Senator Collins Meets with Maine Teachers of the Year from Gorham and Portland Schools

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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Education Committee, met with Heather Whitaker and Cindy Soule, the 2020 and 2021 Maine Teachers of the Year.

“Heather Whitaker and Cindy Soule are incredible Maine teachers who have inspired so many Maine students,” said Senator Susan Collins.  “It was such a pleasure to meet with them in Washington and congratulate them on receiving the prestigious Maine Teacher of the Year Awards for 2020 and 2021.”

Senator Collins has visited more than 200 schools throughout Maine during her Senate service and has long led efforts to honor our nation’s public schools and improve our education system.

Cindy Soule was named Maine’s 2021 Teacher of the Year by the Maine Department of Education. She has taught fourth grade at the Gerald Talbot School in Portland for 20 years, instructing a large number of English language learner students.  She also partners with community organizations to teach the fundamentals of STEM and serves as a representative on the Portland Schools Literacy Committee. 

Heather Whitaker was named Maine’s 2020 Teacher of the Year by the Maine Department of Education. She has taught alternative education to students with special needs at Gorham Middle School for the past 18 years.  During this time, she started her school’s garden, which donates over 800 pounds of produce for the local food pantry each year.  She also was a founding member of the Gorham BackPack Program, which provides students in her community experiencing chronic hunger with food over the weekend. 

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