Maine Charter
School Commission
Maine Charter
School Commission
Maine Charter
School Commission
Commission Members
Thomas E. Keller
Commission Vice Chair
Seat Number:
1
|
Term Ending Date:
6/30/2028
Tom is a resident of Newcastle. He was a Senior Research Scientist at the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance in Augusta, Maine, as well as director of the Reach Center project on science out-of-school learning from 2011 until 2019. He has been the principal investigator on several National Science Foundation grants. Tom was a senior program officer with the National Research Council's (NRC) Board on Science Education where he co-directed development of A Framework for K-12 Science Education, which led to development of the Next Generation Science Standards. In 2007, while a program officer at the NRC, he led development of the award-winning Surrounded by Science: Learning Science in Informal Environments report. From 1986 to 2007, he held several positions in K-12 education in Maine, including being a high school science teacher, a district director of instruction and eighteen years as State Science Supervisor for the Maine Department of Education. During his time with the Department, he was a co-Principal Investigator on a project that created the Maine Math and Science Alliance. Tom served as president of the National Council of State Science Supervisors, was a founder and the first president of the Maine Curriculum Leaders Association and a founder and the first president of the Computer Science Teacher Association Maine chapter. Tom has an Ed.D. in science education from the University of Massachusetts and a B.S. in zoology from Texas A&M University. Tom lives in Newcastle with his partner, also a Maine science educator.
James E. Ford
Commission Member
Seat Number:
2
|
Term Ending Date:
6/30/2026
James is a resident of Brunswick. He is the Restorative Practices Coordinator for Lewiston Public Schools. James has taught in Brunswick, Auburn and Portland before joining Lewiston Public Schools in 2018. He's a former Board member of Breakwater School; Abyssinian Meeting House, which is the 3rd oldest African American meeting house in the United States; Curtis Memorial Library; Mid-Coast Hunger Prevention Program; and he once served on the vestry at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Mr. Ford holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York and earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Additionally, he earned a master's degree in special education from the University of Southern Maine in Portland. James is a former teacher and is skilled in Lesson Planning, Teaching English as a Second Language, Classroom Management, Volunteer Management, and Differentiated Instruction. James has lived in Maine for 40 years and is a Black male who can trace his lineage to the middle passage and an owner of land in Georgia where his ancestors were once slaves. He lives in Brunswick, Maine with his wife. He has two sons and nine grandchildren who keeps him smiling. James loves taking walks and having good conversations. Coffee/tea and a happy, mindful discussion.
Victoria J. Cohen
Commission Member
Seat Number:
3
|
Term Ending Date:
6/30/2027
Vicky is a resident of Farmington. Newly retired after teaching for 42 years, she has taught every level from preschool to graduate school, in urban, suburban and rural areas, in private and public schools, in New York, Pennsylvania, and Maine. Victoria has taught language arts, social studies, music, and Hebrew, but the bulk of her career has been devoted to teaching elementary math to children, and math education for both pre-service and in-service teachers. For the last 15 years Victoria has been the math coach and math interventionist at Mallett School in RSU 9. She has a BS from Vassar College (NY), a Master’s in Teacher Education from Bank Street College (NY), and a Doctorate in Math Education from the University of Exeter (UK). Victoria has served as secretary for both the Franklin County Democratic Committee and the Maine Democratic Party since 2017, was appointed to the State Board of Education by Governor Mills in June, 2025, and also serves as the Chair of Maine's Numeracy Advisory Council. Besides education and politics, Victoria enjoys singing in two local choirs, and going for long runs. Victoria and her husband have four children, one daughter-in-law, and two grandsons.
Brian Langley
Commission Member
Seat Number:
4
|
Term Ending Date:
6/30/2025
Brian is a resident of Ellsworth. He studied at the University of Southern Maine and Syracuse University. He is a chef, restaurant owner, educator and a former legislator. During his time in the Maine Senate, Langley served on the Marine Resources Committee and chaired the Education Committee where he was a strong supporter of Technical Education. His support of innovation led to the passage of legislation for "Innovative School Districts" and allowing charter schools to operate in Maine, a policy which he helped pass as law in 2011. Langley and his wife Jane have two grown children and three grandchildren.
James R. Handy
Commission Member
Seat Number:
5
|
Term Ending Date:
6/30/2024
Jim is a lifelong resident of Lewiston. He graduated cum laude from the University of Southern Maine with a degree in political science. He worked at L.L. Bean as a training developer/designer and trainer. Handy was the Manager of a National Science Foundation Grant for the rapid proto-typing lab at Central Maine Community College and also developed and delivered a variety of corporate training programs. He is currently a Special Education Educational Technician for Lewiston Public Schools serving grades K-1. He served 18 years as a member of the Lewiston School Committee with more than half as chair. During this time Handy served on the building committees that oversaw construction of three new elementary schools. Handy recently completed two terms in the Maine House of Representatives after having served 5 terms in the House and 1 term in the Maine Senate in the 1980s and 90s. Handy sponsored legislation that created the Jobs for Maine's Graduates program, and served as a charter member of the JMG Board of Directors. He has been an active member of his community, having served as the Chair of Healthy Androscoggin and a member of the Board of Directors of SeniorsPlus. He currently serves as an advisor to Literacy Volunteers - Androscoggin. His three adult children are all products of Lewiston Public Schools. He enjoys listening to all types of music, cooking and playing with his rescue Steve Alexander Hamilton, a Corgi/Australian Shepherd.
Jeremy Ray
Commission Member
Seat Number:
6
|
Term Ending Date:
6/30/2028
Jeremy Ray is an accomplished educational leader serving as Superintendent of the Biddeford, Dayton, and Saco School Departments. In 2023, he was recognized by the Maine School Superintendents Association as Maine's Superintendent of the Year for his commitment to innovation, student success, and educational equity. Known for his collaborative leadership style, strategic planning, and creative problem-solving, Jeremy has championed initiatives that expand student opportunities, strengthen academic programs, support mental health and wellness, and build strong partnerships with higher education and community organizations. He is also widely respected for mentoring fellow school leaders and advancing public education across Maine. Jeremy holds a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study from Saint Joseph's College of Maine, a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Maine, and a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education from the University of Maine.
Leigh Weisenburger Albert
Commission Chair
Seat Number:
7
|
Term Ending Date:
6/30/2025
As Vice President for Enrollment & Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at Bates College, Leigh Weisenburger leads and works closely with a team of nearly 30 colleagues to oversee strategic recruitment, enrollment, and the allocation of need-based financial aid for Bates students. In this role, Leigh co-chairs Bates’ Enrollment Planning and Strategy Committee, engaging an array of campus partners to ensure overall institutional enrollment priorities are met and sustained. Leigh began her work at Bates in 2004 as an assistant dean of admission, became dean in 2012 following a national search, and was later promoted to vice president in 2021. When Leigh is not on campus collaborating with students, faculty, and staff, she’s visiting high schools and college-access organizations globally to speak about the value of the liberal arts education, particularly as delivered by Bates. As a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, Leigh was on the faculty for the New England division’s Rising Leaders Colloquium. Outside of Bates, Leigh is deeply committed to her many communities. She serves as Treasurer on the YWCA of Central Maine’s Board of Directors, is a member of the Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute Corporate Leaders Network, is a member of the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital’s NICU Family Advisory Council, a member of the City of Lewiston’s Planning Board, and a gubernatorial appointee to the Maine Charter School Commission. Leigh earned her B.A. in American Studies from Smith College. Along with her husband, Austin, Leigh has two young children, Josephine and Lawrence. Together, as a family, they enjoy spending time outdoors and traveling.