New Administrators for Pre-K, Finance, Special Services and Schools

The Portland Public Schools has hired its first director of its pre-kindergarten program; a new executive director of budget and finance; two assistant directors for student support services, one for elementary schools and one for secondary schools; new principals at Rowe and Presumpscot Elementary Schools; new assistant principals at Portland High School, King Middle School and Riverton Elementary School; and a new athletic director at Deering High School. Nine of the 10 new appointees are filling vacant or restructured positions. The pre-K director position is a new one created to oversee the district’s expanding pre-K program.


PORTLAND, Maine – The Portland Public Schools has four new administrators at Central Office: Suzanne Chevalier, director of the district’s pre-kindergarten program; Miranda Fasulo, the district’s executive director of budget and finance; Erin Bates-Letourneau, assistant director secondary student support services; and Julie Kirby, assistant director, elementary student support services. District schools have two new principals: Barbara Fletcher, at Rowe Elementary School, and Angela Taylor at Presumpscot Elementary School. Three new assistant principals also have been hired: Jade Costello at Portland High School; Craig Hanson at King Middle School; and Kerri LeSieur at Riverton Elementary School. Deering High School has a new athletic director: Michael Daly.


The pre-K director position is a new one created to oversee the district’s expanding pre-K program.
The nine other new appointees are filling positions that are restructured or left vacant due to retirements or staff leaving to pursue other opportunities.


“I am very pleased to welcome all 10 leaders to their new positions,” Superintendent Xavier Botana said. “The Portland Public Schools has an exceptional leadership team and I’m confident that these new staff members have the knowledge, skills, and experiences to further enhance that.”


More information on the recently appointed administrators is below:


Erin Bates-Letourneau, Assistant Director Secondary Student Support Services: Erin Bates-Letourneau grew up in Maine, and is happy to return after 23 years away. She served as the assistant director of special services in the Lake Region School District (MSAD 61) for the 2018-2019 school year. After studying speech communications and public relations at the University of Maine in Orono, she received a master’s degree in special education from the University of South Florida in Tampa. Following 17 years of teaching students with exceptional needs in various settings, Erin earned a certification in administration from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn. Before returning to Maine, Erin spent seven years in Dubai establishing and facilitating the provision of student support services for two American private school organizations. She holds the certifications of special education teacher and educational administrator from Connecticut, and a special education administrator certification from Maine.


Suzanne Chevalier, Director of Pre-Kindergarten program: Sue Chevalier believes strongly that quality pre-K experiences enable students to reap benefits that last a lifetime. She has been with the Portland Public Schools since 2011. She has been a teacher of English language learners at Riverton and Reiche Elementary Schools, providing language and literacy support to newcomers and students with intensive English language development needs. She also provided consultation to partner pre-K programs serving district ELL students and served on the district’s Pre-K Promising Practices Committee. Her previous experience included being an early literacy coach and director of professional development for an Early Reading First project at the University of Southern Maine; a research associate at the University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies; and an early childhood special education consultant for Child Development Services of Cumberland County. In addition, Chevalier has many years of pre-K teaching experience, including working as an early childhood team leader, preschool special needs teacher and a therapeutic counselor. Chevalier holds a master’s degree in teaching from Tufts University, a bachelor’s degree in psychology and French from Bates College and a CAS in educational leadership from USM, along with multiple teaching credentials.


Jade Costello, Assistant Principal at Portland High School: Jade Costello is returning to her home state of Maine after living in both Manhattan and Boston. She most recently worked for seven years at a public high school in Springfield, Vermont, where she worked as both a counseling director and assistant principal. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Bowdoin College and pursued her graduate studies at Boston College and at the Upper Valley Educators Institute. She has a master’s degree in school counseling from Boston College. Costello grew up in the western foothills of Maine. She and her husband, Joe, have two young children. She loves working with high school students and teachers and is very excited to integrate herself into the PHS community. In her free time, she enjoys running, soccer, dancing, camping, reading, organizing, and watching cooking shows and re-runs of the West Wing.


Michael Daly, Athletic Director, Deering High School: Michael Daly has two decades of experience in coaching and leadership for college and high school athletics, sports administration, academic and college recruiting advising, as well as college and pro sports operations and event management. He most recently served as assistant women’s lacrosse coach at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire. Prior to that, he was program director/college advisor and elite coach for HGR Lacrosse, LLC. His other experience includes being assistant athletic director at Merrimack College and at Stonehill College and coaching women’s lacrosse at Merrimack, the University of New Hampshire and Stonehill. He also has worked in sports and high tech marketing and communications. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communication and business from the University of New Hampshire. He also has a master’s degree in health, sports and fitness management and an MBA in strategic management, both from Northeastern University. He also earned a certificate in sports psychology from the University of Southern Maine. Daly says he was drawn to the Deering AD position because of the school’s tradition of academic and athletic excellence and the close-knit, diverse school community. He felt inspired after meeting with Principal Gregg Palmer and his team, and after speaking with many proud Deering alums. He also loves Portland, and is excited and honored to join the Deering team and serve the students, staff and coaches.


Miranda Fasulo, Executive Director of Budget and Finance: Miranda Fasulo previously served as assistant director of budget and financial operations for the Cambridge Public Schools in Cambridge, Mass., a position she held for about five years. Prior to that, she worked in higher education administration at both Tufts and Brown universities. She began her career as an ESL teacher and over the years has enjoyed freelance, part-time, and volunteer work as an ESL tutor, copy editor, and dog walker. She holds a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in economics and international relations, both from Boston University. She is originally from Poland, Maine, and attended Westbrook High School.


Barbara Fletcher, Principal of Rowe Elementary School: Barb Fletcher has worked in the education field for 20 years. After graduating from the University of Maine at Farmington with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, she taught a mix of first grade and kindergarten for 15 years, predominantly in the Old Orchard Beach Schools (RSU 23). Upon completing graduate studies at the University of Southern Maine, Fletcher moved into administration, serving as both an assistant principal and principal for five years in Old Orchard Beach. She grew up in Portland and currently lives here with her family, consisting of her husband Chris, a music teacher in Scarborough and musician, and two teenage sons, who attend Portland High School and also are musicians. Fletcher attends music concerts regularly, enjoys family adventures and loves shopping for just about anything! She is thrilled to have the opportunity to serve the Amanda C. Rowe School community as principal and is looking forward to building relationships with students, staff and families over the coming weeks and months.

Craig Hanson, Assistant Principal at King Middle School: Hanson has been in education for 10 years, most recently serving as the assistant principal at Leonard Middle School in Old Town (RSU 34). After earning a master’s degree in teaching from the University of Maine, he began his teaching career at the high school level and abroad, but truly fell in love with the profession when he met his first group of eighth-graders at Leonard Middle School seven years ago. Hanson brings with him expertise in proficiency-based teaching and learning, leadership in the areas of curriculum and behavioral supports, facilitation of school-wide culture improvement and an enthusiasm for the middle level. In his spare time, Hanson enjoys the outdoors in a variety of ways, often with his wife and son, and is passionate about traveling the world. He also continually seeks ways to get involved in the community he serves and is continuing his education in the area of educational leadership.

Julie Kirby, Assistant Director, Elementary Student Support Services: Julie Kirby feels strongly about assisting young adults and children with special needs to integrate into the community and make gains in their development. She most recently worked for 13 years as an early childhood special education program manager for Child Development Services – REACH in Portland. She used her skills in leadership, mentoring/teaching and organization/collaboration to supervise, train and support the case management staff. Julie also has experience as a volunteer for the Cumberland-North Yarmouth schools (MSAD 51) and for S.T.R.I.V.E in South Portland. She served as office support staff for the Great Maine Schools Project at the Mitchell Institute in Portland, and was a long-time swim instructor. She holds a master’s degree in special education from the University of Maine in Orono and two bachelor’s degrees, one in social and behavioral sciences and one in leadership and organizational studies, both from the University of Southern Maine.

Kerri LeSieur, Assistant Principal at Riverton Elementary School: Kerri LeSieur has taught various grade levels in the Biddeford Schools for the past 18 years. Most recently she was a district K-5 instructional coach, where she worked closely with teachers implementing district curriculum. She has been an active participant in that district’s committees, with a strong interest in curriculum and assessment. She has a passion for literacy and ensuring kids have a solid foundation for future learning. She graduated from Plymouth State College with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and has pursued her life-long dream of becoming a teacher. She earned her master’s degree in literacy education from the University of Southern Maine and earned her CAS in administration from St. Joseph’s College. She and her family ­– husband, Chris, and their two children – are actively involved in several sports and supporting the community. She is thrilled to join the Portland Public Schools.

Angela Taylor, Principal of Presumpscot Elementary School: Angie Taylor most recently was principal of Baxter Academy for Technology and Science. Prior to Baxter, she was an elementary school principal in Mechanic Falls and a social studies teacher and program developer at Poland Regional High School. She is a graduate of the Extended Teacher Education Program at the University of Southern Maine, where she also received her master's degree. She has taught education courses at the university level at USM and the University of New England. She grew up in southern California, and joined the Navy as a cryptologist right after high school. She and her family have two dogs, three cats and a small flock of hens. She is thrilled to join the education community at the Portland Public Schools.