Janet Fairman

Dr. Janet Fairman is an Associate Professor of Education and Co-director of the Maine Education Policy Research Institute (MEPRI) at the University of Maine's College of Education and Human Development. She holds a Ph.D. in Education Policy from Rutgers University (1999), an M.A. in Political Science/Public Policy (1992), and a B.A. in Political Science (1986) from the University of Chicago. Her research focuses on education policy evaluation, teacher leadership, STEM education innovation, and policy analysis for state decision-making. She has led studies on school district consolidation, Maine's laptop program for middle schools, and pandemic-era strategies for educators.

Her MEPRI publications address school funding, instructional materials, emergency teacher certification, and post-pandemic educational recovery. She co-developed the ASSISTments online math platform and evaluates initiatives to support women in STEM. She teaches courses like Educational Policy Formulation and Qualitative Research Methods.

Dr. Fairman advises the Maine legislature on education policy and collaborates with state schools through MEPRI. Her work emphasizes bridging policy, practice, and community partnerships to strengthen Maine's education system.