Portland frequently makes national lists as one of the best places to live and work, but that’s not always true for everyone in our community. Opportunity gaps lead to some students struggling to succeed in school, hardworking families can’t afford housing and other basic necessities, and many of our fellow citizens suffer from preventable health […]
Superintendent’s Notebook
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Portland Superintendent’s Notebook: Prioritizing mental and behaviorial health for all
As August draws to a close, I’m hopeful that everyone got a chance to unwind this summer and is ready to start the new school year with a renewed sense of enthusiasm and purpose. At the same time, I’m also mindful that this year follows an incredibly difficult 2021-2022 school year. That’s why one of […]
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Posted inForecaster Opinion
Portland Superintendent’s Notebook: Ending the school year with gratitude
Portland Public Schools has just ended an incredibly challenging school year. On top of the everyday demands of running our schools, we had to cope with COVID surges and a labor shortage that stretched our capacity to run school buses and staff classrooms. Yet I am ending this year with a sense of gratitude – […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Brunswick Superintendent’s Notebook: Lifelong learning has many rewards
This time of year, I hear a common refrain around the halls of the schools: “School will soon be over, I don’t have to learn anything all summer” or “I’m graduating, I never have to go to class again.” I get it. Shedding the weight of rigid schedules, homework and tests has its appeal, and […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Portland Superintendent’s Notebook: Class of 2022 met challenges presented by COVID
High school graduation season is my favorite time of year. From their first day of preschool, our goal as educators is to ensure students succeed as learners. Seeing them graduate from high school is as gratifying to us as it is to them. I will be particularly proud to see the Portland Public Schools Class […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Brunswick Superintendent’s Notebook: Helping students navigate the war in Ukraine
As the war in Ukraine continues and the 24-hour media cycle brings an endless barrage of distressing information and shocking graphics to our students, their comprehension of the conditions and their fears weigh heavily on my mind. As much as we want to shelter and protect our children – especially those at a young age […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Portland Superintendent’s Notebook: Time to celebrate school employees
This time of year serves as a reminder that “It takes a village to educate a child.” That’s because April and May have many days and weeks designated to recognize and honor a wide variety of school employees. These employees’ jobs are very different, but what they all have in common is that each plays […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
RSU 5 Superintendent’s Notebook: COVID challenges far from over for students, teachers, parents
Maine reported its first COVID-19 case on March 12, 2020. This was followed in December 2021 with the omicron variant. Currently, the B2 variant is spreading throughout our schools. When the vaccines arrived in spring 2021, there was a sense of hope that the challenges of the virus would be over. Nothing is further from […]
Posted inThe Forecaster
Brunswick Superintendent’s Notebook: Time for Brunswick schools to plan ahead
For some, the words “strategic plan” represents a bureaucratic exercise with little practical application – a tome that ultimately collects dust. For others, strategic planning means a Herculean task, a ton of time and a committee no one wants to be on. In reality, strategic plans provide a framework and a road map that keep […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Portland Superintendent’s Notebook: Pandemic milestone is something to smile about
This week, almost two years to the day that we shut our doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, wearing a mask at Portland Public Schools became optional for our staff and students. This is a milestone moment for us, so I’d like to take this opportunity to highlight this and other changes in our health […]