Portland Board of Public Education

Learning to Succeed

Marnie Morrione, Chair

Sarah Thompson, At Large
Pious Ali, At Large
Anna Trevorrow, At Large
John Eder, At Large
Stephanie Hatzenbuehler, District 4
Laurie Davis, District 3
Holly Seeliger, District 2
Jenna Vendil, District 1
353 Cumberland Avenue, Portland, Maine 04101
(207) 874-8100

Contact: Marnie Morrione

Chair / Portland Board of Public Education
morrima@portlandschools.org
(207) 773-9859
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2016

School Board To Vote on Xavier Botana as New Portland Superintendent

PORTLAND, Maine Following a nationwide search, the Portland Board of Public Education will vote on
Xavier Botana, currently an associate superintendent in Indiana, to become the next superintendent of the
Portland Public Schools, Maines largest and most diverse school system. The board is scheduled to vote on
hiring Mr. Botana at a meeting set for Tuesday, May 24, at Presumpscot Elementary School. The boards
meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the gymnasium of the school, located at 69 Presumpscot St.
The start date for the superintendent position is July 1.
Based on Mr. Botanas experience, credentials, and the transformative work he has accomplished in a
district similar to our own, we believe there is much he can bring to our school system that can make it even
better, said School Board Chair Marnie Morrione.
Mr. Botana, 53, has served as Associate Superintendent of the Michigan City Area Schools in Indiana since
2010, and was one of two finalists for the superintendent position, for which 41 people initially applied. The
board hired BWP & Associates, a national consulting firm, to help with the superintendent search. The firm
conducted a community survey and held meetings with staff, parents, community members and the School
Board; compiled a report of its findings and characteristics desired for Portlands new superintendent; and
also assisted in narrowing down the number of applicants to six semi-finalists and then the two finalists.
On May 2, Mr. Botana visited the Portland Public Schools for an extensive Day in the District that
included school tours to Longfellow Elementary School, Lincoln Middle School, and Deering High School.
Additionally, Mr. Botana was interviewed by district administrators, community partners, higher education
leaders, union leaders, municipal leaders, and high school students. A public forum at Casco Bay High
School attracted more than 40 parents, students, and staff. Forum attendees were invited to submit written
feedback that was reviewed by the School Board.

At the public forum, Mr. Botana cited his familys experience immigrating to the United States from Cuba as
motivation for his work in education. Growing up bilingual in Spanish, he began his educational career as an
ESL teacher and worked his way up to leadership roles centered on instructional strategy, curriculum
alignment, and professional development. Mr. Botana was attracted to Portland for the opportunity to make
a difference and change the lives of thousands of children, and sees the community as a welcoming place to
make a permanent home with his family.
Members of the Superintendent Search Committee, Marnie Morrione and Jenna Vendil, conducted an
extensive site visit to the Michigan City Area Schools. They interviewed board members, principals, union
leaders, parents, and community partners, who shared examples of Mr. Botanas work as an innovative
school leader. They learned about how Mr. Botana navigated budget development, curriculum alignment,
and parent engagement. They came away greatly impressed with his accomplishments.
Mr. Botana was a critical part in transforming a school district that grappled with a significant budget deficit
and declining enrollment to an innovative district that offers unique educational options to meet all student
needs.
Examples that make the diverse, 6,000-student Michigan City Area Schools district stand out are its two
state-of-the-art elementary magnet schools in STEM (science, engineering, technology and math) and in
visual and performing arts; its theme-based middle schools in STEM and Environmental Science; and its
high school with diverse program offerings including strong honors, AP, and early college programs, and
credit recovery programs for at-risk students. The district also has an adult education program and a regional
career and technical school that has recently expanded its programs and has nearly doubled its enrollment in
the past five years.
Mr. Botanas engagement with parents and the community led to collaborative partnerships to renew local
pride in the schools. Following the closure of two schools, Mr. Botana brought community organizations to
repurpose the closed facilities to ensure those neighborhoods remain vibrant for families. A former
elementary school now serves as the site for Head Starts early childhood program. A middle school was
repurposed into a youth center that includes the Boys and Girls Club, a community theater program, and a
juvenile detention alternative program for at-risk youth.
Marnie Morrione said Mr. Botana has all the characteristics that families, district employees, the school
board, and the Portland community have said they wanted in a superintendent. We are most fortunate to
have found such a leader who meets and exceeds our needs, she said. She said Botana has ties to Maine he
comes each winter to Sunday River, where hes involved in a ski program for youngsters with special needs
and he has told the board he would like to make the state his home.
Mr. Botana has held a variety of educational roles prior to his current position. He has been Chief Academic
Officer for the Portland, Oregon Public schools; Chief Officer of Instructional Design and Assessment for
the Chicago Public Schools; Division Administrator for the Illinois State Board of Education; Assistant
Director for the Bensenville New American School Project in Bensenville, Ill.; Assistant
Principal/Department Chair at Morton High School, Cicero, Ill.; Coordinator of the Illinois Alliance of
Essential Schools, Chicago; and a Bilingual/ESL Teacher for the Cicero Public Schools and the Palatine
Public Schools in Illinois. Mr. Botana holds a Masters degree in Educational Administration and has
completed some doctoral program coursework.
Equal Opportunity Employer
www.portlandschools.org