Leadership

The Leadership team at the Maine Department of Education is working to build an agency that supports schools and educators across the state in their mission to help all students reach their potential and leave school prepared for work, life, and post-secondary education opportunities.

Commissioner’s Office

  • Pender Makin, Commissioner
  • Dan Chuhta, Deputy Commissioner
  • Megan Welter, Associate Commissioner of Public Education
  • Chelsey Fortin-Trimble, Associate Commissioner of Policy & Programs
  • Jessica Nixon, Chief of Operations

Communications

  • Marcus Mrowka, Director of Communications
 

Office of Innovation

  • Page Nichols, Chief Innovation Officer
  • Beth Lambert, Director of Innovative Teaching and Learning
  • Lee Anne Larsen, Early Learning Team Coordinator
  • Elaine Bartley, Rethinking Responsive Education Ventures (RREV) Project Director

    School Facilities

    • Scott Brown, Director
    • Ann Pinnette, Coordinator

      Higher Ed. & Educator Support Services

      • Michael T. Perry, Acting Director of Higher Education & Educator Supports

      Maine School Safety Center 

      • Jonathan J. Shapiro, Director

      Federal Programs

      • Janette Kirk, Director
      • Cheryl Lang, ESEA Federal Programs & Continuous School Improvement Coordinator
      • Jane McLucas, Child Nutrition
      • Shelly Chasse-Johndro, Federal Emergency Relief Funds

        Workforce Development and Innovative Pathways

        • Tamara Ranger, Director
        • Megan Dichter, Adult Education
        • Jason Libby, Early College
        • Dwight Littlefield, Career and Technical Education
        • Rick Wilson, Extended Learning Opportunities

          School and Student Supports

          • Julie Smyth, Director
          • Emily Poland, Coordinated School Health
          • Bear Shea, Mental Health/School Counseling

          Special Services and Inclusive Education

          • Erin Frazier, Director
          • Mary Adley, SPPS, State Agency Client/State Ward, Significant Disproportionality
          • Roberta Lucas, Child Development Services
          • Barbara A. McGowen, Finance Coordinator
          • Tracy Whitlock, Special Projects, Dyslexia, Math4ME, PBIS Coordinator
          • Leigh Lardieri, Dispute Resolution
          • Colette Sullivan, Monitoring & Support