Molly Brewer, a Wiscasset native who is in her second year of teaching Spanish at Medomak Middle School (MMS) in Waldoboro, will be presented with a Promising Practitioner award at the New England League of Middle Schools' 33rd annual conference in Providence, R.I. on March 30.
Brewer, who was nominated for the award by a colleague, started the Spanish curriculum at MMS last year. She also coaches soccer and eighth grade girls basketball at the school. She is a graduate of Keene State College in Keene, N.H.
"Winning the award is an extraordinary honor," Brewer said. "To be selected out of several nominees across New England is something that I would have never expected."
Brewer created and, with the help of a colleague, runs a group at MMS called SPARK (Students Promoting Acts of Random Kindness). The purpose of this group is to promote a positive school environment.
According to a press release on the announcement, "The purpose of this recognition is to honor excellent teachers who are beginning their teaching careers and who are effective middle level educators that provide powerful learning for their young adolescent students." The specific selection criteria include:

• Enjoys teaching middle level students
• Makes a positive difference in the school
• Seeks professional development and ideas
• Fosters community connections
• Meets the needs of individual students using effective middle school level practices, such as: incorporating activity-based learning; developing a sense of student ownership in their learning; integrating higher order thinking; fostering curriculum connections; and using a variety of assessment tools.