When Julie Browne graduated from University of Southern Maine in 2012, it didn’t take her long to find a job. A couple days after her May graduation, she was hired to fill a one-year vacancy at Edgecomb Eddy School. But the one-year job turned into a stay of nine years. Browne began her career teaching literacy and science for grades 4-6. She later taught math and science for grades 4-6 there.

“I love teaching,” she said. “It’s great seeing them get excited about learning something new.”

Browne began thinking about becoming a teacher as a fourth grader at Boothbay Region Elementary School. At USM, her elementary education courses put her in the classroom in her freshman year. “I’ve always been interested in a lot of things and that’s probably why I wanted to become a teacher and that first year of college being in the classroom was great,” Browne said.

During college, Browne assisted teachers at Southport Central School in the classrooms and on field trips. She has always been fond of the “small island school” and so when a job opened last year, she applied.  “I’ve always liked the school, and I’m very familiar with it. My mother works there and my first principal, Lisa Clarke, is the principal there now,” Browne said. 

As a SCS educator, Browne is teaching all subjects to a class of 4-6 graders. “It’s challenging meeting the needs of all the individuals in a classroom. Thankfully, I have the help of an (educational technician),” she said.