The Portland Public Schools will host a Student Summit for high school students on March 25 at the University of Southern Maine. This summit is an opportunity to empower students to share their voices—to express what they want their educational experience to be like and how we can improve. Their insights will directly inform school goals for the 2025-2026 school year. 

Please see the letter below from Pamela Otunnu Thomsen, PPS Director of Secondary Innovation and Outcomes, for more details:

March 6, 2025

Portland Public Schools to Host Student Summit on March 25

Dear Portland Public Schools Community,

We are thrilled to announce that the Portland Public Schools will host a Student Summit for high school students on March 25, 2025, from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM at the McGoldrick Center at the University of Southern Maine.

This summit is an opportunity to empower students to share their voices—to express what they want their educational experience to be like and how we can improve. Their insights will directly inform school goals for the 2025-2026 school year.

As part of the district’s new five-year Strategic Plan, we are engaging the whole PPS community in envisioning a High School for the Future that will strengthen academics and career and technical education preparation. The Student Summit is a part of that work.

Our conversations at the Student Summit will focus on four pillars of our Portrait of a School Community:

●      Building Community

●      Challenging and Meaningful Curriculum

●      Instruction that Supports Each Student

●      Support for Each Student’s Future Plan

A diverse group of about 100 students from all three high schools has been invited to participate, with students themselves facilitating discussions among their peers. Adults will be present to listen and take notes, ensuring that student perspectives are at the heart of our planning.

We are deeply grateful to the educators at each high school who are working hard to prepare for this event. Additionally, the district is receiving support from The Learning Agenda, with funding from the Barr Foundation, to help make this summit successful.

Stay tuned—we look forward to sharing the outcomes of this important event in April!

Thank you for your support,

Pamela Otunnu Thomsen

Director of Secondary Innovation and Outcomes

Portland Public Schools