Anita Stewart McCafferty

Dr. Anita Stewart McCafferty serves as Associate Professor and Co-Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and Adult & Higher Education within the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Southern Maine. With 18 years of K-12 administrative experience including roles as assistant principal and middle school principal, she integrates practical leadership insights into her academic work.

Her educational background includes:

• EdD in Teacher Leadership, Walden University
• MAT, University of Maine
• BS in Political Science, University of Maine

Dr. Stewart McCafferty's research examines assessment literacy, technology's impact on administrators' work-life balance, service learning, and professional development effectiveness. She developed Maine's statewide Mentoring Teachers program and assessment modules for STEM educators through collaboration with UMaine Orono's research center, emphasizing practical applications for K-12 settings.

Her 2017-2018 publications reveal consistent focus on bridging theory and practice: assessment literacy frameworks, innovative professional development strategies, middle-level pedagogy, and technology challenges for school leaders. These works demonstrate applied scholarship directly addressing educators' daily challenges across Maine's school systems.

Scientific awards: None documented in source materials.

She leads significant state-funded initiatives including the Maine Department of Education's Mentoring Teachers program and teacher evaluation guidance documents. As former Co-Director of the Southern Maine Partnership (serving 30+ districts) and gubernatorial appointee to the Maine Commission for Community Service, she connects university resources with statewide educational needs through extensive committee work and partnership development.

Her collaborative networks include the Southern Maine Partnership, Maine Center for Research in STEM Education (UMaine Orono), and Penobscot River Education Partnership, facilitating ongoing teacher training and leadership development across Maine's educational landscape.