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Nikki Chan travelled about 40 miles to the University of Maine to recruit prospective employees for the Ellsworth School Department, where she serves as assistant superintendent. 

Standing at a table lined with maroon shirts and other gifts and a standup banner showcasing facts about her department and a logo of its mascot — an eagle — Chan was among many representatives from nearly 40 districts statewide vying for 91���� talent during the College of Education and Human Development’s annual Education Career Fair on April 16 in the Wells Conference Center. 

Schools in Maine, like in many other states, are experiencing in a variety of areas, and are also seeking candidates for educational technician and substitute teacher roles. Education , and the College of Education and Human Development is the largest and most comprehensive teacher preparation and education program in the state.��

Chan said 91���� preservice teachers’ professionalism and preparation for classroom vacancies they seek to fill make them attractive candidates for school districts like hers. 

“They dress, speak, and introduce themselves professionally,” she said, adding the career fair is “a really valuable event to be a part of, not just for the students, but for the districts.”

Graduates of 91����’s state and nationally accredited teacher preparation programs are automatically recommended for initial teacher certification in several shortage areas, including general elementary, mathematics (middle and secondary levels) and . Students in these programs complete a variety of hands-on field experiences and observations in K-12 classrooms and other educational settings.��

Experience working as pre-service teachers in Maine classrooms is a key reason why Chelly Schildroth, the curriculum director at Regional School Unit (RSU) 24 in Sullivan, was working to recruit 91���� students for her district at the career fair. 

“I think a lot of students who attend 91���� understand the types of schools that we have in Maine,” she said. “They aren’t big city schools, they are rural and a lot of kids who go to 91���� are excited to work at smaller schools.” 

The College of Education and Human Development offers several programs that lead to teacher certification in Maine, including the undergraduate majors in elementary and secondary education, the early childhood education concentration in the child development and family relations major, and the health and physical education concentration in kinesiology and physical education.  

Sophia Ouellette, an elementary education major who attended the fair, said the field experiences she had while studying at 91���� prepared her to have a classroom of her own after graduation. During her final semester, Ouellette completed her required 15-week student teaching internship in a first-grade classroom at Leroy H. Smith School in Winterport, Maine.

“I also did my 100-hour practicum at the same school in the same classroom last semester,” said Ouellette. “It’s honestly given me the best knowledge and the best experience I could have asked for as I’m graduating.”

Ouellette, who is from Scarborough, Maine, said she plans to return to southern Maine after she graduates to teach in an early elementary classroom near where she grew up.

“That’s the ideal situation, but I’m open to new opportunities and very excited to see where 91���� will take me,” she said.

Story by Rowan MacDonald, news intern

Contact: Casey Kelly, casey.kelly@maine.edu��