Relatively small classes and individualized attention may account for enrollment that’s at more than twice the national rate.
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.
Saco Middle School teacher wins $25,000 Milken award
Michaela Lamarre, who teaches eighth-grade science, is one of 40 teachers nationwide to win this year’s award.
Portland school board backs $1.3 million for ‘add-ons’ at new Hall Elementary School
The local funds would pay for a bigger cafeteria, a bigger gymnasium, additional security and other enhancements of the state-funded project.
About 400 Portland middle school students call for action on climate change
Students from King Middle School march to Portland City Hall to draw attention to climate change, as world leaders meet for a climate conference in Paris.
Maine signs $4.14 million contract for standardized student testing
A New Hampshire-based company will develop and administer new English and math tests for students in third through eighth grades.
New assessment tests for Maine students to be rolled out
Measured Progress Inc. will replace the Smarter Balanced test; details will be unveiled Thursday.
USM students rally to protest racism on nation’s college campuses
University President Glenn Cummings pledges action and forms a diversity council, saying, “There is work to be done.”
University of New England says donated island will become ‘living laboratory’
UNE plans to use Ram Island, a gift from Portland developer Art Girard, to study ocean life and the effects of climate change.
Maine professor ensures course is taught, even after he dies
Cancer takes USM’s John Broida, but his lessons and devotion to teaching endure in an online class he developed.
Tyler Technologies’ expansion plan goes before Yarmouth officials
The four-story, 94,000-square-foot addition would allow the company to add 500 employees over a decade, officials said.