WISCASSET, Maine — At Wiscasset Elementary School, students and staff alike are celebrating one of their own in a special way.
Becky Hallowell, a dedicated educator with 30 years of teaching experience, has been named the 2025 Maine Teacher of the Year.
Managed and administered through both Educate Maine and the Maine Department of Education, the recognition honors Hallowell's remarkable teaching methods and dedication to her students.
In a heartfelt ceremony, surrounded by her colleagues, students, and school leaders, Hallowell expressed some suspicion of what was coming.
I had a hint of what was going on," she said, smiling.
Coming from a family of educators, Hallowell has built a reputation within her school, not only for her ability to connect with her students but also for actively engaging them in their learning.
"It's my job to figure out how I can work with who they are and really cherish every single student," she shared.
This recognition honors Hallowell's remarkable teaching methods and dedication. One of her colleagues captured her impact, describing Hallowell as "a Mary Poppins bag of tools," alluding to the vast range of resources she brings to her students. Her colleagues and students alike agree—Hallowell has exceeded expectations as an educator.
State leaders in education such as Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin and the previous year's Maine Teacher of the Year were also in attendance.
As Maine Teacher of the Year, Hallowell hopes to inspire more educators to incorporate outdoor learning into their teaching.
"My greatest hope is that people start becoming comfortable taking their students outside to learn and incorporating that into their lessons," she said, emphasizing the importance of connecting the classroom with the natural world.
Hallowell will now go on to represent Maine in the National Teacher of the Year program.
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