WATERVILLE, MAINE, October 2025 — Thomas College student Chelsey Cote was recently recognized as a Promising Middle Level Educator presented by the Maine Association for Middle Level Education (MAMLE). The award was presented earlier this month at MAMLE’s annual conference held at Thomas College.
Cote, of Old Town, Maine, will graduate this spring with a degree in Middle School Education.
“It feels incredibly rewarding to be recognized as a Promising Middle Level Educator. I have always been deeply passionate about teaching, so receiving this award solidifies that I am on the right path. I’m super grateful for my mentors, including Dr. Rybakova who has helped shape me into the educator I am becoming, and this recognition motivates me to continue growing and learning to better help my future students,” said Cote.
“Chesley is one of those special preservice teachers who just has the x factor– the ability to truly ‘get’ what it means to be a compassionate, thoughtful, and reflective teacher. She is well deserving of this award. Everyone who she has worked with her in the field notices her exceptional presence around students and in the classroom, and I know she’s going to make a huge difference at the middle level as an educator,” said Lunder School of Education Chair Dr. Katie Rybakova.
Cote said she was inspired to become an educator because of her love of teaching others and her incredible experience growing up with educators in the RSU34 school district, including Michael May, Christina Turner, Shianne Priest, and Jay-Meigs McDonald.
“Something I am proud of is how I’ve come out of my shell in my four years at Thomas College. If you had told me my freshman year that I was going to have gone to a national level conference, been participating in the MAMLE conference all four years, as well as receiving this award, I would have laughed. My ability to feel so comfortable so fast, while also being able to prioritize my future career has allowed me to feel proud beyond words,” said Cote. “I’ve always been a firm believer in middle level being the hardest time for students throughout their K-12 education. They are going through the most social, emotional, physical, and developmental changes that they are going to have to endure in their lives. So being able to be recognized for showing how passionate I am for supporting students through this is amazing to me.”
Thomas College’s Lunder School of Education offers teacher preparation programs ranging from early childhood to secondary education and recently launched a new residency model program called the Thomas Teaching Cooperative to help make college more affordable and help Maine’s teaching shortage.
About Thomas College
Thomas College, located in beautiful Waterville, Maine, is defining what it means to be the College of the Future. With a strong commitment to innovation, career readiness, and community partnerships, Thomas College is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of Maine’s top colleges for social mobility. Our distinctive Guaranteed Job Program™, accelerated undergraduate degrees, and flexible graduate programs empower students to advance faster in business, entrepreneurship, education, technology, applied STEM, and arts & science fields. At Thomas, belonging isn’t a buzzword; it’s a promise. We create a supportive, welcoming environment where every student is seen, valued, and prepared to thrive in a rapidly changing world.For more information visit thomas.edu or contact MacKenzie Riley Young at [email protected] or 207-859-1313. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and TikTok.