In October 2025, I was enjoying a high school soccer game when I received a life-changing phone call. "Julia, you've been named the 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year. Are you willing to accept?"
It had already been an inspiring, challenging, transformative experience to be part of the process with 15 outstanding colleagues from around the state, serving as the other 2025 County Teachers of the Year. We have formed a truly collaborative cohort that is dedicated to healing educational communities amidst the turmoil of division and isolation that has resulted from the political landscape and post-COVID cultural shifts. My platform as the 2026 MTOY is to remind folks that, yes, "Music can do that." It can heal communities, inspire growth, support student need, increase attendance, foster executive functioning and social-emotional learning, and more -- all initiatives that schools are wrestling with across the state and country.
Leaning into this platform and realizing that I finally had an opportunity to engage in more conversations about the value of music in public education was what propelled me through the MTOY program and, ultimately, to accept my new role as the 2026 MTOY.
What next? My year of service began on January 1, 2026, and will include serving the state through guest appearances in educational conversations, speaking engagements at events, and a bit of travel through the National Teacher of the Year program. More importantly, however, I will be working to support the development and strength of music programs across the state as I also serve as a mentor to the 2026 County Teachers of the Year as they form their own unique cohort and determine how they will serve education in the state together after being named in the spring.
You can join along in following my journey through my Facebook page or Instagram account!
It had already been an inspiring, challenging, transformative experience to be part of the process with 15 outstanding colleagues from around the state, serving as the other 2025 County Teachers of the Year. We have formed a truly collaborative cohort that is dedicated to healing educational communities amidst the turmoil of division and isolation that has resulted from the political landscape and post-COVID cultural shifts. My platform as the 2026 MTOY is to remind folks that, yes, "Music can do that." It can heal communities, inspire growth, support student need, increase attendance, foster executive functioning and social-emotional learning, and more -- all initiatives that schools are wrestling with across the state and country.
Leaning into this platform and realizing that I finally had an opportunity to engage in more conversations about the value of music in public education was what propelled me through the MTOY program and, ultimately, to accept my new role as the 2026 MTOY.
What next? My year of service began on January 1, 2026, and will include serving the state through guest appearances in educational conversations, speaking engagements at events, and a bit of travel through the National Teacher of the Year program. More importantly, however, I will be working to support the development and strength of music programs across the state as I also serve as a mentor to the 2026 County Teachers of the Year as they form their own unique cohort and determine how they will serve education in the state together after being named in the spring.
You can join along in following my journey through my Facebook page or Instagram account!
|
|