The Maine Department of Education is committed to preparing students for an increasingly connected world by creating opportunities that nurture cross-cultural understanding and global competence. Through international partnerships, we collaborate with schools, educators, and institutions across the globe to enrich learning and expand what’s possible for Maine students and teachers.
These relationships open real pathways to language access, cultural exchange, and shared purpose—equipping learners to navigate complexity, build meaningful relationships, and thrive in a multicultural world. Our goal is to ensure that every student in Maine is not only rooted in their local community, but prepared to lead and contribute with purpose wherever life takes them.
China
Partner Program: Bangor Chinese School / Language & Culture Center of Maine
Mission: To address Maine’s Mandarin teacher shortage through immersion programs, teacher exchange, and summer learning experiences.
Partnership Highlights: Maine students and educators can look forward to participation in the Chinese Guest Teacher Program, summer Mandarin immersion programs, and student travel opportunities to China in 2025. These programs offer cultural exchange and language development for both students and educators across the state.
Contact
Jing Zhang, Director
Phone: 207-990-0710
Email: jingzhang@bangorchinese.com
France
Partner Program: Académie de Nantes
Mission: To foster reciprocal teacher exchange, curriculum collaboration, and authentic language learning through direct partnership with Maine educators.
Partnership Highlights: Professional development stipends for German teachers and access to the Transatlantic Outreach Program are available to support instruction and expand global STEM learning.
Contact
Laëtitia Bouteiller, Program Coordinator
Email: Laetitia.Bouteiller@ac-nantes.fr
Germany
Partner Program: Goethe-Institut Boston
Mission: As the official cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Goethe-Institut promotes the teaching of the German language and fosters international cultural collaboration.
Partnership Highlights: Professional development stipends for German teachers and access to the Transatlantic Outreach Program are available to support instruction and expand global STEM learning.
Contact
Susanne Rinner, Director
Phone: 336-402-9478
Email: Susanne.Rinner@goethe.de
Portugual
Partner Program: Instituto Camões & Portuguese Language Initiatives
Mission: To promote the Portuguese language and Lusophone cultures in the U.S. through language instruction, cultural programming, and strategic support for teachers and students across Maine. This partnership supports global competence and multilingualism while uplifting Portuguese heritage communities in our state.
Partnership Highlights:
Instituto Camões is offering support for Portuguese language teacher placement in Maine schools, along with virtual libraries, multimedia language resources, and professional development opportunities for Portuguese educators.
Contact
João Caixinha, Camões Consulate
Phone: 617-775-9161
Email: cepe.eau@camoes.mne.pt
Spain
Partner Program: Embassy of Spain Education Office
Mission: To promote the Spanish language and cultural understanding through educator exchanges, dual language programming, and teacher recruitment.
Partnership Highlights: The Visiting Teachers from Spain Program is an international education initiative included in Maine’s Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Education of Spain. These highly qualified native Spanish-speaking educators hold at least a bachelor’s or master’s degree, have a minimum of two years of teaching experience, and are licensed to teach in Maine while serving under a J-1 cultural exchange visa (valid up to 5 years).
Contact
Antonio Caballero, Education Advisor
Phone: 857-274-6572
Email: Antonio.Caballero@educacion.gob.es
Taiwan
Partner Program: Taipei Economic & Cultural Office
Mission: To expand Mandarin language instruction and promote cultural literacy while enhancing U.S.-Taiwan educational exchange through teacher placement and scholarships.
Contact
Cynthia Huang, Director
Phone: 617-259-1362
Email: cynthia@mail.moe.gov.tw