RSU 21's Melissa Luetje named York County's Teacher of the Year

KENNEBUNK, Maine – Kennebunk High School teacher Melissa Luetje beamed with pride, leaning back in her seat and placing her hands over her heart, as though to say, “Oh, my heart.”

She did this more than once – and, in fact, one time she actually did say, “Oh, my heart.”

Such moments occurred during a discussion with her students about climate change in her classroom on Tuesday, May 17. Every time a student spoke articulately and with confidence, and every time they shared their knowledge and the wisdom they have gained, Luetje reacted with quiet yet expressive joy. She rejoiced as they shined.

But the students in Luetje’s Gulf of Maine field studies course are not the only ones impressing others and inspiring feelings of pride and joy. Luetje is, too.

Last week, the Maine Department of Education announced that Luetje is Teacher of the Year for York County – a distinction that puts her in the running to be selected as the state’s Teacher of the Year this fall.

During an interview on Tuesday, Luetje described the moment when she learned the exciting news.

“I’m not going to lie – it was pretty awesome,” she said.

Joined by celebrated educators from throughout the state, Governor Janet Mills announced the Teachers of the Year in each of Maine’s 16 counties during a special ceremony in the Hall of Flags at the state capitol building in Augusta on Thursday, May 12.

As part of the Maine Teacher of the Year Program, hundreds of teachers across the state are nominated by a member of their school community. Through an application process, described as “rigorous” by the state’s Department of Education, one teacher from each county is selected as a County Teacher of the Year. In each county, a panel of teachers, principals, and business leaders make the decision.

“It is a privilege to congratulate Maine’s 2022 County Teachers of the Year,” Mills said at last week’s ceremony. “As the daughter of a longtime public school teacher, I know how hard each of these teachers works every day to make sure our kids have the best shot at success.”

Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin said it was an honor to “celebrate these extraordinary teachers and elevate them as true ambassadors” for everyone in their profession.

“You are all true heroes, and the Maine Department of Education is so grateful for all you do,” Makin said.

Luetje, who attended the ceremony, said she was “thrilled” to meet and talk with both Mills and Makin.

“It was just a proud moment to hear those women speak,” she said.

Another triumph for RSU 21

For RSU 21 – and for KHS in particular – the news about Luetje is the district’s second triumph in as many weeks. Earlier this month, U.S. News and World Report ranked Kennebunk High School second out of the 113 high schools in Maine.

On Monday, Superintendent Terri Cooper said RSU 21 is “simply overjoyed” by Luetje’s achievement. Cooper said the honor is “well-deserved.”

“Melissa is knowledgeable, skillful and has the ability to make deep connections with students,” Cooper said. “As a result, her impact has made profound differences in the lives of students and our broader community. We are elated that the selection committee recognized the greatness we get to experience daily.”

KHS Principal Jeremie Sirois said he could not have been prouder when he heard the news about Luetje. He said she has built “amazing relationships” with students and helps them “embrace and further their love for science.”

“Her passion for teaching and the students in her charge is clearly evident,” Sirois said. “She loves teaching. She loves her students. She loves Kennebunk High School.”

Sirois said one of the classes that Luetje teaches – Gulf of Maine field studies – has inspired students to pursue careers in environmental science.

“If it weren't for her and this class, some students may not have ever found this passion for the environment,” he added.

'Each student has their time to shine'

In addition to the Gulf of Maine class, Luetje also teaches physics, biology and environmental science. KHS senior Maeve Saunders is in her Gulf of Maine Studies class.

“I’ve never met a teacher as loving and so hard-working and dedicated to all of her students,” Saunders said. “She really is invaluable here at the high school. She’s one of the greatest teachers I’ve ever had.”

Fellow senior Chase MacIver agrees. MacIver said Luetje’s style is in step with how teaching has been evolving in recent years. He said she lets students “really explore their unique capabilities” and figure out ways to let them enhance their skills.

“I feel like each student has their time to shine,” MacIver said.

A teacher is born

Luetje, of Freeport, is a native Mainer, born and raised in Portland and a graduate of Deering High School. She earned her degrees at the University of Southern Maine and has taught for 19 years at Kennebunk High School.

Originally, she wanted to be a volcanologist, a career that would have allowed her to “traipse around the world to volcanoes, while they’re erupting.”

“Nothing’s cooler,” she said.

However, Luetje, a single mother while she was an undergraduate, knew she did not want to take her daughter away from the support system they had established here at home.

“I stayed in Maine and kept my toes in the field,” she said.

She worked assorted jobs in the restaurant business – waiting tables, cooking in kitchens, bartending and hosting – while she attended graduate school, and it was in that setting that she found her calling. She worked with a lot of teenagers at those restaurants and found she got along well with them. She figured she could take that rapport into the classroom, where she would pass on to them her love of science.

Luetje said she is guided in teaching by her students. She added that she has always taken issue with the idea that science should only be taught within the four walls of a classroom.

“That’s just not how the real world works,” she said. “I get frustrated with scheduling constraints, budgeting constraints, all kinds of constraints in public education as to how and why we cannot get kids outside, doing science.”

In such scenarios, teachers need to be creative, which is how Luetje came to collaborate with numerous environmental organizations to establish her Gulf of Maine class. Such a class gets students out of the classroom and into their community, as was the case on Sunday, May 15, when she and her students led community members through a tour of a local salt marsh that is being threatened by certain environmental factors.

“Sometimes you just have to go in the back door and create something like this to get students outside to experience science and have a place-based educational experience, right here in their community, and have that learning experience be authentic,” she said.

Luetje said her goal is to get a Gulf of Maine Field Studies class in every high school along the Gulf of Maine. She said she and Leia Lowery of the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust are making strides in making that happen at high schools in a few neighboring communities.

“It will only benefit everybody,” she said.

Joy of collaboration

Luetje said she greatly enjoys collaboration – in fact, she credits her collaboration with Lowery with helping to make her the teacher she is today. Lowery is one of many individuals who have teamed up with Luetje to make the Gulf of Maine class happen.

“We all have something to learn from each other, but we are more powerful together,” Luetje said.

Luetje said she is most inspired by such women on the national stage as former First Lady Michelle Obama and the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She said her paternal grandmother, Betty Doyle, helped shape who she is today.

“She really helped show me kindness, love and support, so I feel like I know how to love because of her,” Luetje said.

Luetje also said there are “amazing educators” throughout Kennebunk High School, and they too inspire her.

“I admire and respect them so much,” she said. “I think any one of my colleagues here at Kennebunk High School could be Teacher of the Year for York County.”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: RSU 21's Melissa Luetje named York County's Teacher of the Year