Hello! I'm Rachel.
I come to teaching after 15-plus years working in communications and public education at a human rights-focused nonprofit. Over the past year, I have served as an intern teacher in diverse 5th and 6th grade classrooms in South Portland. Like most people, this has been one of the most challenging years of my life. But because of the opportunity to be in schools, it has also been one of the most exciting and rewarding. I feel confident that this is where I belong.
I Believe
I believe that every student has the right and the ability to learn, to be known and celebrated as an individual, and to make connections with adults who support them as they grow.
I believe that my role as an educator is one of collaborator, facilitator, model, guide, and champion.
I believe my work must be rooted in equity, open-mindedness, and a willingness to learn and explore new ideas.
Experience
Current
Building-wide Substitute Teacher, Skillin Elementary School
Full time, school-wide substitute teacher and library assistant for grades PK-5
Spring 2021
Intern Teacher, Skillin Elementary School
Co-teaching all subjects in a diverse, general education 5th grade classroom in South Portland, Maine (hybrid in-person/remote model)
Fall 2020
Intern Teacher, Memorial Middle School
Co-teaching combined English/Language Arts and Social Studies in a diverse, general education 6th grade classroom in South Portland, Maine (hybrid in-person/remote model)
2005-2020
Director of Communications & Public Education, ACLU of Maine
Managing the communications and public education programming at a statewide human rights nonprofit (Director, 2012-2020; various other positions at the state and national level from 2005-2012)
2004-2005
Service Learning Coordinator, Portland Education Partnership
One-year AmeriCorps VISTA program volunteer; trained teachers and students to implement curriculum-aligned service learning projects and built partnerships between Portland Public Schools, community organizations, and businesses.
Professional Development
2020-2021
USM Extended Teacher Education Program
Pending: Maine State Teacher Certification (K-8)
36 graduate credit hours
GPA: 4.0
Additional contact hours/certificates:
Culturally Responsive Case Studies (USM Teacher Education Department)
Trauma Informed Schools and ACES (Spurwink)
Teaching Maine's Pandemics: An Interdisciplinary Approach (Maine DoE)
Let's Talk! Discussing Race, Racism and Other Difficult Topics With Students (Teaching Tolerance)
Teaching Elementary Social Studies: The American Revolution (Maine DoE)
Teaching About the Middle East Through Underreported Stories (University of Michigan)
Honors and Awards:
USM Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
USM Office of Graduate Studies Scholarship
USM School of Educations & Human Development M. Ruth Perry Scholarship
The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.