Cold Corinth ME

This was the view to and from Corinth.....the details that are missing are the wild turkeys by the side of the road who would look at me with disdain as I approached.

A quick trip to Corinth to do a one day training, the week before the holiday break and in between 2 snowstorms. No matter how cold and desolate the roads and back country are, the welcome is always warm. Two minutes with the staff make the whole trip worthwhile.....!

Tip from this trip: Staying at the Hampton Inn was a great find! Feather puffs on the beds along with multiple pillows, hot lasagna and garlic bread in the lobby upon a blustering arrival followed by a large breakfast spread in the morning.

A great trip to end 2007 with....

What I learned while on my Madison/Skowhegan trip.....

That Madison is a great little town with a mill that is still in operation.....

That even on a cold snowy morning, Reny's is bustling on Main Street....

That there are great people and programs in their schools!

SAD#59/Madison Superintendent's Office

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Look what's growing in Madison, Maine!

Those great jucy tomatoes that are now available all winter long!

I also learned:

• that even when it is 40 degrees in Portland, I need to have winter gear in the car, having awoken to a snowstorm this morning that lasted until noon
• that as tempting as it is, not to eat chinese food on the road, or when I do, to ask if there is MSG in it, after having my lips, mouth and tongue go numb last night, and wondering why
• that it is always good to have earplugs packed in the bag, after being able to hear tvs on BOTH sides of the walls and realizing it would be a long night, running to Hannaford, luckily across the street, in my pjs (figured it would be a pretty good bet I wouldn't run into anyone I knew) and spending the best $5 ever on a set of earplugs
• that when I wear earplugs I need to think about how I am going to wake up after sleeping through my alarm!

That I love the adventures that my work is taking me on this year!

What I saw on my travels to and from Skowhegan/Madison.......

Logging truck after logging truck.........
Smooth newly paved roads.............
Canada Geese in the fields eating the last of the seeds.........
Snow! Snowplows! Sanding Trucks!
Great views of the mountains.........
Smoke coming from chimneys trying to take the chill off the day.....
My second moose!

Madison Ave here I come!

Madison Ave, Skowhegan ME that it is......!
Heading north this afternoon to do a 3 day review in Madison. Staying at the Belmont (motel) right on Madison Ave http://www.belmontmotel.com/ Can't wait to share more!

My Morning Ride to Augusta

Steam rising from the water....
Sun peeking over the horizon....
Birds flying in formation....
Picnic boat on a trailor....
Truckloads of Christmas Trees....
Logging trucks filled to the top....
GMRI bus filled with kids on their way to the Cohen Center!

Bucksport November 7-9

Dawn breaking in Bucksport.....

With water views from our hotel rooms, we were able to watch the comings and goings on the day; when we weren't busy in the schools working through a 3 day review.........Unfortunately the observation tower from the new bridge (a spectacular structure) is closed for the winter, so a visit will have to wait for another time!

SAD #4/Guilford

So I feel official! Picked up my first state car and headed north on the Maine Turnpike for Dexter! I was scheduled to do a Phase 1 technical training in SAD #4/Guilford. Several weeks ago I started to check out possible accommodations and found the most interesting option in Dexter.....

The Brewster Inn is situated on Zion's Hill Road just outside of Dexter. As described on their website http://www.brewsterinn.com/

"Built in the 1930s for Governor (later, Senator) Ralph Owen Brewster by noted architect John Calvin Stevens, our Historic Register mansion (7200 square feet) features spacious common rooms and beautifully decorated, comfortable guestrooms. Antique radios and model trains abound, while artwork, books and eclectic furnishings can be found in every room. Our ten guestrooms and suites feature fireplaces, window seats and original tile baths. Some rooms offer a lovely view of the gardens"

The inn is currently being run by an enthusiastic/energetic British couple who purchased it in February 2007. They have already done a tremendous amount of work on the inn, continuing to decorate it beautifully and with comfort in mind. I had the pleasure of staying in their first remodeled room as seen here!

After a great night's sleep we enjoyed a beautiful ride through rolling hills of spectacular foliage, traveling through Sangerville to arrive in Guilford for a day long training at the Piscataquis Community Middle School.

Once again, a great team of administrators, a committed and well informed staff, and a special education director providing great support and guidance to her district.

After an energizing and fulfilling day, we headed home......

Buckfield 2007

As I headed out all packed up by 6:30AM I looked forward to another new adventure. The foliage has been spectacular; even on the ME Turnpike, as the sun is rising it takes my breath away! I met an unanticipated surprise in Auburn..........

The fog was soooo thick that it was impossible to see more than a car length ahead. This is looking back to Lewiston as the sun was rising.

The fog soon lifted and I continued on my way. After miles of rolling hills and beautiful trees I knew I was getting close when I rounded a corner and the Buckfield Mall was in view!


Here is the real downtown Buckfield.....

A working lunch next to the Superintendent's Office on Day 1 was a welcome opportunity to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine!

As I left the Hartford-Sumner Elementary School, I caught a glimpse of my first moose!

This is downtown Sumner.......

I was struck by the beautiful artwork in both the elementary and jhs/hs buildings. These are throughout the junior high/senior high school (300 students). Similarly, there is student clay work at the elementary school. In exploring further the district art teacher has the 6th grade students make something to leave for the elementary school as they prepare to transition to the junior high/senior high school. Great columns of claywork have been constucted over the years with highly detailed imagery.

All of the children in Buckfield, Sumner and Hartford go to the elementary school in Sumner. They all then transition to the junior/senior high school in Buckfield (just down the road a bit).

Again, I am so impressed with the great work that is taking place in our schools and the dedicated teachers/staff that are so committed to the children in our communities.

Completing our work Thursday afternoon, we all headed home!

Fall in Maine

What more could we ask for....!

Heading to Buckfield tomorrow with fully charged batteris in my camera!

Wiscasset and other details!

Heading to Wiscasset tomorrow. Unfortunately left my camera at home so there won't be any pics from me (staying midway tonight at my mother's house). Too bad, because the foliage is really coming into its own.

So...... I just scheduled a visit to the Rangeley area in February--their choice of dates! Should I be concerned that they wanted to be sure that I block off 2 days in case there is a snow day?? Will definitely be sure to have my survival bag with me :)

More to come soon as I will be heading to Buckfield and Guilford before the end of the month.....will be sure to pack my camera!

Quiet Week

No big news this week. Have spent all week in Augusta working on projects, eagerly waiting to hear the observations from the OSEP (feds!) visit....the DOE feels the same about these visits as we feel about their visits(!), and preparing for upcoming travel.

Trees are slowly changing, lots of fog in the mornings because of the warm weather we have been having; one can almost feel our world slowing down as fall creeps in and winter begins to appear on the horizon.

Heading up the coast next week--

Day Trip to Pownal

Early morning crisp air
Trees with a hint of changing color
Canada Geese honking as they leave Maine and head south for the winter
Cruising through the countryside
Enjoying the quiet

Great day in Pownal supporting Lisa doing her first year one technical assistance session

Belfast and Home!

Headed to Belfast this morning to complete some record reviews. On the way out of Ellsworth we came across Allen's Blueberries (well, only a mile down a side road!)http://www.allensblueberries.com/. This is quite an operation, processing blueberries and shipping them worldwide all year long. We were lucky to snag some of the last freshly picked wild blueberries to bring home to our families! Looking forward to picking up a box on one of my many future trips up the coast!

A great trip---what a grand opportunity to visit schools all over the state and see the great work that is being done....

Union 76......Say No more

En Route....

Walker Pond on the way to Stonington. We later learned that this is a fresh water pond, unique being so close to the ocean. Apparently there used to be a little railroad that ran along side the pond. Walker Pond was know for its fine ice that was shipped all over the world.

Here we are!

A great day of training for all!

Tired, we headed back to Ellsworth, and onto Bar Harbor for a walk along the Shore and supper. We are all looking forward to a quiet night and good sleep before we head to Belfast in the morning......

Wild Night at the Comfort Inn!

So, who would have thought that the entire crew from Extreme Makeover would be staying at the Comfort Inn, in Ellsworth! Apparently they finished up their work in Milbridge and headed here around 9:00 PM. From then until 4:00AM they were thumping up and down the halls, slamming doors and pretty much just being loud. Luckily for me, I pretty much slept through it other than a couple of hard door slammings, but my fellow team members had a very rough night. They apparently realized this morning how loud they had been----Anna arrived at breakfast with a peace offering of an Extreme Makeover T-shirt! She was hoping to negociate a house, but no luck.....Anyway, the view from the room this morning was pretty nice!

First Stop: Ellsworth

Well, the Comfort Inn is the Comfort Inn, although, I will say it is clean and , quiet so far (even right on Route 1), and has free wireless! Anna Feeney, our fearless leader brought her 3 newbie DEs along to do a training tomorrow in Stonington/Deer Isle. Worked in the office until 2 and then hit 95---got here in time for some devoted shoppers (not me!) to do a thorough review of everything at the Reny's which just happens to be right across the street! Even I picked up a couple of small items, can't tell what, they may end up in Christmas stockings! We headed towards Bar Harbor and stopped to eat in Hulls Cove--a great restaurant, The Chart Room, sitting right on the water. Great fresh fish and views to drool over. Headed back to Ellworth admiring the beautiful sunset vistas all the way. No pics tonight!

Stonington, Here I come!

Beautiful sunny 61 degree day in Maine. Heading to Ellsworth this afternoon, to provide a training day in Stonington tomorrow----have camera, will travel....!

Ahhhhh!

Ahhhh......the weekend! Ten hours of driving to/from Augusta is enough for me this week! Currently listening to "My Sister's Keeper" and have to give it a plug. Without giving too much away, it would be a great read for a book club or and ethics class.....if anyone has read it and would like to discuss, let me know...get together for coffee? (anywhere, just not in Augusta on the weekend!)

First Reservations

So I just made my first reservations for October when I head to Guilford to do a 1-day training. Will go up the night before and stay at the Brewster Inn----take a look! http://www.brewsterinn.com/ Will post my own pictures when I go.....

Visits to come

Scheduling 3-day visits to Ellsworth, Bucksport, Madison, Windsor and Calais...more details to come! Busy preparing a PowerPoint on Program Review for the Director's Fall Conference.....amazing how steep the learning curve can be!

September Morning Drives

The mornings are beautiful as the sun rises and pours into the car from the east; perfect ambiance for sipping coffee and listening to books on CD.....

Belated update!

So.....I am going to try to reconstruct a wonderful entry that I wrote last week when my brain was bursting with all the kinds of new learning that I was feeling overwhelmed with---I unfortunately lost the entry so here I go again.....I guess some new learning is to be had with technology!
With 2 weeks of driving to Augusta under my belt, here are some things that I have learned:

• How incredibly stimulating it is to be learning new information and to be looking at familiar information through a different lens. We have been working on examining the new special education regulations and working with Anna in cross-checking information on the proposed state forms to be sure that references to the state and federal regs are correct before they are officially released. What a difference one word can make!
• I have been reviewing all of the districts that I will be working with this year to become familiar with the goals that they have identified along with where they are in the 2+year phases of their work. At the end of last week, after meeting with Anna to review each district, I am now getting in touch with directors to follow up on information and to begin scheduling visits.
• My travel will be mostly north of Augusta. There are only 2 districts that are on my list that are in Cumberland and York counties. Thankfully, my team in Westbrook gave me a Delorme Map book---I have been busy looking places up that I have not heard of!

I have also learned:

• That working in a cubicle isn't horrible.......to a certain extent there is a built in sense of camaraderie because you can hear everything that everyone says! I am lucky in that I am in the second row of cubicles from the windows so I feel a bit of natural light and see it every time I stand up. Meetings are a great thing as all of the meeting rooms have windows :)
• The people in the DOE are great! They have been welcoming and helpful in getting us settled in and feeling comfortable.
• I am going to be the best listened reader this year! Books on tape have been great and really make the travel go quickly. I am still learning how to pace my requests through the library so that I don't get too backed up with listening! I treated myself to an i-pod so that I can listen to downloads and music, but haven't had time yet!
• The scenery changes constantly going to and from Augusta. There has been beautiful fog--tried to take pics but didn't show the true beauty---also found looking through the camera lens a bit disorienting while driving......the morning colors vary from vibrant to quiet and calm. I am looking forward to the colors that will be coming along soon.

As the school year starts up, I think often of my great workmates and hope things are going well. As I talk with people in the DOE, I am continually reminded what a great, professional and competent group of people I have the luxury to work with in Westbrook.

Here is the travel that is coming up this month:

• Stonington
• Belfast
• Pownal
• Bangor (for a conference)

Look forward to sharing pictures as we start to do some traveling!

First Day of Work

July 23, 2007


Off to Augusta for my first day of orientation. Couldn't help but take these pics---promise not to do so while driving on a regular basis anyway... Great morning meeting the team leaders within the Special Services Team and then onto more specific orientation time with Anna Feeney.

Fun to get to know each of the team members----Lisa is a special education teacher in Gardiner at the high school level and lives in the Augusta area. Dorothy has most recently been special education director in Biddeford. She has been renting an apartment near her work as her home is in Fort Kent. And me!! Anna is our leader--she came to this position from being the director in Calais and has been doing this job for 8 years. She and her husband, a superintendent, are looking forward to retiring at the end of the 2007-08 school year.

The admin assistant for the team is Jean---I can tell already how valuable she is and will be to all of us this coming year!

Anna gave us lots of reading homework for the next few weeks to prepare for our return in Augusta. The new regs, review of the SERT form, and citations to complete as we do our readings. Look forward to getting up to speed on all of this new information!

June 27, 2007
While sitting in a presentation at the Director's Academy in Bar Harbor, ME I received my first email from Anna indicating that our first review is scheduled for mid September for Stonington, ME. I am so excited! Never been there--should be beautiful at this time of year. The job is starting to feel real!