NewSchools Venture Fund Reinvests to Diversify PPS Staff

We are thrilled to announce that NewSchools Venture Fund (NSVF) is reinvesting in the Elevating Educators Program for a second year. Elevating Educators, led by Julia Hazel, is designed to provide a range of supports and opportunities to increase the number of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and multilingual teaching staff in the district. … Read more

Apply for a PPS Food Fund Grant!

The Portland Public Schools Food Fund is Requesting Proposals. Hosted by the Foundation for Portland Public Schools and made possible with donations from the community, the fund builds food security for Portland Public Schools (PPS) students with investments determined by Food Fuels Learning (FFL). It is intended to support comprehensive food access for families most … Read more

PPS unveils mobile makerspace to help kids explore STEM

Portland Public Schools unveiled its new “mobile makerspace” Wednesday. The ribbon cutting ceremony took place outside Rowe Elementary School. WMTW Channel 13 covered the story. Watch the video here. According to the district, the mobile lab will travel between schools, allowing students to explore, create and solve problems in the STEM fields. Every elementary school … Read more

Generac Provides Support to Introduce Portland’s Youngest Students to Coding

The Foundation for Portland Public Schools (FPPS) has just received a contribution from Generac Power Systems to help expand STEM programming in the Portland Public Schools. The funding will be used to purchase sets of Bee-Bots for each of the 10 elementary schools in the district. Bee-Bots are an interactive learning tool to introduce PreK-2nd … Read more

Fall Equity and Innovation Teacher Grant Cycle opens August 31

We are happy to announce that on August 31, Fall Teacher Grant applications become available! The FPPS Fall Equity and Innovation Grants Program is designed to support teacher-led classroom innovations which enhance learning experiences for students in Portland Public Schools in response to the Portland Promise. Grants are available up to $1,000. The program recognizes, … Read more

Portland Superintendent Wins Outstanding Leadership Award

Portland Public Schools Superintendent Xavier Botana has won an Outstanding Leadership Award for 2021 and 2022 from the Maine School Superintendents Association (MSSA). The award recognizes superintendents for leadership, the implementation of exemplary educational programs; and service to the profession of education. Botana was recognized June 27 at an awards ceremony at the 109th Annual … Read more

$30,000 Action Award from NoVo Foundation for Social-Emotional Learning

The Foundation for Portland Public Schools (FPPS) has just received a $30,000 Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in Action Award from the NoVo Foundation. This grant will support professional development and collaborative work between Portland Public Schools social studies teachers and clinical and behavior support staff to incorporate SEL practices into curriculum. Social and emotional … Read more

Luzia Vumpa is the PHS Step Up Award Scholarship Winner!

The Step Up Award Provides Financial Assistance to Portland High School Multilingual Student in the Make It Happen! Program Luzia Vumpa is the 2022 recipient of the Portland High School Step Up Award, now in its 5th year. The Step Up Award provides funding for students in the Make It Happen! program who would otherwise … Read more