Responses were collected from nearly 500 Portland residents – including parents, teachers, staff, administrators, School Committee members, NAACP members - on the characteristics that they seek in a new Superintendent; the following illustrate the main themes:

Community Relations

• Able to communicate a solid vision for the future of Portland

• Proactive when reporting to and communicating with parents and the press
• Keeps a reasonable open door policy
• Embodies energy and liveliness while maintaining a strong educational philosophy

Experience

• A high preference for a candidate with classroom teaching experience.
• Familiarity with best practices and superintendent experience or service in a district with similar demographics and multiple schools
• Comfortable and competent dealing with issues of diversity. Preferably bilingual with past foreign travel experience
• Attentive to and/or experienced in any of the following issues (by order of importance): Arts Education, SPED, Vocational Education, Alternative education models (EL and others), “Eco-conscious” teaching, Gifted and Talented programs

Business Skills

• Experience with school budgets and strong education background
• Strong technical expertise along with management and accounting experience
• A significant number of people reported that they want a candidate who is NOT a ‘micro manager’
• A few stated that the Superintendent should ‘act like a CEO’ for the district

Background

• Overwhelming support for a candidate who is familiar with the city

-Discrepancy: Responses ranged from ‘ME resident’ to someone familiar with or involved in the political system and/or education system in Portland to ‘someone who understands and respects local neighborhoods’. Also, a few responses demonstrated that residents specifically want someone who understands how the city works but that is not involved in the current system/administration

• Someone with school-aged children or someone who can empathize with issues faced by parents

Search priorities reported by the ESL population

• Willing to advocate for the refugee and immigrant population

• Promotes security in schools
• Experience in the education field

Respondents also took this opportunity to raise the following issues:

• The Superintendent should be willing to advocate for ‘traditional’ education (i.e. manners, penmanship, discipline)

• Central office needs adjustment – referred to as ‘too top heavy’ and having ‘too much pork’ among other things
• A superintendent should not be swayed by the School Committee especially on the issue of closing CBHS, which numerous people suggested in their reports
• A superintendent should have the courage to redistrict and be neutral to the collective bargaining agreement