Cindy Soule credits her success as a teacher to her “unwavering belief that all her students can learn and succeed,” regardless of their background or level of knowledge.
“I am incredibly driven, a lifelong learner and am incredibly curious,” Soule, who has taught at Gerald E. Talbot Community School in Portland for 21 years, said in an interview Wednesday evening.
Cindy Soule, a teacher at the Gerald E. Talbot Community School, speaks shortly after receiving a plaque as Maine’s 2021 Teacher of the Year. She has now been honored with a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, an honor that includes a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer
Soule has a proven record of imparting those values on her students.
Already named the 2021 Maine Teacher of the Year, Soule was selected this month to receive a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, an honor that includes a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation.
Soule and Michele Flores, a Deer Isle-Stonington teacher, were the only science winners from Maine out of more than 100 nationally. President Biden, whose wife, Jill Biden, is a community college educator, recognized the winners on Feb. 8.
“The dedication these individuals and organizations have demonstrated to prepare students for careers in STEM (Science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields during what has been a difficult time for teachers, students, and families, plays a huge role in American innovation and competitiveness,” Biden said in a statement.
Soule was teaching fourth grade at the Talbot school when she was named Maine Teacher of the Year. She is now a content literacy coach at the grades pre-K through 5 school, integrating science learning with literacy.
A few years ago, she had students watch video footage of a road in Freeport collapsing, swept away by a surging stream driven by heavy rains.
Instead of teaching students how the incident happened, she had them collect and analyze rainfall data from the storm to create a visual model explaining what caused the road to collapse.
Cindy Soule says, “I am incredibly driven, a lifelong learner and am incredibly curious.” Photo courtesy Portland Public Schools
“I get really excited because what I’m doing will help recognize the value of science learning in elementary grades,” Soule said.
“We are so proud of Cindy and the work she is doing at Talbot,” Principal Ann Hanna said in a statement. “She is a dedicated educator who has a deep understanding of how to teach children literacy skills through engaging science topics. Our students are so excited to learn about the natural world around them as part of their reading and writing instruction.”
“Cindy Soule is an amazing teacher, who continues to make us proud,” said Superintendent Xavier Botana. “In addition to having won Maine’s top teaching award last fall, Cindy now has received this award recognizing her exceptional skills in inspiring both teachers and students to learn about, and love science.”
Soule, 50, who lives in Cumberland, credits her former sixth-grade science teacher, Gordon Corbett, with inspiring her. Soule grew up in Yarmouth and graduated from Yarmouth High School in 1990.
Corbett challenged her to believe in herself, she said.
“Being selected for the Presidential Award is a source of immense pride,” Soule said. “My sixth-grade science teacher, Mr. Corbett, saw beyond my shy exterior and challenged me in ways that taught me to believe in myself, ask questions, find answers and dream big. Reflecting on this award prompted me to realize that Mr. C’s legacy lives on through me.”
Corbett died in December 2020 at the age of 79. He was named Maine’s 1980 Teacher of the Year.
Soule holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Maine and a master’s degree in special education from the University of Southern Maine.
She and other science teachers will be invited to an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.
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