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<p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In collaboration with the Maine Department of Education’s Early Learning Team, the Office of Child and Family Services is proud to celebrate Outstanding Early Childhood Professionals from across the State
of Maine all week. Through a nomination process, the professionals spotlighted this week showcase the hard work and dedication across all domains of early care and education for children birth through age eight. In addition to public recognition, the nominated
individuals will receive a small token of appreciation in the coming weeks supported by the Preschool Development Grant. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">We are thrilled at the strong response to this recognition, with
<strong>286</strong> individual nominations for <strong>208</strong><span style="color:red">
</span>Early Childhood Professionals across the state! If you know an outstanding professional spotlighted, please take a moment this week to thank them for their contributions to our most precious resource and best hope for our future: Our Children!</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" style="text-align:center"><strong>Monday’s Outstanding Early Childhood Professional Spotlight:</strong><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Aileen Breault, Alexis Tozier, Alicia Grindle, Allison Keenan, Allyson Barnard, Allyson Casares, Alyx Carbone, Amanda Barnes, Amanda Cyr, Amanda Jolly, Amanda Atripaldi, Amber Dawn Doiron, Amber Lombardi,
Amber Smith, Angela (Angie) Tibbetts, Anita McCurdy, Ann Chase, Ann Goodwin, Anna Dodge, Annabelle York, Anne Bachner, Annie Boitz, Annie Colaluca, Annie York, Ashley Bottomley, Ashley Stanley, Barbara Koch, Becky Lewis, Beth Glidden, Bri Mayberry, Brianna
Carr, Brianna Thomas, Brittany Woolley, Brook Cruz, Camelia Babson-Haley, Caroline Saucier, Catherine Laweryson, Catherine Thompson, Charlotte Ala, Charlotte Jacobs, Chase Warren, Courtney Wood</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><em>“Sharing the special moments with families during a child's most formative years has always been a favorite part of my role. When you can celebrate a child's first steps, first words, first friendships, preschool graduations; it's very special to be
a part of this journey, with families.” – 2025 Nominee </em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1E1E1E">To view the full daily spotlight for the 2025 Outstanding Early Childhood Professional this week, look to the
</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fmainedoenews.net%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01010196113d1fc0-e9039070-7ddd-4f85-a468-04facad84241-000000/ZJoIEBqAF4qiYerVgrrSN3iFfeobs92aHupXpWJA-Ek=399" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color:#0074D9">Maine
DOE Newsroom</span></strong></a><span style="color:#1E1E1E">, or on Maine DOE social media sites (</span><a href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMaineDepartmentofEducation1%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01010196113d1fc0-e9039070-7ddd-4f85-a468-04facad84241-000000/I895FH2xFNIuyuk6pyGHikKu-WGyPwwZV-sGrbTwQoQ=399" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color:#0074D9">Facebook</span></strong></a><span style="color:#1E1E1E"> and
</span><strong><span style="color:#0074D9"><a href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fmainedepted%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01010196113d1fc0-e9039070-7ddd-4f85-a468-04facad84241-000000/Gf8_k_Y9J-2P7y300RpEKK3gjk68Y7tZAwrc8ztr-Ks=399" target="_blank">Instagram</a></span></strong><span style="color:#1E1E1E">).</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1E1E1E">For more information about how to bring the 2025 Week of the Young Child to your early childhood setting, please visit the </span><strong><span style="color:#0074D9"><a href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.naeyc.org%2Fevents%2Fwoyc%2Foverview%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01010196113d1fc0-e9039070-7ddd-4f85-a468-04facad84241-000000/kmppIj-VodQ5pWBPT0zBlV8s-JmfhpygiP4g076b0m8=399" target="_blank">NAEYC
website</a></span></strong><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1E1E1E">.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">________________________________________ <br>
<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Nicole Madore</b><br>
Early Childhood Specialist – Early Learning Team<br>
Office of Teaching and Learning <br>
Maine Department of Education<br>
23 State House Station<br>
Augusta, Maine 04333-0023<br>
<b>Email: </b><a href="mailto:Nicole.madore@maine.gov">nicole.madore@maine.gov</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Phone</b>: 207-446-3967 (cell)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><a href="http://www.maine.gov/doe" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0070C0">Maine DOE</span></a> |
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MaineDepartmentofEducation1/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0070C0">Facebook</span></a> |
<a href="https://twitter.com/mdoenews" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0070C0">Twitter</span></a> |
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/mainedepted/?hl=en" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0070C0">Instagram</span></a> |
<a href="https://mainedoenews.net/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0070C0">Maine DOE Newsroom</span></a> <br>
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