Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Scarborough and went to Pleasant Hill Elementary School. Now I live in South Portland.
Years in education: 26 (21 in Scarborough)
What led you to pursue a career in education?
I started as a psychology tech working with severally needy kids. Then I transitioned to schools. I started as a consulting special education teacher at the K-2 level and eventually became the principal at Pleasant Hill. I’ve been the principal here at Blue Point since 2016. I think my special education background has helped me as a leader and a principal. I have perspective on kids’ needs and backgrounds, and I know we will get through challenges. Scarborough has changed a lot since I started but I still feel grounded here and I really want to give back.
What’s your favorite part of the school day?
I love seeing the kids arrive every morning. They’re excited to come to school. Despite the amount of time I now spend on administrative tasks, I really like connecting with kids. I like helping them in a way that changes their day.
What’s your favorite time of the school year?
The first day is great because there’s so much excitement. Kids are in the classrooms for the first time. You see all the placement decisions you made put into action. I also like January. It’s a time when we reset whatever is needed. Once the year starts it’s hard to change but January is a pause when you can adjust routines and intentions.
What do you most like about your position?
I love the kids and I really like supporting the adults in the building. It’s fulfilling to have a good relationship with staff, to be trusted, to be a person they can lean on. We’ve gone through a lot of together, both personally and professionally. I’m proud that people say Blue Point is a good place to work. It takes a lot to cultivate that, to be a safe and loving space.
What makes Blue Point unique?
People say that when they walk in, the school just feels like a good, positive space. You can feel the love. We take pride in that. We have a great staff and great families. It’s not always perfect but we all have a common goal – to support the kids.
What would most surprise people about your job?
Probably the variety of tasks that I do each day – from tending to kid’s emotional breakdowns to analyzing the distribution of academic supports across Scarborough’s three elementary schools. It’s unpredictable and there are a lot of shifting gears.
About how many emails do you get each day?
Probably 100-200.
What is your greatest hope for Blue Point?
That we have room to grow. We’re running out of space for what is next. We need to evolve so kids can have an education that will prepare them for jobs that don’t even exist today, but we can’t grow our program right now. We want to get past the space issue to focus on what kids really need.
What’s something no one knows about you?
When I was ten years old, I danced with Diana Ross. My parents took me to a concert at the Cumberland County Civic Center and she invited anyone ten or younger to come up and dance with her. I remember the bright lights and being on stage dancing with the other kids, and I remember her hugging me. She was sweaty. (laughs)
What does First Grade Teacher Jillian Daigle bring to Blue Point as a lifelong educator?
Jillian is fantastic. She has only been here a few years but she’s so experienced. She has brought great ideas from her previous district. She downplays how talented she is, but she is such an asset. I just love her.
