Maine teacher who won $1M award resolves shoplifting charge

Edgecomb, Maine (AP) – A shoplifting charge against a Maine teacher who won the $1 million Global Teacher Prize will be dropped if she meets terms imposed by a court. The plea arrangement requires Nancie Atwell to stay out of trouble for two years, undergo a psychological evaluation and complete 100 hours of community service. The Portland Press Herald reports that the deferred disposition was formalized Monday, June 13. Atwell founded The Centre for Teaching and Learning in Edgecomb. She was selected from a pool of 1,300 applicants for the first Varkey Foundation award in 2015. In April, she was charged with shoplifting a $14.99 blouse. The charge will be dropped if she meets the court terms that include proving she’s donating the prize money. She has called the theft charge a misunderstanding.