Thanksgiving is a time to gather with family, lounge around the table, swap stories, eat abundantly and share laughter. Last year many families were occupied with pre-Thanksgiving concerns centered on social distancing and weighed the risks of spending time with family against contracting the coronavirus. Many families have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. A new […]
Superintendent’s Notebook
Posted inCoastal Journal, The Forecaster
Brunswick Superintendent’s Notebook: Reading – the ideal indoor fall activity
Last December, I wrote a column about getting outside and embracing Maine’s winters, but we all know that sometimes we just want to hunker down, cozy up and stay inside. So as autumn weather descends upon us, the sun sets earlier and the temperatures drop quicker, it’s a wonderful time to make reading the new […]
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Posted inForecaster Opinion
Portland Superintendent’s Notebook: Student reconnection a top concern in Portland schools
Eighteen months of remote and hybrid learning due to the pandemic has disconnected many of our students from school, their teachers and each other. That is why reconnecting our students is a key focus at the Portland Public Schools now that we have returned to full-time, in-person learning. We’ve made creating safe and equitable school […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Superintendent’s Notebook: Strengthening core instruction in Portland schools
School this fall has not been the “return to normal” we all envisioned last June. We continue to battle this pandemic and are currently focused on fine-tuning our health and safety protocols to protect our students and staff. At the same time, we are committed to realizing our goal of continuously working to improve the […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Superintendent’s Notebook: Making life easier in RSU 5
“With a Little Help From My Friends,” a song by John Lennon, emphasizes that life is made easier when we lean on one another. Never has this been more true than in the past year and a half, when many children and adults have felt the impact of the isolation created by COVID. Many of […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Superintendent’s Notebook: Homeostasis – destination or roadblock?
I don’t think any of us thought we’d be heading into the new school year like this … more uncertainty, continued adjustments and ever-changing policies. It’s a bit disheartening, especially after a hopeful spring and summer. A common refrain: “Can’t we just go back to the way things were?” A friend of mine once observed, […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Superintendent’s Notebook: Secretaries are the heart and soul of a school
A school’s office is the center of the school, the place that enables the rest of the school to function. It’s where students, staff and families go to get a multitude of needs and wants met. That’s why the people who run those offices – our school secretaries – are truly the heart of each […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Superintendent’s Notebook: Appreciating English Learner teachers
The first week of May was Teacher Appreciation Week. If you missed the chance to thank a teacher then, you’re not too late. It’s always an opportune time to express our gratitude to awesome educators who change the lives of students each day. I’m recognizing teachers this month as part of my ongoing series about […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Superintendent’s Notebook: Assistant principals are positive problem-solvers
Earlier this month, we celebrated National Assistant Principals Week, recognizing these essential school leaders at the Portland Public Schools. Many of us think of assistant principals as in charge of a school’s day-to-day operations, including being the “disciplinarian.” But today’s assistant principals are much more. Working in tandem with principals, they’re an integral part of […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Superintendent’s Notebook: Winter and the pandemic – hit ‘em head on
When I meet someone new to Maine, my advice is always the same: Embrace the winters! This winter, that mantra is all the more important since – thanks to the worldwide pandemic – some of us have already spent the spring and summer more isolated than usual. And as the effects of COVID cabin fever […]