Nearly 100 teachers, administrators and educational experts gathered Oct. 18-19 in Belfast to attend the biennial Island Teachers Conference (ITC). Representing schools from every Maine island community with a school, attendees had the opportunity to network, discuss common challenges and learn about new resources, strategies and tools.
The event opened with dinner and a keynote address by Kerrie Bellisario, associate director of the Creative Arts in Learning Program at Lesley University’s Graduate School for Arts and Social Sciences. She discussed how teachers incorporate an artistic creative inquiry across the school curriculum. Bellisario noted that many subjects not normally associated with art, such as math or science, actually play a major role in the artistic experience. Furthermore, art can be used to better explain such subjects because it encourages a different way to approach and analyze them.
The next day, participants attended a variety of workshops and seminars.
Technology was a major focus for this year’s conference. Several seminars considered innovative programs and resources that use technology to enhance learning in subjects from art history to engineering. Such programs are often particularly appealing in island settings, because they enable island students to collaborate with students from schools around the state and country. In addition, workshops focusing on the Maine Laptop Initiative enabled teachers to gain hands-on experience learning and using the software that the state places on students’ computers.
The ITC also provided an opportunity for attendees to discuss Maine’s initiative to consolidate school administrative districts. Many participants felt overwhelmed by the myriad details of the consolidation plan. There was also consensus that the consolidation, as currently proposed, was entirely inappropriate for small island schools.
Jerry White, from Matinicus Island School, summarized this feeling, saying, “the problem is created when EPS [Essential Programs and Services] comes in, as it is based upon an urban school system and just can’t get to the islands.”
Other popular seminars included one on-line teacher resources at the Portland Museum of Art and another on how to write grants.
The day concluded with a plan to organize regional teacher gatherings for further networking and discussion.
“Island educators had an opportunity to network with each other, collaborate and have hands-on learning experiences… it was a great event,” said Ruth Kermish-Allen, Education Outreach Officer at the Island Institute.