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<h2><strong>About the Maine International Center for Digital Learning</strong></h2>
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<p>In 2001, the State of Maine embarked upon a broad and visionary program to transform learning by providing laptop computers and wireless classrooms to all 7th and 8th grade students and their teachers along with technical assistance and professional development for administrators and teachers. The Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) is now the largest and most successful ubiquitous 1:1 digital learning project on the planet. The program expanded in 2008 to include all teachers in 9-12th grade. MLTI is widely recognized as the international gold standard in the field of digital learning and was recently selected by the Ministry of Education in France to serve as one of 10 international model programs to merit further examination.</p>
<p>Each day almost 40,000 students and 4,000 teachers in Maine are transforming the learning experience. Initial research shows that the program has revolutionized teaching and learning and measurably impacted student achievement in math and writing. Five years’ experience with this amazing project has created a wealth of data on the innovative use of mobile technologies that is ripe for exploration.</p>
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<p>The team that developed the MLTI project now recognizes that the time is ready to build on what we have learned. And so we have created the Maine International Center for Digital Education in collaboration with researchers at the University of Southern Maine and educators around the world. The Center’s goal is to be the world’s center of research, information, and technical assistance in the field of 1:1 digital learning.</p>
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<h2>Staff</h2>
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<h3>Bette Manchester<br />
<em>Executive Director</em></h3>
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<p>The former teacher, elementary, middle and high school principal and director of special education served, for seven years, as Director of Special Projects in the Maine Department of Education leading the Maine Learning Technology Initiative. Since 2001 the Maine project has focused on ‘ learning,’ not on the technology. Manchester is the recipient of many awards including Principal-National School of Excellence, National Distinguished Principal of the Year 1997, Milken Education Award 1991, Maine State Librarians Award 2004, Dr. Inabeth Miller Education Technology Award 2005, and Friday Institute Award for Innovation in Education NC State 2007. She has presented at national and international conferences with focus on leadership, sustainability in one to one programs.</p>
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<h3>John Newlin<br />
<em>Director of Programs</em></h3>
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John Newlin has worked in education since 1984 as a high school social studies teacher, district curriculum coordinator, “school coach,” project director, and associate director at non-profits focused on school reform. From 1997 to 2008 John worked at the Southern Maine Partnership and the Great Schools Partnership.
John’s work has focused on helping middle and high school teachers and administrators collaborate to make teaching practices and school cultures more personalized, equitable, rigorous, and meaningful. He has had extended “school coaching” relationships with more than 25 schools. He has helped educators, schools, and consortia of schools implement a wide range of effective practices and systems for improving learning including professional learning communities, comprehensive assessment, data collection and analysis, project/problem/challenge-based learning, racial and cultural equity in education, student leadership development, teacher action research, intervention strategies, principal and teacher leadership for school change, early college education, differentiated instruction, ethical literacy, media literacy, and, most recently, technology integration in 1-to-1 learning environments.</p>
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<h3>Amy Wilmot<br />
<em>Project Assistant</em></h3>
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Amy Wilmot, a graduate of Bates College, has worked with non-profit organizations such as Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Gulf of Maine Marine Education Association and Community Mediation Services. She has worked in a variety of roles serving as an Executive Assistant, Administrative Manager, Bookkeeper, and Project Coordinator. She lives with her husband and son in Hallowell.
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<h2>Board of Directors</h2>
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<h3>Angus King<br />
<em>Chairman of Board</em></h3>
<p>Angus S. King, Jr. was born in Virginia but spent most of his adult years in the state of Maine. After early political experience as a legislative assistant to Senator William D. Hathaway, King entered private law practice in Brunswick, Maine.</p>
<p>In the 1980s King served as Vice President of a company which developed alternative energy (hydro and biomass) projects in New England. In 1989 King founded Northeast Energy Management, Inc. The company developed, installed, and operated large-scale electrical energy conservation projects at commercial and industrial facilities throughout south-central Maine.</p>
<p>King became Governor of Maine in 1995, a position he held until 2003. Elected as an Independent in 1994 in his first run for public office, he was re- elected in 1998 by one of the largest margins in Maine history. As Governor, King was responsible for a $2.5 billion budget and 13,000 employees.</p>
<p>King lists among his major accomplishments as governor a total rebuild of the state’s mental health and corrections systems; major improvements in the state’s service capability, including on-line services; a substantial increase in the state’s commitment to research and development; the largest increase of lands in conservation in the state’s history; and the nationally-recognized program that provides a laptop computer to every seventh and eighth grade student in the state, regardless of location or family income, making Maine’s students among the most computer literate in the world.</p>
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<h3>Commissioner Susan Gendron</h3>
<p>Commissioner Susan Gendron’s professional career in education spans 35 years, including her prior, long-standing position as Superintendent of Schools for the Windham School Department, a suburb of Portland, Maine. As an educator, Gendron has served in a variety of other roles including Kindergarten Teacher, Primary School Principal, High School Principal, and Assistant Superintendent. She received a baccalaureate degree (B.S.) from the University of Southern Maine, completing a double major in Elementary and Secondary Education. Her graduate studies include a master’s in Educational Administration from the University of Southern Maine and advanced studies at Antioch College.</p>
<p>Over the years, Commissioner Gendron has received many honors including the Maine School Superintendents’ Distinguished Educator Award, 2001; the Maine Superintendent of the Year Award, 2002; the Maine Education Association – Friend of Education Award, 2005; and the University of Southern Maine Distinguished Alumni Award, 2006.</p>
<p>Sue Gendron and her husband, reside in Raymond, Maine.</p>
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<h3>J. Duke Albanese</h3>
<p>J. Duke Albanese is an education consultant to schools, state education agencies, and national organizations. His educational career spans 36 years and includes long tenures as a superintendent of schools and Maine Commissioner of Education (1996-2003). Duke Albanese is currently Co-Executive Director for the Great Schools Partnership at the Senator George J. Mitchell Scholarship Research Institute in Portland, Maine, working to raise educational aspirations and achievement by creating equitable, rigorous, and personalized academic programs that prepare all students for college, work, and citizenship for the 21st century.</p>
2008-12-24T18:22:53Z
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about_us
2010-01-08T13:18:25Z