The Portland Public Schools Board of Directors has launched their search for the district’s next superintendent. Selecting a new superintendent is one of the most important decisions a school board can make. The Portland Public Schools Board is committed to finding the right leader for our diverse community of amazing students, staff, families, and community.

Because hiring the right next leader for our district is a critical decision, the Board is prioritizing community engagement to inform the search. The Board has selected Human Capital Enterprises to facilitate a comprehensive recruitment and selection process with the goal of having the next superintendent begin work July 1, 2024.

The search process will proceed in the following sequence:

1. Planning (Completed): Selecting a search firm, finalizing a search timeline, and acting on a recommended search process with regular updates to the community.
2. Constituent Engagement (March 7th - 22nd): This phase is centered on engagement with students, staff, families, and community members. The Board will conduct an online survey and hold more than 50 focus groups. The Board will then utilize the feedback to develop the criteria for recruiting and selecting our next superintendent.
3. Recruiting (March 15th - April 19th): Human Capital Enterprises will advertise and recruit nationally for candidates that match the approved Next Superintendent Qualifications and Criteria.
4. Selection (April 24th - June 1st): This phase may include activities with students, staff, families, and community members; interviews with the Board; and a comprehensive background check.
5. Transition: We look forward to introducing the new superintendent to all areas of our school community. Although the new superintendent will not officially begin until July 1, 2024, we envision on-boarding activities to begin shortly after selection, including community-wide “meet-and-greet” opportunities.

In the coming days you can expect to receive a link to the Superintendent Search Survey. During this phase we need to hear from you. We want to know what you have valued about your time with Portland Public Schools, what challenges a new superintendent will face, and the qualities you want to see in our next leader. We hope that you will take the time to complete the survey and share it with your friends, families, and neighbors.

We have established a dedicated page on our website where we have been posting regular progress updates, frequently asked questions, and a timeline of our process. If you have questions about the process, we welcome you to connect with us at [email protected].