Superintendent Robert Mitchell is pleased to announce Cumberland’s District Teacher of the
Year – Paula MacMillin. We congratulate Paula on this outstanding achievement. We are very
proud of her commitment and dedication to her school, students and their families. Distance
Learning has brought many new challenges for everyone and Paula has been an asset to her
colleagues given her exceptional technology skills. We are fortunate to have her working in our
school system.
Paula was recognized during the May 14, 2020, Cumberland School Committee meeting. Her
school’s principal, Mrs. Debra Malcolm submitted the following nomination.
It is my honor and privilege to officially nominate Mrs. Paula MacMillin for the 2020 – 2021
Cumberland Teacher of the Year. Paula returned to the Cumberland Hill staff in the fall of 2016
as a fourth grade teacher. This was as she transitioned from her role as a district technology
coach. Paula took on her new role with an open mind as she volunteered to be a member of the
grade 4 ELA district mapping team. Paula served as the ELA liaison for her grade level
colleagues and took on this responsibility with great ease and fidelity. She would share the
information with her grade level colleagues as well as the grade 3 and grade 5 ELA mapping
team members. Paula expressed the importance for her instructional purposes to have a solid
understanding of what students entering the fourth grade were expected to have mastered as
well as what was expected for her students as they transitioned from the fourth grade into the
fifth grade. In addition to her role on the ELA mapping team, Paula is a very talented teacher.
She has a calm, positive demeanor and always supports the social-emotional needs of the
students in her classroom. She has participated in the school’s target team and worked closely
with mental health staff to address unique individual emotional needs of the students in her
classroom.
Throughout the 2019 – 2020 school year, Paula served as a technology resource for the entire
school staff. She was always willing to support everyone with questions regarding google
classroom, google forms, Kahoot, and creating online tools to support student learning. Paula
also served as a resource and support for whole school assemblies and professional
development days. She took on the responsibility of setting up projectors and amplification
systems for assemblies and professional development opportunities.
As the district and state transitioned to Distance Learning, Paula served as a primary resource
for both the school and district in which she implemented and shared her wealth of knowledge
with technology, resources, and the Google platform. Without being asked, Paula offered and
recorded “how-to” videos and shared them with the district staff. She continues to do this as we
enter our seventh week of distance learning. On Sunday, April 26, she posted an email
providing guidance for using a whiteboard for Google Meets along with a tutorial on Kami
extension with Google Classroom. Paula has served a resource for me as I continue to learn
and navigate the virtual world in order to support the students and staff of Cumberland Hill.
Paula has used much of her personal time answering staff emails, texts, and chats as she
became the “go-to” staff member for many individuals. She is always responsive whether it be
nights or weekends, or as she is juggling motherhood with a toddler.
When I shared that I was nominating Paula MacMillin as the 2020 District Teacher of the Year
with other members of the school staff, there was a unanimous Yes!! Members of the staff
shared how supportive Paula has been prior to and throughout the distance learning
experience. They cited her willingness to call or hold a virtual meeting to assist in step by step
processes for various technology resources. In my opinion Paula MacMillin is the perfect
candidate for the Cumberland School District Teacher of the Year given her ongoing support of
all members of the school district throughout the Distance Learning Experience.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra Malcolm
Principal, JJM Cumberland Hill Elementary