Dr. Grace Valenzuela, executive director of communications and community partnerships for the Portland Public Schools, was honored on International Women’s Day, March 8, for her exceptional contributions to the community.

Dr. Valenzuela, a long-time advocate for education and social justice for multilingual students and families, received an Accelerating Action Award at an International Women's Day Fashion Show and Gala held by Women United Around the World (WUAW), a local nonprofit serving immigrant women new to Maine. This event celebrated the vibrant ethnic and cultural diversity of Maine’s women, recognizing their invaluable contributions to local, national, and international economies through business, public service, fashion, and the arts.

Dr. Valenzuela was one of four honorees at the event, held at the Italian Heritage Center.

In addition to Dr. Valenzuela, the three other women were Marcia Minter, co-founder of the Indigo Arts Alliance; Jennifer McAdoo, executive director of Furniture Friends; and Sue Roche, executive director of the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP).

WUAW said that these “outstanding female leaders and visionaries inspire us. From business pioneers to community advocates, these honorees are ‘Accelerating Action’ towards a more equitable future.”

In her acceptance speech, Dr. Valenzuela expressed her gratitude for the recognition but also gave credit to her “incredible team” at the Portland Public Schools. “I share this award with these dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to support our immigrant families and champion the success of multilingual students,” she said. “Their passion, commitment, and unwavering belief in the potential of every child – no matter where they come from, no matter the language they speak, or no matter the color of their skin – make a profound difference every single day. I am so grateful for their work and their heart.”

Born and raised in the Philippines, Dr. Grace Valenzuela is an education leader dedicated to equity, immigrant education, and multilingual learning. She holds a PhD in public policy with a concentration in educational leadership and policy from the University of Southern Maine, and has served in various roles within Portland Public Schools, focusing on English language acquisition, maintenance of heritage language, family engagement, and community partnerships. With a strong commitment to inclusive education, she has worked to expand opportunities for diverse student populations, particularly immigrant and refugee communities.

In 2007, she founded Make it Happen, a program that provides academic support to multilingual students, helping them to create competitive academic profiles for college admission and scholarships. In 2021, Make it Happen received national recognition as the Magna Ward recipient for equity by the National School Boards Association.

Dr. Valenzuela 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 state Seal of Biliteracy in 2019. 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.

Her fierce leadership and courageous advocacy for educational justice has been recognized locally and in the New England region. In 2021, Dr. Valenzuela was a recipient of the Gerda Haas Award for Excellence in Human Rights Education and Leadership from the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine. In November 2024, she received a Lifetime Recognition Award from the Northeast chapter of the Multistate Association for Bilingual Education.

“We were so excited to celebrate Dr. Valenzuela on March 8,” said Adele M. Ngoy, WUAW founder and president. “We wanted to recognize and thank her for strengthening and creating educational programs for Portland's immigrant youth and families and ensuring that these crucial resources are culturally appropriate and accessible in a dignified way."

Portland Public Schools Superintendent Ryan Scallon said, “We are Maine’s largest and most diverse school district – and one of our great strengths is our diversity. We are grateful to Grace for her unceasing work on behalf of our students and their families. Congratulations to her for this well-deserved recognition.”

The Portland Public Schools is Maine’s largest school district, with nearly 6,500 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 59 languages. Approximately 47 percent of the district’s students are white and 53 percent are students of color. More than half of all PPS students are economically disadvantaged.