Portland Public Schools will hire Dr. Ryan Scallon, from the Philadelphia school district, to be the district’s new superintendent.
The School Board is expected to vote on Scallon’s appointment at its upcoming meeting on Tuesday, June 6, according to a press release from the district.
Scallon, who holds a doctorate in education from Temple University, was previously working as an assistant superintendent in the Philadelphia School District. The decision came down to two candidates from a nationwide pool of 47. Eric Moore, an assistant superintendent from the Minneapolis School District, was the other finalist.
Board Chair Sarah Lentz said the decision wasn’t an easy one after the “rigorous” hiring process.
“[Scallon] brings with him deep experience recruiting and retaining racially diverse staff and implementing equitable policies,” she said. “We believe his leadership will continue to unify our district and move it forward.”
Scallon’s four-year contract begins July 1 and his salary will be $200,000. He said that he and his family are “excited to join a district that has a vision for academic excellence for all students. As a former principal and teacher, I know that the school is the unit of change in a district. I look forward to partnering with the Board, staff, teachers, students and families to achieve this vision together.”
Scallon has worked as a teacher, principal and assistant superintendent in schools and central offices in Philadelphia and Boston and raised academic achievement, as measured by the New York State Regents’ Exams, during his time leading an expeditionary learning high school in the South Bronx.
Aaron Townsend, who is currently sitting in as one of the co-interim superintendents, will stay on as deputy superintendent when a restructuring of the district’s leadership takes place at the end of the school year. This includes the addition of Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed, who has been serving as interim assistant superintendent. He will start in a new position as executive director of secondary schools. Prior to the interim role, Ahmed was co-principal of Deering High School.
Melea Nalli, the other acting interim superintendent, announced in May that she has decided to step down from her position after serving the PPS community for seven years.
