Biddeford teacher named York County Teacher of the Year

AUGUSTA — Biddeford Primary School second grade teacher Christine Goulet has been named York County Teacher of the Year.

The Maine Department of Education’s Teacher of the Year Program is administered through a collaborative partnership with Educate Maine. Hundreds of teachers across the state are nominated by a member of their school community. One teacher from each county is selected by a panel of teachers, principals, and business community members from the specific county.

The award recipients from across the state were honored this week in a remote ceremony.

 Goulet has been teaching for 18 years and was nominated by Mandy Cyr, director of instruction and innovation for Biddeford Schools.

The local teacher said she was “beyond proud” to be part of the Biddeford school district which demonstrated out-of-the-box thinking and innovation during the pandemic. She said she looked forward to highlighting social and emotional learning and building students’ social and emotional skills to increase their academic success.

The County Teacher of the Year recipients serve as ambassadors for teachers, students, and quality education state-wide throughout the year. They also participate in the selection of the Maine State Teacher of the Year.

“You have been true heroes on the frontline of the most unimaginable year, the most profound disruption that education has ever experienced,” said Commissioner of Education Pender Makin.

Makin said that Maine educators are “amazing heroes” and “deeply professional people who are changing the world.”

Maine Teacher of the year Cindy Soule said the award recipients demonstrated what she called the “teacher’s superpower” – an unwavering faith in their students. These teachers have empowered their students to believe in themselves, imagine dreams and empowered them to rise above barriers to meet their fullest potential, she said.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.