The Portland Public Schools is pleased to welcome our new Director of Transportation Benjamin Lesavoy and new Director of Information Technology Ted Howe. Learn more about the skills and experience of these two key members of the PPS leadership team:

Benjamin Lesavoy, PPS Director of Transportation: Ben is joining the Portland Public Schools with an in-depth knowledge of the transportation and logistics industry. Ben holds a class A license with Hazmat, Tanker, and Double/Triple endorsements and began his career in transportation as a pickup and delivery driver with UPS Freight. He has a high focus on safety and was trained through the UPS integrad driver trainer program, from which he graduated first in his class. Ben was a trainer for UPS Freight and was part of the safety committee teaching drivers and management members on safe operating procedures.

Upon moving to Maine from Colorado four years ago, he was promoted to an inbound operations supervisor, managing dock and driver operations. For the last three years, he has been working as a transportation supervisor for Oakhurst Dairy, routing trucks all over New England and supervising a team of drivers at depots across Maine and New Hampshire. Ben is happy to be offered the opportunity to work with the Portland Public Schools and serve his community, using his degree in public administration to create an in-depth safety program and streamline operations for the district.

Ben moved to Maine from Colorado with his wife, two children, cuddly dog, and watch cat. In their off time, the family loves enjoying the Maine outdoors by skiing/snowboarding in the mountains and surfing at the beaches around southern Maine.

Ted Howe, PPS Director of Information Technology: Ted is joining the Portland Public Schools from ION Networking, where he served as the IT director for the towns of Cumberland, Yarmouth, and Standish. Ted served honorably in the U.S. Army from 2002-2010 as a satellite network controller. Ted has held a number of IT and telecommunications positions in the federal and municipal government space, as well as in the private sector for municipal and business software companies.

Ted studied computer science and applied mathematics at the University of Southern Maine. In his new role at the Portland Public Schools, Ted is excited to use his knowledge, skills, and experience to help improve upon the technological services and support needed by PPS students and staff.

Ted is an active member of his church, likes to play guitar and ukulele, and to spend time with his wife and children.