MAINE, Maine — The four finalists in the 2025 Maine Teacher of the Year program are sharing an inside look at what they believe helps students thrive in their classrooms.
Allyson Gilbert at Mt. Ararat High School, Becky Hallowell at Wiscasset Elementary School, Katie Strait at the Baxter Academy of Science and Technology, and Emilie Throckmorton at Bangor High School all learned they moved on as finalists in late August.
Before the pool of finalists narrowed to four, they were among the 16 educators representing each of Maine's 16 counties in 2024 Maine County Teachers of the Year.
"There's so many talented teachers in Maine and so many people who are innovating," Hallowell, who is a fourth-grade teacher, said.
To keep young students engaged, Hallowell said she takes students to an outdoor classroom along the Sheepscot River, where students have made the space their own while connecting to class material.
"I look at what we have for resources, I look at where the kid's interests are, and I try to meld those together," Hallowell explained.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, English teacher Emilie Throckmorton said giving grace to students who might be struggling in or out of the classroom can help them bounce back better.
"They're just kids. They're just trying to find their way. Some of the issues they struggle with now are nothing they've ever asked for," Throckmorton shared.
Gilbert, who teaches science at Mt. Ararat School, explained that while every student understands in different ways, offering alternatives to traditional exams can help them master topics in their own ways.
"Trying to offer those alternatives, I think, has been a really powerful way to engage students who are different types of learners and also show them that information can be accessed in a variety of different ways," Gilbert said.
Strait, a science teacher, said she strives to steer each student toward what they're passionate about while modeling her own passions about the ocean and aquatic life.
"If I can inspire these guys to go become future scientists in the plight of saving our world, then I know I'm doing my job," Strait said.
The 2024 Maine Teacher of the Year will be announced in October. The winner will then go on to appear for the National Teacher of the Year awards.