Gov: Education Committee planned to oppose Bill Beardsley over “partisan political games”
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.
Lawmaker proposes legislation to ease high school graduation requirements in Maine
There is widespread concern that the current standards are ‘practically impossible’ for many students to meet.
Becoming Lucy: Portland family embraces child’s gender identity
When their son told them, ‘I just wish I could die and God could bring me back as a girl,’ the Tidds began an emotional and practical journey to help their child become her true self.
The medical perspective on being transgender
A core part of who we are, gender identity that is felt internally is established early and is ‘not a choice,’ a child psychiatrist says.
USM followed contract when it laid off faculty members in 2014, arbitrator rules
Of the 26 layoffs, only one did not follow the contract, the arbitrator says, ordering the university to pay for that person’s lost wages and benefits.
‘The Best Mexican Recipes: Real Flavors of Mexico Within Reach’ by America’s Test Kitchen
The book teaches how to cook better Mexican food – and better food in general.
UMaine System trustees approve two-year international high school at USM
Foreign students would live on the Gorham campus, take entry-level classes and graduate with two years of college credit.
Trustees back idea of adding USM’s Muskie School to proposed graduate center
Eliot Cutler outlines the advantages as he updates the board on the business plan for the center, which initially was going to house only business and law degree programs.
New operator of Casco Bay Bridge advertising ‘no experience required’ jobs
Florida Drawbridges, which was awarded the $3.8 million contract to operate and maintain the drawbridge, is advertising on Craigslist and at local colleges and universities.
Legislative panel declines to drop Common Core standards in math, English
Members want to retain those criticized learning goals while enhancing reviews and public input. They also reject delaying new assessment tests for a year.