Office Of The Superintendent
Dr. Ryan Scallon - Superintendent
The Superintendent serves as the executive officer of the Portland Public Schools and is directly responsible to the Portland Board of Public Education.
The superintendent leads, guides, and directs the administrative, instructional, and support services teams in setting and achieving the highest standards of excellence in educational programs and operating systems
He is responsible for a system of supervision and evaluation for all staff, and oversees and administers the use of all facilities, property, and funds in the best interests of students and the school system.
Growing up in Wisconsin, Dr. Ryan Scallon loved school. He had teachers who challenged and supported him. He completed projects that were interesting and connected to his passions. Ryan participated in extracurriculars and sports, had a strong social network, and school was a place he looked forward to each morning. Ryan was introduced to teaching in his first year of college when he taught world economics to a class of 6th grade students in West Philadelphia. Beginning with this experience, Ryan saw first hand that not all students receive the same opportunities or school based experiences he had growing up and he has spent his career working to change that.
After graduating with a degree in business from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Ryan entered the teaching profession as a middle school math teacher while earning his teaching credentials at night. Teaching middle and high school math in Philadelphia followed by Milwaukee, Ryan built strong relationships with students and families and enjoyed the work but wanted to do more to support the opportunities offered to students across a school and district.
After completing the principal certification program at the University of Pennsylvania, Ryan was selected by New Leaders, a nationally recognized program for principal development, as one of 101 Resident Principals nationwide for a year-long residency designed to develop outstanding principals to lead high-achieving, urban schools.
Aaron Townsend - Deputy Superintendent
The Deputy Superintendent leads the District in planning, development, alignment, implementation, and evaluation of effective instructional programs that result in high achievement for all students. His responsibilities include leading District-wide work in curriculum, instruction, professional development, data and assessment including serving as the District’s point person on developing strategies for increasing and ensuring more equitable student achievement and supporting the development of a whole student approach to teaching and learning. The Deputy Superintendent engages with the Board of Education, school and District leaders and community partners regarding PPS work in the area of academics and school management. The Deputy Superintendent also manages academic related budget oversight and development, and supervisse the Executive Director of Elementary Schools, the Executive Director of Secondary Schools and the District’s Academic Team staff.
Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed - Executive Director of Secondary Schools
The Executive Director of Secondary Schools coaches, mentors, supervises and evaluates secondary building leaders, and collaborates with the Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, Principals, and other school system leaders to design and implement the programs and policies of the Portland Public Schools.
Dr. Ahmed began his teaching career in 2003 in the Portland Public Schools. He joined Deering in 2005 as a physical science teacher and became the first certified public school teacher of Arabic Language in Maine.
Dr. Angela Atkinson Duina - Executive Director of Elementary Schools
The Executive Director of Elementary Schools coaches, mentors, supervises and evaluates elementary building leaders, and collaborates with the Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, Principals, and other school system leaders to design and implement the programs and policies of the Portland Public Schools.
Angela returns to the Portland Public Schools from the University of Southern Maine, where she was assistant professor of educational leadership, while also coaching principals and leadership teams in a midcoast district.