Amid teacher shortage, schools statewide look to UMaine for professional, experienced future educators - UMaine News - The Unive
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:15
Amid teacher shortage, schools statewide look to UMaine for professional, experienced future educators - UMaine News - The University of Maine
UMaine News
Amid teacher shortage, schools statewide look to UMaine for professional, experienced future educators
Apr 21, 2026
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Nikki Chan travelled about 40 miles to the University of Maine to recruit prospective employees for the Ellsworth School Department, where she serves as assistant superintendent.
Standing at a table lined with maroon shirts and other gifts and a standup banner showcasing facts about her department and a logo of its mascot — an eagle — Chan was among many representatives from nearly 40 districts statewide vying for UMaine talent during the College of Education and Human Development’s annual Education Career Fair on April 16 in the Wells Conference Center.
Schools in Maine, like in many other states, are experiencing
teacher shortages
in a variety of areas, and are also seeking candidates for educational technician and substitute teacher roles. Education
is among top career fields UMaine graduates enter
, and the College of Education and Human Development is the largest and most comprehensive teacher preparation and education program in the state.
Chan said UMaine preservice teachers’ professionalism and preparation for classroom vacancies they seek to fill make them attractive candidates for school districts like hers.
“They dress, speak, and introduce themselves professionally,” she said, adding the career fair is “a really valuable event to be a part of, not just for the students, but for the districts.”
Graduates of UMaine’s state and nationally accredited teacher preparation programs are automatically recommended for initial teacher certification in several shortage areas, including general elementary, mathematics (middle and secondary levels) and
special education
. Students in these programs complete a variety of hands-on field experiences and observations in K-12 classrooms and other educational settings.
Experience working as pre-service teachers in Maine classrooms is a key reason why Chelly Schildroth, the curriculum director at Regional School Unit (RSU) 24 in Sullivan, was working to recruit UMaine students for her district at the career fair.
“I think a lot of students who attend UMaine understand the types of schools that we have in Maine,” she said. “They aren’t big city schools, they are rural and a lot of kids who go to UMaine are excited to work at smaller schools.”
The College of Education and Human Development offers several programs that lead to teacher certification in Maine, including the undergraduate majors in elementary and secondary education, the early childhood education concentration in the child development and family relations major, and the health and physical education concentration in kinesiology and physical education.
Sophia Ouellette, an elementary education major who attended the fair, said the field experiences she had while studying at UMaine prepared her to have a classroom of her own after graduation. During her final semester, Ouellette completed her required 15-week student teaching internship in a first-grade classroom at Leroy H. Smith School in Winterport, Maine.
“I also did my 100-hour practicum at the same school in the same classroom last semester,” said Ouellette. “It’s honestly given me the best knowledge and the best experience I could have asked for as I’m graduating.”
Ouellette, who is from Scarborough, Maine, said she plans to return to southern Maine after she graduates to teach in an early elementary classroom near where she grew up.
“That’s the ideal situation, but I’m open to new opportunities and very excited to see where UMaine will take me,” she said.
Story by Rowan MacDonald, news intern
Contact: Casey Kelly,
casey.kelly@maine.edu
Categories:
Outreach
More Stories
UMaine News
5703 Alumni Hall, Orono, ME 04469
Tel: 207.581.3743
|
Fax: 207.581.3776
|
Email: umaine.news@maine.edu
UMaine News
5703 Alumni Hall, Orono, ME 04469
Tel: 207.581.3743
|
Fax: 207.581.3776
|
Email: umaine.news@maine.edu
Orono, Maine
207.581.1865
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UMaine News
Amid teacher shortage, schools statewide look to UMaine for professional, experienced future educators
Apr 21, 2026
|
Share
Share on Facebook
Share on LinkedIn
Share on X
Email this Page
Nikki Chan travelled about 40 miles to the University of Maine to recruit prospective employees for the Ellsworth School Department, where she serves as assistant superintendent.
Standing at a table lined with maroon shirts and other gifts and a standup banner showcasing facts about her department and a logo of its mascot — an eagle — Chan was among many representatives from nearly 40 districts statewide vying for UMaine talent during the College of Education and Human Development’s annual Education Career Fair on April 16 in the Wells Conference Center.
Schools in Maine, like in many other states, are experiencing
teacher shortages
in a variety of areas, and are also seeking candidates for educational technician and substitute teacher roles. Education
is among top career fields UMaine graduates enter
, and the College of Education and Human Development is the largest and most comprehensive teacher preparation and education program in the state.
Chan said UMaine preservice teachers’ professionalism and preparation for classroom vacancies they seek to fill make them attractive candidates for school districts like hers.
“They dress, speak, and introduce themselves professionally,” she said, adding the career fair is “a really valuable event to be a part of, not just for the students, but for the districts.”
Graduates of UMaine’s state and nationally accredited teacher preparation programs are automatically recommended for initial teacher certification in several shortage areas, including general elementary, mathematics (middle and secondary levels) and
special education
. Students in these programs complete a variety of hands-on field experiences and observations in K-12 classrooms and other educational settings.
Experience working as pre-service teachers in Maine classrooms is a key reason why Chelly Schildroth, the curriculum director at Regional School Unit (RSU) 24 in Sullivan, was working to recruit UMaine students for her district at the career fair.
“I think a lot of students who attend UMaine understand the types of schools that we have in Maine,” she said. “They aren’t big city schools, they are rural and a lot of kids who go to UMaine are excited to work at smaller schools.”
The College of Education and Human Development offers several programs that lead to teacher certification in Maine, including the undergraduate majors in elementary and secondary education, the early childhood education concentration in the child development and family relations major, and the health and physical education concentration in kinesiology and physical education.
Sophia Ouellette, an elementary education major who attended the fair, said the field experiences she had while studying at UMaine prepared her to have a classroom of her own after graduation. During her final semester, Ouellette completed her required 15-week student teaching internship in a first-grade classroom at Leroy H. Smith School in Winterport, Maine.
“I also did my 100-hour practicum at the same school in the same classroom last semester,” said Ouellette. “It’s honestly given me the best knowledge and the best experience I could have asked for as I’m graduating.”
Ouellette, who is from Scarborough, Maine, said she plans to return to southern Maine after she graduates to teach in an early elementary classroom near where she grew up.
“That’s the ideal situation, but I’m open to new opportunities and very excited to see where UMaine will take me,” she said.
Story by Rowan MacDonald, news intern
Contact: Casey Kelly,
casey.kelly@maine.edu
Categories:
Outreach
More Stories
UMaine News
5703 Alumni Hall, Orono, ME 04469
Tel: 207.581.3743
|
Fax: 207.581.3776
|
Email: umaine.news@maine.edu
UMaine News
5703 Alumni Hall, Orono, ME 04469
Tel: 207.581.3743
|
Fax: 207.581.3776
|
Email: umaine.news@maine.edu
Orono, Maine
207.581.1865
Explore
The Arts
Careers
Cooperative Extension
Directory
Early College
Library
Strategic Partnerships
Information
Visit Campus
Campus Map
Events
Giving
Recreation Center
President
Resources
Net Price Calculator
Financial Aid
Current Students
Faculty and Staff
myUMaine
Navigate
Communication
News
Emergency
Marketing and Communications
Events and Hospitality
The Arts
Careers
Cooperative Extension
Directory
Early College
Library
Strategic Partnerships
Visit Campus
Campus Map
Events
Giving
Recreation Center
President
Net Price Calculator
Financial Aid
Current Students
Faculty and Staff
myUMaine
Navigate
News
Emergency
Marketing and Communications
Events and Hospitality