Monhegan Island Education and Historical Preservation Fellow Placement Opportunity

The Monhegan community invites a Fellow to assist with a major project associated with the one-room Monhegan School and a smaller project associated with the Monhegan Plantation Cemetery.

Monhegan School Project

In the last few years, Monhegan School's collection of computers and associated technology has grown largely due to the middle school Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) laptop program. The school has two desktops and eight laptops for students, staff, and a volunteer technology coordinator. However, the difficulty of finding time for staff and volunteers to attend off-island training is a continual barrier to ensuring that students are effectively using computers and associated technology and to developing new ways of effectively integrating technology into curriculum. The computers are mainly used for word processing, basic typing instruction, music listening, and basic information searches. While students are familiar with basic computer use, the full potential of the technology is not realized simply because of a lack of time and training.

A lack of time, limited opportunities for off-island professional development, and isolation from colleagues similarly limits the head teacher's ability to learn about new curriculum. This is particularly challenging when a head teacher is in their first few years of teaching, as is the current case. The head teacher would be greatly aided by a Fellow to research needed curriculum.

In order to make better use of the school's technological resources and expose the school to new technology, writing, social, and other curriculum, the Monhegan School seeks an individual to work in the school during the 2008-2009 school year to: 

• Assess and improve the condition of the school's computers and associated technology and teach the School's teaching staff, technology coordinator, and any recruited volunteers how to manage the computers and related technology which it owns, as well as the laptops and associated technology provided by the MLTI laptop program for middle schools. The Fellow will become familiar with the hardware and with the software available on the computers (particularly MLTI provided software) in order to provide the teaching staff, volunteer technology coordinator, and any recruited volunteers with an overview of what can be accomplished with the computers/software. The Fellow will assist in identifying hardware/software to consider replacing and/or purchasing and will research and work with the teaching staff, volunteer technology coordinator, and any recruited volunteers to create a Technology Handbook to aid in functional and efficient computer use (e.g. management of passwords, regular hardware maintenance, management of long-term file storage and short-term file storage).  The Fellow will also provide introductory information to new staff members.

• Identify technology-related curriculum resources useful to the Monhegan School and available through MLTI and other sources and teach that knowledge to the School's teaching staff, technology coordinator, and recruited volunteers so that some selected technology can be effectively integrated into the curriculum. Specifically, the Fellow will do online research, attend conferences, and participate in training opportunities that teach him/her about the available technology-related curriculum resources applicable to Monhegan School. The Fellow will share applicable information with the teaching staff.  The Fellow will prepare summary information about useful technology curriculum for the Technology Handbook. The Fellow will work with the head teacher to implement some technology-related curriculum in the 2008-2009 school year.

• Assist the head teacher, Jessie Campbell, with research, identification and implementation of non-technology-related curriculum. Specifically, the Fellow will do research into writing program curriculum, responsive classroom curriculum, and other curriculum that would be of immediate use in teaching the five students during the 2008-2009 school year. The Fellow would assist in identifying and providing written information about any curricula worthy of becoming part of the school's regular curriculum.

• Identify and teach the technology-related skills necessary for middle-school students that will prepare them for secondary school. The Fellow will work with the head teacher to determine what grade 7 and 8 students should learn about technology use and what the current students should learn by the end of the 2008-2009 school year. The Fellow will collaborate with the head teacher to integrate technology skills into the middle school curriculum and, as needed, specifically teach skills and lessons that will be useful in secondary school.  A student may be challenged with creating a final project for social studies presented digitally using music, video, text and a spreadsheet or extra emphasis may be placed on assignments that challenge a student to improve typing skills.

In order to meet these goals, the Fellow will spend considerable time in the first quarter and some time during the remainder of the year assisting in the classroom to become acquainted with the school, particular student needs, teaching styles employed, and the curriculum.

The Fellow also might address needs such as teaching a foreign language, art, music, physical education, and/or gifted and talented. A short-term project to cull damaged and outdated books from the small school library also exists. These projects might develop depending on the skills/interests of the Fellow and available time.

While beyond the scope of the Monhegan School, the students would also benefit from the organization of after-school program activities by a "big brother" or "scout master" figure.  The Monhegan School currently has a student body consisting of all boys, some of whom lack a father figure in their home. The community lacks the resources to create an after-school program that would allow the boys productive playtime with male role model(s). While men in the community might be willing to volunteer, a coordinator is needed to propel such a program.

The school community with which the Fellow will work includes five students, three families, one head teacher, one to two educational technicians, three off-island consultants, one off-island superintendent, and three school committee members.

In June of the Fellow's fourth quarter, school will recess for the summer. As the Fellowship year is brought to a close, it is anticipated that the Fellow may have some final work to do with regard to the Technology Handbook, and documentation of the school year; however, the majority of the Fellow's time will refocus on work involving the Monhegan Cemetery.

Monhegan Plantation Cemetery Project

In the face of modern day demands on the time and resources of the declining population, the 65 year-round residents of Monhegan Island are finding it very challenging to even earn a living and meet essential day-to-day municipal responsibilities. Unfortunately, other responsibilities, including the management of Monhegan's cemetery, have been neglected as a result.

The community cannot afford to continue to ignore its declining cemetery. Many of the cemetery stones are falling apart and some (including the oldest stones from the 1700s) will become irreparable if not attended to soon. While some residents have expressed interest in assisting with cemetery improvements, no one has been able to thoroughly research how to repair cemetery stones and to coordinate any actual work.

In order to initiate rehabilitation of the Monhegan Plantation Cemetery, the Monhegan Plantation seeks an individual to work on the Monhegan Plantation Cemetery during the summer of 2009 to: 

• Collect information about the rules and procedures for and any costs associated with repairing cemetery stones. The Fellow will research what should be done to repair the stones, including what can be done by volunteers and what should be done by a paid professional. The Fellow will file useful information in a Cemetery Handbook.

• Identify available resources to assist with cemetery rehabilitation. The Fellow will contact cemetery associations, professionals in cemetery maintenance and stone repair, and potential volunteers to determine the sources of available assistance, both in terms of time and funding. If feasible, the Fellow will organize an on-site assessment by an expert in order to gain information about rehabilitation priorities. The Fellow will file collected information in a Cemetery Handbook.

• Coordinate initial repair work on some cemetery stones. The Fellow will work with the Monhegan Plantation Board of Assessors to determine immediate work priorities that can be addressed by volunteers. The Fellow will recruit volunteers and set up work sessions during which stones are repaired. The Fellow will document the repair process (notes and pictures) and file documentation in the Cemetery Handbook.

The Fellow may have access to the Town Office, Monhegan School, Monhegan Library, and/or the Monhegan Museum in order to do online research, make phone calls, and complete other necessary office work.

The assemblage of community members with whom the Fellow will work on the cemetery project includes the Primary Advisor (Jessica Stevens), the senior curator at the Monhegan Historical & Cultural Museum Association (Tralice Bracy), as yet unidentified volunteers, and the Monhegan Plantation Board of Assessors (which includes Third Assessor Angela Iannicelli, the Fellow's primary contact for the cemetery project.