Voices of UMF: Hannah Comfort

“My time at UMF has been a transformative journey that rooted my professional and personal practices in growth, presence, and possibility.”

Hannah Comfort is a 2026 graduate of UMF’s Master’s in Educational Leadership program with a concentration in Administration. During her time at UMF, she balanced her graduate studies while working as a classroom teacher at Winslow Elementary School. Hannah was recently nominated by faculty as a student of note and took a few moments to share some thoughts prior to her graduation.

“After completing my bachelor’s degree at the University of Maine in 2021, I hoped to expand my educational network and broaden my experiences as an educator. As a working professional with a busy and fulfilling life, I was looking for a graduate program that offered both in person and online components, something flexible while still carving out space for face-to-face connections. I had heard from so many fellow educators and dear friends about their wonderful experiences with the University, and their encouragement strongly influenced my decision to join the community. Since becoming part of the program, I have felt genuinely welcomed and honored to be here.

Maine is often described as ‘one big small town,’ and that spirit is what makes UMF stand out to me. Throughout my graduate experience, I built connections with classmates and professors across the state- people who are actively creating positive change in their communities. Because of that, I feel I have friends and colleagues in so many corners of Maine, and their work continues to inspires me. 

During my time at UMF, I am most proud of the agricultural curriculum I developed and implemented as part of my educational leadership internship. After securing a grant through Maine Agriculture in the Classroom, I designed a program for grades 3 through 5, which I implemented with 90 fourth grade students over seven months. Through this work, students explored Maine’s natural resources and agricultural industries in hands-on, locally rooted ways.

This initiative also served as my action research study, asking: Does direct instruction in an agricultural curriculum increase students’ knowledge of, appreciation for, and attitudes toward Maine’s natural resources and agricultural industries? Students engaged in both qualitative and quantitative data collection, playing an active role in evaluating the program’s effectiveness alongside my teaching team.

While my findings showed the project to be worthwhile for both students and staff, my deeper takeaway was a greater understanding of the importance of teacher autonomy, thoughtful lesson design, and authentic learning experiences. When educators are given the flexibility to innovate, they can respond to student interests and needs while continuing to grow professionally, making learning more relevant and accessible. I saw that impact directly in my students’ increased curiosity, investment, and confidence.

As educators, we know students are always watching. What do they witness when they see passionate, excited teachers designing experiences that spark joy and curiosity? What does that show them about who they are as learners- and what they might be capable of?

My time at UMF has helped me embrace change as the only constant and renewed my hope in what teaching and learning can be. It has positively shaped my path forward, strengthening my work as a teacher leader while also equipping me to step into building and district level roles with confidence.

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity I had to learn from my peers in this program, the professors who guided me, and the students who inspire me each day to have fun and stay curious. Thank you to Dr. Paul Knowles for sharing your knowledge, heart, and humor; it was an honor to be part of your final group of UMF educational leaders.

My advice to UMF students is to recognize what a special opportunity it is to learn and pursue an education in whatever sets your soul on fire, and walk in that gratitude daily!“