What is the Maine Support Network?

The Maine Support Network provides a wide variety of technical assistance, support and professional development focused on improving educational outcomes for Maine students including students with disabilities. Since 1986, we have sponsored events serving educators, parents, youth, and professionals across the state each year. While most of our funding has traditionally come from the Maine Department of Education our work has greatly expanded. We have had contracts with the Maine Bureau of Health’s Children with Special Health Care Needs Program, the Champions for Progress Center at Utah State University and the Healthy and Ready to Work National Center. The Network’s new Center for Self Determination, Health and Policy is home to the new Maternal and Child Health Bureau funded Healthy & Ready to Work National Resource Center and Maine’s MCHB funded Integrated Services grant.

What is our goal?

Our goal is to support learning and high aspirations for all students, with an emphasis on students with disabilities and special health care needs. We use Celebratory Learning attributes in all of our work bringing new ideas based on research, creativity, innovation, and fun to Support Network activities. The Support Network provides educators, parents and policy makers with opportunities to form rewarding collegial relationships and share expertise, new and emerging best practice to inform their work, policy and practice. Many of our professional development and technical assistance activities are designed to retain teachers, especially special education teachers to assure that all Maine students achieve to high standards.

How are we accomplishing our goals?

We have built and continue to support learning communities locally, regionally and statewide. We design and conduct workshops and seminars throughout the State, host an annual retreat for educators at the Samoset Resort every winter, and work collaboratively with state agencies, parent, advocacy and professional organizations serving children, youth and adults with disabilities. We are a founding member and fiscal agent for the Maine Consortium for Professional and Parent Development and serve as host to the Partnership of Partnerships, a state-wide, university based network of professional development organizations. Additionally, we host the state chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children and the International Association for the Study of Cooperation in Education for whom we provide publication and management support (www.iasce.net).

In collaboration with the Maine Department of Education and numerous project partners, we administer the Maine State GEAR UP project (www.gearupme.org) supporting the postsecondary educational aspirations of Maine youth from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

We maintain an interactive web site (www.mainesupportnetwork.org), a statewide listserv of educators numbering in excess of 1000 members and a lending library of educational resources.

The Maine Support Network is a 501 (c) 3 not for profit organization who also works in close collaboration with Maranacook Area Schools.

How do I contact the Maine Support Network?

Please see our Contact Us page for contact information.

What are others saying about the Maine Support Network?

"Just wanted to thank you for arranging and presenting such a useful and well received workshop. Staff from district was uniformly enthusiastic about the Asperger workshop, the info they received, and format of the presentation. The room looked great & atmosphere so welcoming. I look forward to future collaborations & thank you for bringing relevant & well organized workshops for staff into our schools!" ~Administrator

"I look forward to the opportunity to network with other special educators."
~Special Educator

"I appreciate the opportunity to network with other professionals in my field and to reaffirm that I am doing many things that work. The atmosphere of celebration is always helpful in recharging my soul." ~Teacher

"Everyone I talked to thoroughly enjoyed your workshop. The pace was great,
the information helpful, and the mixture of talk, sharing and moving around
was super. From our standpoint we thought it was a solid success-- a nice
crowd and the arrangements were adequate and in place on time." ~Administrator

Click to view a pop-up graphic of our Organizational Heart:

Click to view a pop-up graphic of our Mission Statement:

Maine Support Network Beliefs and Values

We Believe:
• Deep meaning and learning is supported by being a member of a community that provides a sense of caring and belonging.
• Learners need to be active participants in their own learning.
• In modeling our purpose, beliefs and values.
• In valuing the gifts each individual brings/has.
• Celebrating is an important part of learning.
• In respecting the learners’ ability/right to make decisions about their
  learning.
• Reflection creates meaningful learning and effective practice.
• Risk-taking results in growth and enlivens/energizes learning.
• Our mission and commitment guide us.