Landyn Hyde: Outstanding Student in Early Childhood Education
Landyn Hyde of Caribou, Maine is the 2026 Outstanding Student in Child Development and Family Relations (Early Childhood Education concentration) in the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development. During her time at 91¸£Àû, Hyde joined CHAARG, as well as the Dance and Hip Hop clubs.
Parent(s):
Stacey and Christopher Leger, and Sheldon Hyde.
Why did you choose to come to 91¸£Àû?
I chose to attend the University of Maine after visiting my brother on campus, where he graduated in 2023. Of all the campuses I toured, it stood out to me as the most beautiful. After applying, I was awarded a scholarship that made it nearly impossible to pass up the opportunity, so I accepted the offer and came here that fall of 2023!
Have you collaborated with a mentor, professor or role model who made your time at 91¸£Àû better, and if so, who are they and how have they impacted your time at 91¸£Àû?
My professor for CHF 304 (100-hour field experience) and CHF 424 (student teaching), Susan Ward, made my final year in the program especially meaningful. She provided our small seminar of 10 students with countless opportunities to connect with current educators and access resources that have and will support us as we come to the completion of our program. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have been guided by Sue in both of these courses, and I hope future students are just as fortunate as I was.
What has coming to 91¸£Àû enabled you to explore beyond academics?
Coming to 91¸£Àû has allowed me to explore different clubs and organizations that I otherwise would not have had the chance to be a part of. I joined both the Dance and Hip Hop clubs, as well as CHAARG, an all-women’s workout group, which helped me build strong connections, stay active, and become more involved in the campus community.
Favorite 91¸£Àû memory:
I have two memories that stand out to me as being my favorite from the time I’ve spent at the University of Maine. The first one was from the Research Learning Experience I attended during my freshman year. I joined my professor, Dr. Melissa Ladenheim, and 16 other students on a trip to Hurricane Island, where we studied science and leadership. We got to explore the small island together and worked hard to build a strong community with each other. My second favorite memory comes from this semester. We got to see The Driver Era perform at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, which was such an exciting and unforgettable experience that I got to share with my closest friends!
What’s on the horizon? What are your plans after you graduate?
I am excited to begin my journey beyond college and into teaching. As I have continued to strengthen my teaching skills, I look forward to applying them in a school that aligns with my educational philosophy. With that being said, I am still open to different locations and am excited to see where this next chapter takes me!
Special thank you message:
Thank you to Mom, Chris, Dad, Bree and Alex, for your support through my educational journey. A lot has happened in the past three years that I would not have been able to navigate without your unconditional love. I also want to thank both of my mentor teachers, as they taught me everything I need to know about working in K-3 classrooms. It won’t be an easy transition into my own classroom, but I could not have asked for better mentors to prepare me for it!