Meet South Portland’s new school superintendent

SOUTH PORTLAND — Angela Atkinson Duina has spent her first two weeks on the job doing what she says matters most: getting to know the people.

The district's new superintendent has been driving through neighborhoods, visiting schools, and introducing herself to staff and community members. It's an approach rooted in her own family history and a belief that strong schools are built on relationships.

"I really want to start building relationships with people and going out and visiting people in the schools," Atkinson Duina said during an interview in her new office. "I want to be a visible presence."

Atkinson Duina officially began her tenure July 15, stepping into a leadership role that has seen significant turnover in recent years. She succeeds Tim Matheney, who resigned, and George Entwistle, who served as interim superintendent for the most recent school year.

The superintendent brings an impressive academic background to the position. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership and policy from Boston University, a master's degree in administration and social policy from Harvard University, and a bachelor's degree in Spanish and psychology from Boston College. Her professional experience includes work as a research director, dean of faculty, and vice principal.

Previously, Atkinson Duina served as assistant superintendent of elementary schools for Portland Public Schools. She has lived in Maine since 2001.

Atkinson Duina said she views this position as likely her final chapter in education leadership.

"I'm not looking to go anywhere else," she said. "I want to be here long enough for people to feel comfortable and to stabilize the leadership transition that they've felt recently."

Her main priorities include delivering high-quality teaching and learning while managing the district's financial and human resources responsibly.

"Many people in our community are struggling," she noted, citing increased costs for gas and groceries. "It's on everyone's minds."

She is also enthusiastic about expanding the community schools model in South Portland. The approach views schools as neighborhood hubs that coordinate support from families, educators, and partner organizations to address barriers to student success, including homelessness, food insecurity, and limited access to healthcare.

"It doesn't just care for students for their academic side, but also considers their well-being," Atkinson Duina explained.

Looking ahead, the district faces several significant challenges. Budget planning for the upcoming fiscal year is already underway, a deliberate strategy to avoid the difficulties of recent years.

"Start early," Atkinson Duina said, noting that her team is mindful of the lingering impacts from the past two budget seasons. "People don't want surprises."

She is also preparing to oversee the delayed reconfiguration of elementary schools, which will not take effect until the 2027-28 school year. The steering committee has been meeting since spring, and the school board held its first public workshop on the matter in late July, with more planned for the fall.

"This process hasn't come from nowhere," Atkinson Duina said. "It's building upon the unfulfilled recommendations from 2023. It probably makes sense to look at boundaries more than once every 20 years. Neighborhoods change and communities change."

She emphasized that the reconfiguration will ultimately be a community decision.

"My task is to implement the decision that the community decides is best for them in the way that is best for students and families and staff," she said.

Atkinson Duina also addressed concerns about immigration enforcement in southern Maine, which has affected some district families.

"School should be a really safe place for kids," she said. "All kids should stay focused on learning. If there's something we need to do to make sure school continues to be a safe space for all families, that's what we would work to do."

The district will review its safety protocols as part of its regular annual process.

For Atkinson Duina, the commitment to education runs deep. Her grandparents, who grew up in rural Arkansas with only an eighth-grade education because no high school existed in their area, moved their family of nine children to a college town so their children could pursue higher learning.

"We're all in it to try to bring the best to the kids," she said.

As she settles into her new role, Atkinson Duina invited community members to reach out and get in touch.

"The more I get to know the people, the more I feel like I'm in the right place," she said.