Casco Bay High School Principal Derek Pierce has won the Nellie Mae Education Foundation’s 3rd Annual Larry O’Toole Award.
He’ll receive a $100,000 grant for his school, which will be used to
further student learning. The win marks the first time a Maine principal
or school organization has won the award, for which there is one
nominee from each New England state.
“It was a great honor to be
nominated alongside transformational New England educators, students and
organizations. Over the last three weeks, the depth and breadth of the
passion shown by our students, staff, parents, alumni and community
partners has been awesome,” Pierce said. “I am also tremendously
grateful for all of the support our school has received from Portland
and Maine and the entire country. It is a great tribute to the excellent
work our students and staff have done in our first decade.” Portland
Public Schools' Casco Bay High School (CBHS) was founded in 2005.
The
winner was selected by online popular vote. Pierce was the top vote
getter with more than 6,000 votes, about twice as many as the second
highest vote getter received. Voting opened Sept. 9 and closed at noon
EST on Sept. 30.
The Larry O’Toole Award is bestowed each year on
a school leader or organization exhibiting great leadership through
innovation in moving student-centered learning approaches forward in New
England.
It is given by the Nellie Mae Education Foundation
(NMEF), a private foundation focused on school transformation in New
England. NMEF is an advocate for student-centered learning approaches –
learning that is personalized, engaging, competency-based and happens
anytime and anywhere.
Pierce said, “Thank you, Nellie Mae
Foundation, for focusing so much attention on student-centered learning
and for recognizing Casco Bay's contribution to this important work. We
promise to use these funds to advance student-centered learning for our
students and for the region.”
Pierce said CBHS is in the midst of
a three-year expansion from 280 to 400 students. “Winning this award
would allow us to narrow the gap between our vision for student-centered
learning and our daily practice,” he said.
Specifically:
- $50,000 will be allocated to scholarships that ensure that all CBHS
students, regardless of family income, can take part in annual learning
expeditions
- $25,000 will be dedicated to supplies and
equipment for a nascent “Maker Lab” so CBHS students would have more
opportunity to explore, design, invent, experiment and create
- $15,000 will be reserved for micro-grants to students for projects that address local needs
- $10,000 will be used for hosting visiting educators and for leading student-centered learning workshops
“Derek
Pierce is an inspirational leader who exemplifies the students-first
approach we value here in Portland,” said Portland Public Schools
Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk. “Mr. Pierce is an excellent
representative of the great schools and leadership we have here in
Portland.”
Portland Mayor Michael Brennan added, “Congratulations
to Casco Bay High School's Derek Pierce for becoming the first Maine
principal to win this leadership award. It underscores Maine's position
as a great state with great public education."