Portland Public Schools Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk has completed
the goal he set in September of visiting every classroom in the
district.
"This was an unprecedented opportunity for us to see
firsthand the great work that our students, teachers, building
principals and other staff are doing every day,” Caulk said. “I am
honored to have been able to spend this time with our students and
staff.”
Starting in September, Superintendent Caulk and
Coordinator of Family and Community Engagement, Chanda Turner, began
visiting schools. Turner and Caulk visited one to two schools per week
through the course of the fall, culminating with six visits in the
middle of December, ending at Lyman Moore Middle School on Dec. 19.
Visits
included tours of classrooms, participating in class activities, and
the opportunity to talk with students, parents, teachers, staff,
administrators and volunteers in the buildings. Turner said she and
Caulk visited every classroom that was in session and open at the time
of their visits.
Caulk and Turner visited Presumpscot Elementary
School on Dec. 18. Principal Cynthia Loring said that when they stopped
by teacher Kailen Phelan's first grade class, students were having snack
time. One little girl told Superintendent Caulk that she would like to
read the book "I Broke My Trunk" to him. Other students gathered round
as she read. "The first grade students were excited to share their
love of reading with Superintendent Caulk!" Loring said. "They loved
having Manny with us. He's a wonderful presence in our school."
Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk sits on the floor in a Presumpscot Elementary School classroom
as a student reads him and other students a story. Chanda Turner, Coordinator of Family and
Community Engagement for the Portland Public Schools, is behind Caulk.
Portland Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk and Lyman
Moore Middle School Principal Steve Rogers at the time
Caulk visited classrooms at the middle school on Dec. 19.