Portland Public Schools administrator Dr. Grace Valenzuela, who has devoted her long educational career to advocating for education and social justice for multilingual students and families, this month received a Lifetime Recognition Award from the Northeast chapter of the Multistate Association for Bilingual Education (MABE). Dr. Valenzuela, currently the district’s director of communications and community partnerships, was honored for her contributions to bilingual education/language immersion in Maine.

MABE, a nonprofit organization of educators promoting multilingualism and multiculturalism as assets that provide advantages for all learners, was formed five decades ago and held a 50th Birthday Celebration on Friday, Nov. 22, at the Mechanics Hall in  Worcester, Mass. The program included lifetime service awards to honor Dr. Valenzuela and other individuals who have been influential in bilingual education or language immersion.

“At our 50th Birthday Celebration, MABE is presenting 23 Lifetime Service Awards to educators around the region who have made significant contributions to Bilingual Education and to our organization over the years,” said Phyllis Hardy, MABE executive director. “Dr. Valenzuela was selected as one of our honorees because she has been a MABE presenter and volunteer since the 1980s, with extensive work as a community activist and advocate, and began the first dual language program in Portland. She also founded Make It Happen, a program providing Portland Public Schools’ multilingual students with pathways to academic success and college readiness. As a community activist who works with various community organizations and advocacy groups that represent the interest of multilingual families, she is an excellent example of MABE's work combining teaching and advocacy.”

Dr. Valenzuela, who holds a PhD in public policy with a concentration in educational leadership and policy from the University of Southern Maine, is originally from the Philippines. She has worked for the Portland Public Schools since the 1980s. PPS is Maine’s largest and most diverse school district. Approximately one-third of PPS students come from families who speak a home language other than English – a total of more than 50 languages.

Dr. Valenzuela began her career as an ELL teacher before becoming director of the district’s Multilingual and Multicultural Center. In that role, Dr. Valenzuela made sure that students and their families received the education and support they’re entitled to, assisting the district in implementing and complying with the federal guidelines mandated by the landmark Supreme Court case, Lau v. Nichols, known as the Lau Plan.

Dr. Valenzuela founded Make It Happen in 2007. Make It Happen is a program that provides academic support to multilingual students, helping them to create competitive academic profiles and access financial aid to attend college. In 2021, the Portland Public Schools became the grand prize winner in the National School Boards Association Magna Awards program for Make it Happen, with the association citing how the program demonstrates the district’s commitment to equity. It was the first time that a Maine school district has won such recognition.

She also spearheaded the launching of the PPS Seal of Biliteracy Award in 2018 – a year before the state of Maine followed suit and added the Seal of Biliteracy in 2019. Students who are proficient in English and one or more additional languages earn the Seal of Biliteracy by demonstrating their skills in an approved assessment. The award, which highlights the value of multilingualism, becomes part of a student's transcripts and can give them an edge in college and career.

Today Dr. Valenzuela uses her past experiences, education, and skills to lead the district’s Communications Team. One of her key priorities is ensuring that all PPS families have equitable equal access to district and school communications.

PPS Superintendent Dr. Ryan Scallon said, “Congratulations to Grace on this well-earned recognition! Equity is a central priority of our new Strategic Plan and Grace works tirelessly to not only ensure that all students achieve at a high level but that we also celebrate Portland Public Schools’ amazing diversity as an asset to our community.”

Dr. Valenzuela also was recognized in 2021 with the Gerda Haas Award for Excellence in Human Rights Education and Leadership from the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine for demonstrating excellence and initiative in human rights education and leadership.

The Portland Public Schools is Maine’s largest school district, with more than 6,600 students, and it’s also the most diverse. About one-third of the district’s students come from homes where languages other than English are spoken—a total of 53 languages. Approximately 48 percent of the district’s students are white and 52 percent are students of color. Nearly half of PPS students qualify for free or reduced-price school meals.