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Education

Preparing Maine’s Teachers

If you’re interested in teaching, inspiring, and making a real difference in the lives of children and adolescents, there is no better place to come than the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF). For over 160 years, UMF has been preparing some of the best and brightest educators.

You’ll learn from experienced faculty and step into real classrooms early and often. You’ll be ready to hit the ground running as a new teacher or take your current career to the next level.

If you are made to teach, this is where teachers are made.

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Our Education Programs

UMF offers a full range of teacher preparation pathways— 12 bachelor’s degrees, 7 master’s programs (including an accelerated bachelor’s + master’s option), and 12+ graduate certificates—all grounded in hands-on, real-world classroom experience.

Early Childhood & Early Childhood Special Education
Elementary Education
Middle & Secondary Education
School Health-Physical Education
Special Education
And other specialties like Language, Math, Technology, Leadership, and Environmental Education.

From your first class throughout your career, UMF is here to support your growth as an educator.

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Why Become a Teacher with UMF

Classroom Experience and Network

Gain hands-on classroom experience early while building connections with mentors, peers, and local schools.

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Extensive Resources

Our on-campus state-of-the-art Sweatt-Winter Early Childhood Lab School, Curriculum Lab, Assistive Technology Center, Everyone’s Resource Depot & more.

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Tradition and Excellence

For over 160 years we’ve built a long-standing reputation for preparing exceptional, career-ready teachers.

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Quality and Affordability

Receive a high-quality education with strong support, practical experience, and a cost that keeps your future within reach.

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Oh, the Places You’ll Go

UMF graduates are known for being classroom-ready, with strong preparation that leads to high employment rates within months of graduating and long-term success in the field.

Our alumni have been recognized with honors including 25+ Maine Teachers of the Year (including Maine County Teachers of the Year), the Milken Educator Award, the U.S. Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, and awards from organizations such as the Gilder Lehrman Institute, the National Science Foundation, and the Google Teacher Academy.

UMF prepares you not just to enter the profession—but to grow, lead, and shape the future of education.

15 Weeks

That’s how much time you’ll spend teaching in a real classroom as part of your student teaching requirement.

85%

Percentage of students who are employed in teaching within 1 year of graduation.

CAEP Accredited

Our education programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Education Programs (CAEP), the gold standard in teacher preparation.

Learn from Experienced Educators

At UMF, you’ll learn from faculty who’ve been there as experienced teachers, leaders, and specialists who know today’s classrooms.

They’ll support you every step of the way, sharing real-world insight and helping you build the skills and confidence to succeed.

Shannon Larsen

Professor of Elementary Education

About Shannon

Patricia Williams

Professor of Early Childhood Education

About Patricia

Mellisa Clawson

Professor of Early Childhood Education

About Mellisa

Donna Karno

Professor of Early Childhood Education

About Donna

Brianna Grumstrup

Assistant Professor of Special Education

About Brianna

$Daniel Jackson$

Daniel Jackson

Associate Professor of Mathematics

About Daniel

Jessica Apgar

Assistant Professor of Special Education

About Jessica

Kate Macleod

Associate Professor of Special Education

About Kate

Kathryn Will

Assistant Professor Literacy Education

About Kathryn

Leigh Ann Fish

Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education

About Leigh

Meredith Swallow

Associate Professor of Elementary Education

About Meredith

Briana Markoff

Associate Professor of Education

About Briana

Deborah Overstreet

Associate Professor of Education

About Deborah

Education News & Stories

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NEW FEATURE – UMF Stories: Becky Hallowell, UMF alumna and 2025 Maine Teacher of the Year, wraps up a remarkable year

March 16, 2026

Becky Hallowell, a University of Maine at Farmington alumna and fourth grade teacher at Wiscasset Elementary School is wrapping up a remarkable year as the 2025 Maine Teacher of the Year—a year she says felt like a “whirlwind of opportunities.”…

Middle school students, enjoy reading to a young friend at UMF Sweatt-Winter Child Care and Early Education Center’s National Read Across America buddy reading.

Children at UMF Sweatt-Winter Center and Mt. Blue Middle School 8th graders share the joy of reading with Reading Buddy program

March 10, 2026

FARMINGTON, ME (March 10, 2026)—Reading was a team effort recently at the UMF Sweatt-Winter Child Care and Early Education Center when students from the Mt. Blue Middle School stopped by to read with a buddy for National Read Across America week.

Devyn De Leonardis, UMF Elementary Education major, helping students with telescope project.

UMF Pre-Service Teachers welcome students from five Maine Island Schools for hands-on learning

December 03, 2025

FARMINGTON, ME (December 3, 2025)—University of Maine at Farmington Associate Professor of Literacy Education Kathryn Will and a group of UMF pre-service teachers recently welcomed more than 60 K-8 students, parents, educators and community partners from one- and two-room Maine Island…

UMF peer tutors and Student Learning Commons coordinator

UMF peer tutors present innovative approach to support student success at Maine Peer Educators Summit

November 03, 2025

FARMINGTON, ME (November 3, 2025)—UMF Learning Commons Coordinator Misty Beck and UMF student peer educators recently presented their innovative approach to supporting student success at the first annual Maine Peer Educators Summit held at Bates College. In their presentation, they highlighted how the Student…

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