Partners

Maine Support
Network (MSN) (Statewide)

Central Aroostook
Council of Education (CACE)

Down East Educational
Partnership (DEEP)

North Woods Partnership (NWP) (Millinocket Area)

Penobscot River
Educational Partnership: Professional Development Network (PREP:PDN)

Rural Schools Partnership (RSP) (Newport Area)

Washington County
Consortium (WCC)

Western Maine
Partnership (WMP)

Mitchell Institute

ECO 2000

Southern Maine Partnership

POP is an acronym that accurately describes the burst of ideas and creativity when Maine’s statewide network of professional development partnership members gather to discuss issues and priorities in professional development.

Since 1986, the Maine Support Network has provided support and professional development for educators at all grade levels and areas of specialty. The inspiration behind the Partnership of Partnerships (POP) was a dedication to deepening and broadening the infrastructure supporting Maine’s network of state and regional partnerships. POP reaches out to schools and regions by coordinating professional development activities and by connecting educators and parents to share promising practices, materials, and expertise.

POP began with four partners: The Maine Support Network, the Western Maine Partnership, the Central Aroostook Council on Education, and the Washington County Consortium. Because many areas of Maine were not served by partnerships and had no mechanism for collaborate with other schools and regions, the Support Network has worked to expand the POP network, which now serves ten partners representing Maine’s diverse geography and cultures.

Through POP networking, members learn about innovative practices as well as how to offer workshops to their school communities at a fraction of the cost through collaborative cost sharing. A greater percentage of the professional development budget can be spent on direct services rather than on travel and lodging for presenters, resulting in an expansion of the number and diversity of topics presented each year.

Several times a year, partners gather to formulate ideas for professional development initiatives. At these meetings, they discuss local priorities, which are typically identified by community stakeholders, including teachers, parents, administrators, and specialists. Most of the POP work actually occurs through the Internet and telephone. Members can log onto the Support Network’s web page, receive and send e-mails, faxes, and participate in telephone conference calling. Discussions focus on marketing strategies or searching for external funding sources, for example. Grant funding possibilities are routed by e-mail attachment, or through the mail.

Since its inception, POP members have addressed a wide variety of local and statewide needs. For example, partners have addressed local topics such as learning about a rare genetic syndrome, and more generic needs, such as positive discipline, or linking Maine’s Learning Results to IEPs. There appears to be no limit to the imaginative and creative solutions to staff development challenges when educators put their heads together!