Senator Collins Meets with Executive Director of Maine Principals Association

Click HERE for a high-resolution photo of Senator Collins and Holly Couturier, Executive Director of MPA

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins recently met with Holly Couturier, the Executive Director of the Maine Principals Association (MPA), to discuss issues facing school leaders in Maine.  Holly previously served as principal of Washburn Elementary School in Auburn.

“It was a pleasure to meet with Holly and discuss ways we can work together to address the teacher and principal shortage that is affecting rural areas of Maine, which impedes our students’ ability to reach their full potential,” said Senator Collins.  “I look forward to our continued work together to ensure that teachers and principals in Maine have the resources and tools they need to prepare our students for the future.”

Senator Collins, a member of the Senate Education Committee, has been working to address the teacher shortage in rural areas of Maine and throughout the country.  In March, she introduced the Preparing and Retaining Education Professionals (PREP) Act with Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), legislation to increase access to high-quality teacher and leader training programs and extend federal support for educator recruitment.  The MPA has endorsed this legislation. This year, Senators Collins and Tina Smith (D-MN) are the lead sponsors of the Senate resolution designating October 2019 as National Principals Month.  

The Maine Principals' Association is a private, educational, nonprofit corporation with voluntary membership that provides a network of resources for all school community members.