First 10 Community Schools Pilot

Each of the schools in the pilot receives funding to employ a First 10 Community School Outreach Coordinator.  Maine’s initial iteration of First 10 work highlighted the importance of having a dedicated position to support implementation, ensure strong communication within the team, provide project coordination, develop relationships with families and community partners, and support families in accessing needed resources and services.  Funding for this position fades over the course of the grant.  The pilot will provide technical support to assist districts in developing funding plans to sustain First 10 strategies when grant funding ends. 

The pilot funds a state-level position on the Early Learning Team at the DOE to support the individual pilot sites and build a collaborative network between Maine’s First 10 Teams.  The First 10 Community School Specialist coordinates with Education Development Center Facilitators and provides coordination between state agencies to support the First 10 Schools and Communities in implementing strategies to meet local goals.  This position is also responsible for supporting the sustainability and expansion of the First 10 model in Maine

Each of the schools in the First 10 Schools and Communities Pilot has established a leadership team that includes school staff, family members, and community partners to lead the planning and implementation of the First 10 model in their community.  Each of these teams benefits from the support of an EDC facilitator who guides them through a comprehensive strategic planning process and assists them as they explore key First 10 strategies to help them address local challenges. Teams began their work at a full-day institute led by EDC in the summer and typically meet with their facilitator every three weeks.  Facilitators are in frequent contact with the First 10 Community School Outreach Coordinators early on, while building capacity for the coordinators to lead the First 10 work in their community over time.  

The First 10 model focuses on several key strategies that break down into two major categories: building family partnerships and supporting smooth transitions across early childhood.   

Family Partnership Strategies: 

• Implement school-connected Play & Learn events for families of children 0-5 
• Expand family engagement opportunities of school aged children 
• Launch a community parenting campaign 
• Support families in accessing comprehensive supports and services  

Transition Strategies:  

• Develop a comprehensive transition plan that: 
  • Ensures collaboration with community early childhood providers  
  • Includes opportunities for two-way communication between the school and families  
  • Ensures multiple opportunities for engagement between children, families, and school staff prior to and following the first day of school 
  • Incorporates practices that provide young children with common experiences across early childhood settings  
• Provide opportunities for joint professional learning for early childhood educators from community and school settings to increase alignment and implementation of high-quality practices  
• Expand opportunities for ongoing authentic family engagement in the public-school setting, especially around transition points 

East Belfast Elementary School (RSU 71)

East Belfast Elementary is a Pre-K through grade 2 school serving approximately 100 students from East Belfast and Swanville. Free and reduced numbers in this community have historically run around 80% but have dipped since universal free breakfast and lunch have been provided by the state.  The community is home to 90% of the Section 8 housing in the county and many children and have experienced both generational poverty and trauma.

Building a more positive and collaborative relationship with families and the community has been identified as the main goal for this First 10 Team.  They recognize the importance of family engagement in a child’s education and the needs of the families in the community for an accepting and supportive relationship with the school. 

East Belfast Elementary has partnered with Waldo Community Action for the grant.  The team includes district and building leadership, Pre-K and Kindergarten teachers, family members, and representatives from Head Start and the Family Services team at Waldo CAP. 

• Contact
  Kristie Hamlin
  First 10 Community School Outreach Coordinator
  Khamlin@waldocap.org

Limestone Community School & Dawn F Barns Elementary School (Caswell)

Limestone Community School (LCS) and Dawn F. Barnes Elementary are located just 8 miles apart. They share a Superintendent and several other support positions.  Caswell students regularly use the pool, auditorium and other facilities on the LCS campus. 

The communities are rural and sparsely populated, and the schools serve as hubs in the communities.  Both schools serve children from Pre-K through grade 8.  Caswell serves a total of 44 students in three multi-aged classrooms.  100% of the children are eligible for free and reduced lunch.  Limestone Community School serves approximately 135 students with 81% of the students qualifying for free and reduced lunch. 

These schools are partnering with Aroostook County Community Action Head Start for the grant, and also work closely with ACCAP to support Public Pre-K and other early childhood programming at LCS.  The team includes leadership from both buildings, Pre-K and Kindergarten teachers, Head Start leadership, and the Aroostook County First4ME Coach.  They are committed to expanding access to early childhood programming, ensuring families access to needed supports and services, and collaborating with area businesses and organizations to problem solve resource shortages. 

• Contact
  Cody Closson
  First 10 Community School Outreach Coordinator
  cclosson@lcseagles.org 

Sanford Pride Elementary School

Sanford Pride Elementary is one of three elementary schools in the Sanford School Department and serves approximately 359 students in grades Pre-K through four.  56% of the children at Sanford Pride qualify for free or reduced lunch. 20% of students receive Title I services and 25.90% of students receive special education services.  The school has seen an increase in enrollment of children for whom English is a second or other language in the past year.  

Under the leadership of Assistant Superintendent Steve Bussiere, the Sanford School Department has made a strong commitment to early childhood programming.  Their First 10 Team coupled with their expansion of Public Pre-K programming, which includes seven classrooms, two of which are at Sanford Pride, reflects the understanding that high-quality early childhood opportunities are essential for all children.   

Sanford Pride has partnered with York County Community Action for this grant. Their team includes district and building leadership, Pre-K and Kindergarten teachers, community child care and education providers, district counselors, outreach coordinators, and  librarians and representatives from the local United Way and First4Me programs.

• Contact
  Shana Palmer
  First 10 Community School 
  Outreach Coordinator
  SPalmer@sanford.org

Cape Cod Hill School (RSU 9)

Cape Cod Hill School is located in New Sharon and serves approximately 189 students in grades Pre-K through 5^th.  Food insecurity is a significant concern for children and families in the community and there is also a significant need for child care, but a lack of providers. 

Cape Cod Hill became a designated Community School and has benefitted from technical assistance and support from the Office of School and Student Supports at the DOE around initiatives such as their food pantry, clothing closet and extended day child care program. However, they recognize the needs of children and families begin before children reach the school’s doors, so have embraced First 10 as a way to better support the needs in their community. 

Cape Cod Hill partners with the local adult education program and Community Concepts Head Start for the grant.  They have a large First 10 Team that includes building leadership, educators, support staff and family members in addition to their community partners.  They continue to work to build their school as a hub but are also exploring strategies to reach families where they are, considering that transportation is also a significant challenge in this rural community.

• Contact
  Anita Stevens
  First 10 Community School Outreach Coordinator
  anita.stevens@mtbluersd.org

Margaret Chase Smith Community School

The new Margaret Chase Smith Community School, which officially opened on August 5, 2025, serves children from six weeks through grade 5.  The new building welcomes students who previously attended North and Bloomfield Elementary Schools.  The state-of-the-art school also includes the Hight Family Early Learning Center where staff from Kennebec Valley Community Action Partnership(KVCAP) will serve children from beginning at 6 weeks of age.   

RUS/MSAD 54 has a strong partnership with KVCAP which has evolved over the past 60 years.  They have collaborated to provide public Pre-K classrooms across the district, so KVCAP was a natural partner for the First 10 grant. Together they have established a team dedicated to bringing together early care and education professionals, families, and community members in a collaborative effort to maximize access to needed services, supports and early childhood opportunities.   

Known as the River Hawks First 10 Team, this group has identified challenges around availability of and access to resources in a rural area that includes high levels of poverty.  

Learn More

• Contact
  Mark Hatch
  Assistant Superintendent
  mhatch@msad54.org

Wiscasset Elementary School

Wiscasset Elementary School is a Pre-K to 5^th grade school serving approximately 181 students from Wiscasset and surrounding areas that have school choice.  Historically free and reduced lunch numbers have been around 60% in this community in which many caregivers are self- employed or unemployed. 

The team has identified a high need for caregiver support in the community.  Housing insecurity, addiction, and older relatives providing kinship care are common and child behavioral and mental health needs have been increasing in recent years. 

Wiscasset Elementary School is partnering with Midcoast Community Action Corporation (MCAP) and their local recreation department for the grant.  They have a small but mighty team dedicated to maximizing opportunities to collaborate with other community organizations and businesses to increase access to resources and supports for children and families that, alongside their goals for expanding and supporting high-quailty early care and education programming will be a great benefit to the community.

• Contact
  Kimberly Watson
  First 10 Community School Outreach Coordinator
  kwatson@wiscassetschools.org