Senator Collins Meets with the 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins met with Julia Edwards, the 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year. Julia is a choral music teacher at Poland Regional High School and Bruce Whittier Middle School. She was previously named the 2025 Androscoggin County Teacher of the Year.

"Julia is an outstanding educator whose passion for music and commitment to her students have made a lasting and positive impact on the Poland community," said Senator Susan Collins. "Teachers like Julia inspire students to discover their talents and develop a lifelong love of learning, and I appreciated the opportunity to congratulate her on receiving this prestigious award and to thank her for her important work."

In addition to her teaching, Julia has served as President of the Maine American Choral Directors Association, coordinated district-wide professional development conferences, presented at state and national conferences, and served as a guest clinician for district and state music festivals. She also plays the oboe and English horn with the Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra and Casco Bay Wind Symphony. Julia earned her degree in music education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

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