Boothbay Region Elementary and High schools’ new gifted and talented teacher Kristen Hanley has always lived in Maine. She grew up in the Oakland-Waterville area. Now living in Brunswick, Hanley, 42, loves the scenic drive to Boothbay each weekday morning and being closer to the coast.

Hanley got her bachelor’s and master’s of arts in English composition and theory from University of Maine in Orono. While getting her master’s, she had her first experience teaching college students as a teacher assistant. She began teaching fifth grade at Windham Elementary School 15 years ago. Upon having her two sons, Kyle, now a fifth grader, and James Foley, a sixth grader, she continued to teach early English composition courses part time at UMO. She’s also taught at Maine College of Health Professionals in Lewiston, which mainly schools nurses, and Kennebec Valley Community College.

Hanley described the value of her work in higher education. “It really helped me with my current position because having worked with college freshmen, they’re a lot like the high school seniors and juniors. Even though I’ve never taught at the high school level, it’s similar in a lot of ways.”

Hanley began working full time again when she moved to the middle school level. “I mainly taught sixth graders and they’re probably my favorite age group. I taught middle school language arts before I moved into gifted and talented teaching so I’ve kind of done a little bit of a lot of different things.” Prior to this school year, Hanley worked at Brunswick Middle School.

Hanley said it’s been an easy transition. “Everybody’s been super nice and the kids are just wonderful. They’re so resilient during this time of a crazy learning situation so it's just amazing to see so many happy, friendly faces every day.” She said her goal for September and October is to learn everybody’s names and faces, and where they’re located, by visiting classrooms.

Hanley recounted one experience in Chip Schwehm’s science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) class when high school students were using a laser cutter. “BRHS does a good job of representing STEM fields and offering unique opportunities to all students, both boys and girls. Another example, I talked with a group of boys problem solving how to build a competitive robot in Chris Liberti’s advanced robotic class and was just so fascinated by how their minds were strategizing plans.”

Hanley explained she took the job because she wanted to solely focus on gifted and talented students. What she finds most compelling about them is their curiosity, “The interesting conversations and discussions that I have with students are incredible. Being able to have them every day is a dream.”

Hanley wants to support the gifted and talented community by collaborating with teachers on engaging activities. She also wants reach out to professionals in the community who can speak to kids about their line of work, and adapt individual learning plans for students who need more rigor. “The gifted and talented community is limited by state law. Maine says that no more than 5% of students can be labeled as gifted and talented but in a school system like Boothbay, we definitely have more than 5% of our students who are what we call advanced learners.” To combat this issue, Hanley said that instead of pulling out a student or group of students into a secluded space, visiting classrooms and offering gifted students support along with their peers creates a more inclusive system. 

Outside work, Hanley likes to go cycling, both mountain biking and road cycling, with her kids. In the winter, she enjoys snowshoeing and skiing. “Really anything that involves being outside, you know; we’re Mainers and we’ve learned how to adapt to the weather and put on some decent clothing and just go for it.” Hanley reads in her spare time, especially since the pandemic. Her favorite genre is dystopian fiction, as many great series for youths are written under that category. “I’m always reading a book that a middle schooler recommends so I know what they like. Those are the types of books I read throughout the school year and then I read adult books in the summer.”

Hanley has two cats and hopes to get a dog.