Maine DOE Teacher Leader Fellow and National Expert Highlight Collaborative Approaches for Multilingual Learners with Exceptionalities

Maine - The Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) professional learning on multilingual learners with disabilities was in the spotlight at this year’s Northern New England Teachers of English Speakers of Other Languages (NNETESOL) 2025 Annual Conference, themed, “Opening Doors Through Language and Literacy Instruction” and held on November 15 at Southern New Hampshire University. Through a joint session, Maine’s leadership in advancing collaborative, equitable instruction for multilingual learners with disabilities took center stage, bringing this emerging area of practice to educators from across New England.

This joint session, “Implementing Joint Professional Learning About Dually Identified

Multilingual Learners,” was presented by Melissa Frans,a Maine DOE Teacher Leader Fellow and Special Education Multilingual Coordinator for Portland Public Schools, and Dr. Andrea Honigsfeld, a professor in the School of Education and Human Services at Molloy University. Dr. Honigsfeld teaches graduate courses on cultural and linguistic diversity, language and literacy development, educational equity, and collaborative practices supporting multilingual learners with disabilities. She has authored more than 30 books.

“When I learned that my book, ‘Collaboration for Multilingual Learners with Exceptionalities: We Share the Students,’ coauthored with Dr. Audrey Cohan, was integrated into a statewide professional learning series led by Melissa, I was honored to see my work utilized in such a thoughtful and creative way,” Dr. Honigsfeld shared. “With the Maine DOE providing numerous high-quality, open-access resources on the topic of dually identified multilingual learners, I wanted to learn more about the Maine initiative and invited Melissa to submit a proposal to the 2025 NNETESOL conference with me.”

Frans and Honigsfeld’s session explored the complex needs of dually identified multilingual learners, students who are both multilingual learners and eligible for special education services, and underscored the importance of coordinated, cross-disciplinary professional learning to support them effectively. Frans and Honigsfeld introduced key models for collaborative professional development that deepen shared understanding, strengthen communication, and promote instructional alignment between English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and special education teams.

“Presenting with Andrea at NNETESOL was a masterclass in collaboration!” Frans said. “I was proud to highlight the Maine DOE Teacher Leader Fellow program in strengthening our collective efficacy across Maine and beyond for supporting multilingual learners.”

The presentation also highlighted the Maine DOE’s statewide efforts to expand joint professional learning for educators serving dually identified multilingual learners. This initiative brings ESOL and special education professionals together to build expertise, align practices, and ensure equitable learning experiences for students.

“Dr. Honigsfeld has a reputation for writing accessible books that are grounded in research and sensibly designed for educators,” Frans added.

For more information about related Maine DOE resources and professional learning offerings, please visit the Multilingual Learners with Disabilities webpage. Details about Dr. Honigsfeld’s publications and work are available here.

The Maine DOE remains committed to expanding knowledge, strengthening collaboration, and opening doors for multilingual learners across the region. Multilingual learners thrive when school administrative units (SAUs) implement a coordinated approach through an Integrated Multi-Tiered System of Support (iMTSS), enabling educators to provide timely, individualized support that honors each student’s language needs, identities, and strengths.

The Teacher Leader Fellow program is part of the Maine DOE Office of Teaching and Learning.

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is recruiting 120 certified educators to participate in a statewide professional learning series that serves as a key component of Maine’s coordinated Literacy and Numeracy Action Plans. These plans emphasize evidence-based instruction, multitiered systems of support (MTSS), aligned supports, and equitable access for all learners.

By expanding educator expertise in language-integrated instructional practices, this project aims to strengthen statewide capacity and close persistent achievement gaps for multilingual learners (MLs) across Maine’s schools.

Background

MLs in Maine continue to face persistent inequities in academic achievement. MLs are 3.3 times less likely than non-ML peers to meet mathematics expectations. They also experience a 38.9-point gap in literacy proficiency. When MLs receive sustained, language-integrated instruction grounded in the WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards, research shows they often perform on par with, or outperform, their peers.

This initiative aims to address those gaps by supporting WIDA ELD Standards implementation, strengthening collaboration between educators, and creating Maine-specific instructional tools and resources.

SupportEd Partnership

This professional learning series is offered in partnership with SupportEd, a nationally recognized leader in ML instructional design and educator development. SupportEd experts will deepen the integration of WIDA ELD Standards, strengthen scaffolding practices, and refine classroom tasks and assessments.

Professional Learning Series Details

This opportunity is open to a wide range of educators across Maine. Classroom and content-area teachers, ML specialists, and 660-certified educators are strongly encouraged to participate, as are school administrative unit (SAU) and school leaders, such as directors or coordinators of ML programs. The series also welcomes any certified educator who is committed to providing equitable, language-integrated instruction and is eager to strengthen their practice in the services provided to MLs.

Participants will engage in high-quality professional learning led by national experts in ML instruction. Throughout the series, educators will receive practical, classroom-ready tools and templates designed to support immediate application in their own settings. They will also benefit from statewide networking and collaboration, build strategies aligned to Maine’s Literacy and Numeracy Action Plans, and contribute to the co-development of new Maine-specific instructional resources that will support ML success across the state.

All professional learning sessions run from 3 to 5 p.m. The commitment is six sessions, with two hours per session.

Elementary Cohort (pre-K-Grade 5)	Secondary Cohort (Grades 6-12)
Session 1: January 20, 2026 Session 2: February 24, 2026 Session 3: March 18, 2026 Session 4: April 7, 2026 Session 5: May 4, 2026 Session 6: June 3, 2026	Session 1: January 22, 2026 Session 2: February 26, 2026 Session 3: March 20, 2026 Session 4: April 9, 2026 Session 5: May 6, 2026 Session 6: June 3, 2026

Application Process and Timeline

Educators may apply for this opportunity here: Building Capacity for Multilingual Learners in Schools. Applications are due on December 12, 2025, with notification of selection planned for December 19. Selection will prioritize a broad geographic representation, grade-level balance, and diversity of educator roles across Maine’s SAUs.

For more information, please contact Melanie Junkins, Maine DOE Multilingual and Bilingual Education Specialist, at melanie.junkins@maine.gov.

The Statewide Professional Learning to Strengthen Instruction for Multilingual Learners is funded through Title II/Title IV state reservation funds.