well as a homeroom family. Both have contributed so much to the conversation about their experiences and achievements. I am amazed by the exceptional talents and service of those in my CTOY community. It is reassuring to know that we all face similar challenges, and it brings me joy to celebrate each other’s accomplishments. Although I feel like I have not given back as much as I have received, I am determined to prove myself worthy of being part of this distinguished group. During our recent meeting with Sanjay, who represented Senator King, I was thrilled to learn that the Senator is committed to supporting education. I am eager to contribute to an effective strategy to further Senator King’s initiatives.
What do you like best about being a teacher?
Forming a trusting relationship with my students is a moment I cherish. Recently, a student who felt targeted came to me and expressed gratitude for seeing them for who they are and not judging them based on hearsay. They credited me for helping them through a tough time. The local newspaper, the Highlander, interviewed the class of 2023 and a student who had previously struggled in a traditional classroom named me as one of the people they are most grateful for. If I can help a student learn about and accept themselves, even in a small way, it can make a significant difference in their ability to be healthy, and happy, and make positive contributions to their communities.
Tell me what you think are the three keys to being a successful teacher?
To be an effective teacher, there are three important things to keep in mind: first, treat your students as equals and avoid creating a power dynamic. Second, don’t just tell them what to do – instead, coach them in your area of expertise and encourage them to become constructors of their own knowledge. Lastly, incorporate fun and reflection into your teaching to help students overcome challenges and develop thinking and design skills. Remember, it’s important to put your ego aside and not get in the way of student discovery.
What specific way(s) do your assessment practices tie into the success of your program?
To achieve success, assessment is crucial. However, I place more importance on students’ products than their scores. All of the tasks I assign are performance-based, requiring students to use the sources we have studied to make interpretations. These tasks include metacognitive exercises that ask them to reflect on their development as thinkers and designers, as well as more specific performance tasks, such as creating a graphic novel based on a myth or story from a belief system or utilizing their skills to tell stories about themselves and their communities.
What are you most proud of in your career?
Getting to know so many wonderful people and forming relationships with them. So many of my former graduates continue to share their stories with me. A former student who just got their master’s wrote after I received the CTOY honor “Thank you so much! Congratulations to you as well! No one deserves that award more than you. You have been an inspiration to me since the day I met you and will continue to be one for eternity. I love and miss you!! I hope to see you sometime soon. I will be back up for a couple of weeks at the end of July. Maybe we can finally get together then!”
What gets in the way of being a better teacher or doing a better job as a teacher?
At our small school, we are expected to take on multiple roles, which can be overwhelming. Unfortunately, I often find myself taking on too much and feeling stretched thin. This makes it difficult for me to do my best and be fully prepared for my responsibilities in serving the school and community.
What have you accomplished through hard work and determination that might otherwise appear at first glance to be due to “luck” or circumstances?
I have built all of my relationships through persistence, determination, and kindness, as well as a lot of hard work. Collaborating with my colleagues on various projects like the Humanities, interdisciplinary project, garden club, and curating the history of the Rangeley Region through multiple lenses has been incredible. These projects have allowed us to utilize our unique assets and context as a k-12 school in rural western Maine. Despite attempts to make us similar to larger schools, our teachers, staff, and administration have worked tirelessly to preserve our community and the school’s unique qualities. We take pride in our interdisciplinary work, such as the food project where the entire high school and specials teams worked with the 9-10th graders, or the ability to teach humanities with three discipline teachers; art, ELA, and history. We also created a video on the history of skiing in the Rangeley Region, which involved collaboration between the high school and elementary students. And of course, intersession which in the past has provided the opportunity for 3 days for k-12 to work on projects in mixed grade groups. Our accomplishments are the result of hard work and determination to preserve our special brand.
Look into your crystal ball: what advice would you give to teachers?
It’s important to be true to yourself and maintain strong connections with those around you. Your dedication to teaching is vital to children, so approach it with love and kindness. Be prepared to put in hard work, but it will be fulfilling in the end.
If you were given $500,000.00 to do with whatever you please, what would it be?
Let the world be our classroom and experience the joys of traveling. Explore the United States and the world together, to actually see and experience the culture and history that we are studying. Eat street food, join a tai chi group while they practice, pick up a calligraphy brush, and write Chinese characters on the pavements of Asia. See the works of Michaelangelo at the Vatican and so on. I still have a postcard a student sent me from the National Gallery in London, he wrote “ms. emami. I saw the painting! (he is referring to Holbien’s the Ambassadors) Thank you for – years ago – pointing me in its general direction.”
I’m looking forward to spending time with Maryam and Sonya in their classes during the next school and learn more about their collaborations. As Maryam’s teacher of the year journey continues I wish Maryam the other Maine county teachers of the year the best of luck.
While putting this blog post together I am reminded that the Maine Teacher of the Year program is not about finding the BEST teacher. All of the teachers nominated and those selected as county teachers of the year represent what is ‘right’ and ‘best’ for learners and our education system, PK-12.
Educate Maine manages and administers the Maine Teacher of the Year program as a collaboration between Educate Maine and the Maine Department of Education. To learn more about the Maine Teacher of the year program visit their teacher of the year webpage.
Argy Nestor
Arts Educator, Blogger, Artist, Connector meartsed@gmail.com
https://sites.google.com/view/anestor/
Argy’s Blog
The purpose of this blog is to share stories about people and places; and to celebrate the amazing work (and play) that students, educators, and organizations are doing in and for arts education. In addition, the blog has a plethora of resources and innovative ideas. This forum gives blog readers the opportunity to learn from each other. It is essential that we listen, learn, and collaborate in order to build on teaching practices for the benefit of every learner in Maine and beyond.
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