Portland Public Schools

Dear families, students, and colleagues,

It has been a joy to visit learning spaces over the past four months and see our students reengaged in their classroom learning and school activities. I am pleased to observe our students interacting with peers and diving into new curriculum materials. 

This has been a very productive time for Portland Public Schools. My appreciation to all the dedicated Team PPS members who work everyday to make our school system better and stronger.

I am also grateful that our community remains centered on the needs of our students. You have invested in our students. They are benefitting from having access to new instructional materials, new technology, added student support services and, increasingly, more modernized schools. Our objective remains supporting every student’s academic progress and social emotional well-being. Given recent events, we have also had to think about, and continue taking, proactive measures to better protect the physical safety of our school communities. 

And now the winter break is upon us, and so my hope is that everyone will use this time to recharge, reconnect with family and friends, and spend time doing the things you enjoy most. These periodic breaks from typical school routines also help our students’ healthy growth and development, by making time for family and other social supports.

Personally, I look forward to reconnecting with extended family and my own children, now all grown-up. Our time together tends to revolve around cooking, pulling-out old photo albums, and recounting family stories.

I hope this time will also be restorative for each of you, and I look forward to resuming our important work in the new year.

Wishing you and your family a warm, safe, and happy holiday season. 

Sincerely,

Guadalupe Guerrero

Superintendent