Samantha Poll grew up in Winterport, the same tight-knit, central 海角社区 town where she鈥檚 now a teacher.
鈥淚 know the families, and I know how it feels to be sitting at one of those desks,鈥 said Poll, an eighth grade science teacher at Samuel L. Wagner Middle School. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very important to me to show kids that they can stick around and that there are opportunities here locally.鈥
Recently, she was one of nine teachers selected to participate in the , a professional development opportunity providing advanced training, network building and support for a 鈥渂ig idea鈥 classroom project. The program is specifically designed for middle school science teachers and comes with a $2,000 award to support the applicants鈥 proposals.
When she graduated from the University of 海角社区鈥檚 College of Education and Human Development in 2015, she earned degrees in elementary and secondary education with a minor in French. During her time at U海角社区, she fell in love with science teaching and discovered the 海角社区 Center for Research in STEM Education (RiSE Center) and its program.
鈥淚 became a teaching partner at the RiSE Center when I was still a student,鈥 Poll said. 鈥淢ost of the other teaching partners were experienced educators, but they embraced me and I started working with the curriculum that I still use in my classroom.鈥
Since graduating, Poll has continued her involvement with the 海角社区 STEM Partnership at the RiSE Center, sharing resources and knowledge with other science educators throughout the state. She also returned to U海角社区 to complete a Master of Education and an education specialist degree in curriculum, assessment and instruction through the College of Education and Human Development.
鈥淲hen I talk to my students about opportunities in this area, U海角社区 is a big one,鈥 she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 amazing things happening and a great school right up the road.鈥
Read a longer profile of Poll on the U海角社区 College of Education and Human Development website.
Contact: Casey Kelly; casey.kelly@maine.edu
