<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Aptos;}
@font-face
{font-family:Lora;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#467886;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Lora">Hello all,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Lora"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Lora">I want to take a moment to thank you for your courage, compassion, and humanity in keeping students safe during these uncertain times. Your unwavering commitment to inclusion, belonging, and
leading with love makes a profound difference in the lives of students and school communities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Lora">For those of you who have next week off, may this break give you time to rest, recharge, and reflect on the impact you make each day.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Lora"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Lora">As a reminder, the DOE shared a Priority Notice with all Superintendents, Assessment Coordinators, and ML Directors/Coordinators regarding the decision to extend the English language proficiency
assessment testing window. <a href="https://mailchi.mp/maine/cu5lemq6y0-1594247" target="_blank">
PRIORITY NOTICE: WIDA ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS Administration Window Extended</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Lora">If you have any questions about ACCESS or Alternate ACCESS, please contact Mechelle Ganglfinger, DOE ELP and Alternate Assessment Coordinator:
<a href="mailto:Mechelle.Ganglfinger@maine.gov">Mechelle.Ganglfinger@maine.gov</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Lora"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Lora">Enjoy the linked document,
<i><a href="https://www.canva.com/design/DAHA--Pb_5I/61S4JtO5HatQNzd9K2TTnA/view?utm_content=DAHA--Pb_5I&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=hce4768e19f">February 2026 ESOL Updates</a></i>, outlining professional learning
opportunities and resources to guide individual and collective learning in supporting multilingual learners. Be sure to share with colleagues as well.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Lora"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Lora">Last, I want to encourage you to consider nominating a colleague for the
<a href="https://wida.wisc.edu/about/consortium/fellows">2026-2027 WIDA Fellows Program.</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Lora">Twenty WIDA Fellows will be selected to participate in a dynamic professional learning community of instructional experts and educational leaders and contribute their expertise to the development
of WIDA professional learning materials. <i>To nominate an educator, complete the <a href="https://uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5ovyTKf4I5odmfA" target="_blank">nomination form</a> by February 27, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. CT. Accepted nominees will be
notified by</i></span><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></i><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Lora"> May 1, 2026 by WIDA.</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Lora"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Lora">Again, thank you for all that you do and know that the DOE is available to offer technical assistance, guidance, site or team visits, and professional learning support whenever needed. I hope
to see you soon.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Lora"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Lora">With gratitude,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Lora">Jane<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Lora"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Lora"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><b>Jane Armstrong (she,her,hers)<span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline">English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) State Specialist <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline">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:jane.armstrong@maine.gov"><span style="color:#0563C1">jane.armstrong@maine.gov</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><b>Phone:</b> 207-446-3294 <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><br>
<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://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> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><img border="0" width="294" height="90" style="width:3.0583in;height:.9333in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01DC9AE8.D4F83A00"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>