Elaine Lees

I have been a member of the RSU 23 teaching staff since 2014. I hold degrees from Endicott College and the University of Maine at Augusta. I am a strong advocate for hands-on and project-based learning and enjoy creating opportunities for students to explore ideas, collaborate with others, solve problems, and apply their learning in meaningful ways. I am especially passionate about helping students understand and appreciate who they are as individuals, recognize their unique gifts and strengths, and develop the skills and confidence to share those gifts with others. I also believe strongly in fostering acceptance, respect, and appreciation for people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. I have a particular love for local theater and have enjoyed supporting Old Orchard School’s theater program for many years. My involvement has included helping with auditions, selecting, creating, and repairing costumes, and working backstage during productions. I especially enjoy watching students discover talents they may not have realized they had and seeing their confidence grow as they develop their skills and find their place within a production. Before becoming an educator, I worked for myself while raising my two children. In 2009, I began pursuing my lifelong goal of becoming a teacher and worked as an educational technician in a developmental classroom while completing my teaching certification. That experience strengthened my desire to make a difference in the lives of children, and I feel fortunate to continue doing that work as a member of the RSU 23 teaching staff in Old Orchard Beach.