Contact Instructional Support

Contact:  Shar Mahoney, Director of Instructional Support

Christine Sirois, Administrative Assistant to the Director of Instructional Support

Address: 101 McCartney Street, Yarmouth, ME 04096

Phone: 207-846-5586

Fax: 207-846-2339

The Yarmouth School Department receives Title 1 funds. Under the Act, parents of children attending the Yarmouth School Department may request the professional qualifications of their child’s teachers. Parents may request information related to state certification, highly qualified status, emergency certification, and degrees as well as information about the qualifications of paraprofessionals. This information is available by contacting Jill Pettengill by telephone at 846-5586, or by email, jill_pettengill@yarmouthschools.org.

Shar Mahoney joined the Yarmouth Schools in 2024 as the Director of Instructional Support. Prior to joining Yarmouth, Shar spent her 20-year career in Maine public schools serving as a special education teacher, case manager, and assistant director of student support services. Shar holds a degree in Psychology from St. Joseph’s College and a master's degree in Special Education from the University of Southern Maine. She has completed additional coursework in Educational Leadership at St. Joseph’s College and Southern New Hampshire University.

Instructional Support encompasses a range of services that support students in accessing the general education curriculum. These supports include Response to Intervention, including a screening process for all students that identifies those who are not meeting expectations so that appropriate interventions can be delivered; Title I services which are embedded within the RTI process; 504 Plans, which include classroom and testing accommodations; ESL (English as a Second Language) services for students whose first language is not English; Talents programming to address the academic and emotional needs of gifted students; Special Education services for students identified with a disability and the need for specially designed instruction; Guidance services; and Nursing services. 

Support for Student Learning

Creating Supportive Environments When Scary Things Happen: Guidance about things you can do to help your family navigate challenges.

Talking to Children When Scary Things Happen: Guidance to help you talk with children and youth after something scary or violent happens. 

Talking to Teens When Violence Happens: Guidance for adults to help them talk with teens. 

GriefTalk: Talking to a Child or Teen to Let Them Know Someone Has Died: Guide for parents/caregivers from the National Alliance for Grieving Children

Supporting Youth in Grief After a Suicide or Traumatic Loss: Opening Up the Conversation: Guide for parents/caregivers from the Maine Suicide Prevention Program

How to Explain Death to a Child, A Step-by-Step Guide: It may not be the easiest topic to discuss with young kids, but experts suggest this step-by-step advice for laying the groundwork now.

10 Tips for Helping Children Cope with Disaster: After a disaster, parents, teachers and caregivers look for advice on how to help children manage stress. These 10 tips from Save the Children’s emergency response experts can ensure that children get the support they need – well after the disaster is over.

Collection of Resources for Supporting Maine Schools During and After Crisis: Resources from Maine PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention System)

The Center for Grieving Children – Portland, ME: The Center for Grieving Children's mission is to provide loving support to grieving children, teens, families and the community through peer support, outreach and education. 

Dougy Center (formerly The National Grief Center for Children & Families): Dougy Center provides support in a safe place where children, teens, young adults, and families who are grieving can share their experiences before and after a death. We provide support and training locally, nationally, and internationally to individuals and organizations seeking to assist children in grief.

National Alliance for Children's Grief: The NACG raises awareness about the needs of children who are grieving and provides resources for anyone who supports them.

NAMI Maine (National Alliance on Mental Illness): Through support, education, and advocacy NAMI Maine is dedicated to building better lives for the 1 in 4 Mainers affected by mental illness. 

 National Child Traumatic Stress Network offers Talking to Children about the Shooting (nctsn.org). 

 Helping Children Cope With Tragedy Related Anxiety | Mental Health America (mhanational.org): Resources for educators and parents to support children of different age levels manage feelings of anxiety and helplessness following a tragedy.

US Department of Health and Human Services Tips for Talking to Children and Youth After Traumatic Events:  https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/tips-talking-to-children-after-traumatic-event.pdf