Stacey Augustine, a kindergarten teacher at W.G. Mallett School in Farmington, has been selected as the Maine Department of Education’s 2022 Franklin County Teacher of the Year. Augustine, pictured with her students, said she has loved teaching kindergarten because of the many hats she gets to wear and connections she forms. Photo courtesy of Chlorissa Plaisted

FARMINGTON — Stacey Augustine, a kindergarten teacher at W.G. Mallett School in Farmington has been selected as the Maine Department of Education’s 2022 Franklin County Teacher of the Year.

As part of the award Augustine had the opportunity to join the fifteen other county Teachers of the Year, Gov. Janet Mills and other officials in the Maine State Capitol’s Hall of Flags in May for a ceremony.

According to the Department of Education, each county teacher of the year is among hundreds “across Maine nominated by a member of their school community” and selected through “a rigorous application process [by] a panel of teachers, principals, and business community members within the county.”

Augustine has taught kindergarten at Regional School Unit 9 since 2003 after graduating from the University of Maine at Farmington.

In an interview Augustine said she chose to teach kindergarten because “it’s truly about social skills, finding your place in the world.”

“Kindergarten is the first kind of place that you leave your mom and dad for the first time,” she said. “You have to have that confidence, that ‘I can do this’ kind of attitude, and know that they’re going to be there for you when you get out. This is the first time they get to soar on their own.”

Augustine said she loves teaching kindergarten for all of the life lessons students learn, from building relationships to learning about organization, communication and, most importantly, “being kind and responsible.”

“Kindergarten is really a place that we learn together and figure things out. You’re a teacher, but you’re also a parent, a guidance counselor or a referee depending on what the needs are,” she said.

She’s loved the close relationships she’s formed with students over the years.

“I tell [my students] all the time, ‘You’re going to be my kid until I’m old and wrinkly. I will remember you when I’m in the grocery store,'” Augustine said. “The name might not come in 20 years as quickly as it does now. But they will always be my kids.”

Augustine describes the award as a “huge honor.”

She’s also happy to report she’s formed “really cool connections” with the other 2022 state county teachers of the year.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity. And I look forward to the process in the year of service,” she said.

Nevertheless, Augustine said she shies away from the “limelight,” doesn’t consider herself “better than anyone else.”

“I genuinely have done things for my own growth, for my team’s growth, for my school’s growth, for the children in my classroom, and the families that I serve,” she said. “I know 65 people in this school that deserve [this award] as well.”

Alongside meeting with Gov. Mills and Maine DOE Commissioner Pender Makin, Augustine’s year of service will include formulating a “platform that you’re going to advocate for.”

She hasn’t finalized that platform yet, but Augustine said she is leaning toward advocating for teaching holistic people skills in early childhood education that include communication, dealing with conflict and “becoming independent.”

She’s also been meeting with the other county teachers to discuss the Texas school shooting to see “how we can support other teachers and families who have gone through a tragic event,” which wasn’t on the official service agenda but borne out of a need to take action.

Augustine is now also in the running for Maine Teacher of the Year, which the DOE will announce in October.

W.G. Mallett School Principal Tracy Williams said she feels Augustine deserves this award because she has “always had a curiosity about teaching and learning,” “can forge strong connections to her students,” “inspires interest and enthusiasm,” and “maintains that healthy sense of humor no matter how challenging things can be.”

Williams said Augustine’s selection serves as “a reminder that sometimes a spotlight will shine on good work in Franklin county/RSU 9/W.G. Mallett, which just sends a nice positive energy through the school.”

“Everyone was happy for Stace,” Williams said.

The Franklin County Teacher of the Year award is closing out Augustine’s last school-year as Mallett’s kindergarten teacher. In the coming school year, Augustine will be teaching the Gifted And Talented Education Services (GATE) program for kindergarten through grade 12 across the entire RSU 9 district.

While she’ll be leaving Mallett School full-time, Williams said Augustine’s “K colleagues, along with the rest of us, support the new change and know that ultimately kids will still benefit.”

Over the years, Augustine said her favorite memories have been teaching “Tinker time” (a STEM-based activity), cooking with her students on “fun Fridays,” the Family Fall Festival where she helps students’ families connect with each other, and the 75th Anniversary Celebration for W.G. Mallett School.

She’ll also miss her fellow staff who she describes as her family.

“[Mallett School] is a community of friends and family even as coworkers,” she said.

Ultimately, Augustine said one of the best parts of this process has been having her nine-year-old son come and watch her receive her award in the Hall of Flags.

“Now he knows that I work hard and you do get recognized, people do appreciate that hard work,” Augustine said. “To see his face and when he was cheering for me that day was really special.”