The measure would offer interest-free loans to those who study STEM courses and go on to work in a related job in Maine.
Noel K. Gallagher
Noel Gallagher covers K-12 and higher education issues statewide. Her stories are a mix of breaking news and trend stories. In recent years, they’ve ranged from why college costs so much, the launch of the state’s first charter schools, how a school welcomed a transgender student and why Maine schools have a hard time finding teachers. She’s enough of a news nerd to enjoy sitting through legislative education committee meetings and hours-long school board meetings so you don’t have to.
The Maine Press Association has honored Noel’s work, but she says she writes for the readers, in the firm belief that an informed citizenry is key to a healthy democracy.
Noel is a California native who has worked at wire services, online websites and newspapers across the country. She was in Washington D.C. during the early Clinton years, covering AIDS activism in 1990s San Francisco, documenting the business of wine in Sonoma County and riding out the boom and bust cycle of the early Internet era in early 2000s Silicon Valley. She arrived in Maine at the beginning of the recession and wrote quite a bit about the downturn here.
In her free time, Noel writes the occasional cookbook review, spends an inordinate amount of time at the Portland Public Library and hangs out with her three fabulous kids and wonderful husband. She is not a former member of the band Oasis.
Deering athletic director broke policy by using school stationery to praise wife’s clinic
Deering High tightens its rules and Melanie Craig apologizes for the letter touting the therapy practice owned by her wife.
‘Potential nor’easter’ tracking toward Maine for first day of spring
Most of the state is likely to get ‘plowable amounts’ of snow Sunday, the weather service says.
With spike in applications, University of Maine starts wait list
In the wake of a marketing campaign, the university in Orono has received 14,205 applications for admission this fall, a 17 percent increase over last year.
Home-schooling community gets ready for 3-day conference
The annual gathering will begin Thursday in Rockport.
Legislative committee votes to phase in new graduation standards
Legislators say proficiency requirements in a 2012 law are too stringent for many students – and schools.
Bangor High School senior wins $150,000 in national science talent competition
Paige Brown, 17, is working on developing a cost-effective filter to remove phosphate from stormwater systems.
UMaine System keeps tuition in deep freeze
In a deal with Gov. LePage, trustees agree to a sixth year of the same in-state figure, a rarity at a time of rising college costs nationwide.
LePage nominates three to UMaine board of trustees
Nominees include former Unity College interim president John Craig, DAVO Technologies chief operating officer Theresa Sutton and UMaine Augusta student Jason Coombs.
SaviLinx seeks 200 employees to fill new contract work in Brunswick
The customer support firm is the second company in a month to seek massive new hires at Brunswick Landing.