Principal's Message

I am excited and honored to serve as the Principal of Portland Middle School. What drew me to Portland was its strong sense of community, the pride people take in their schools, and the clear commitment to supporting students academically and as whole children. Since joining the district, I have affirmed my beliefs about the district and been impressed by our staff's dedication and the genuine investment families and community members have in making Portland Middle School a great place for students.

Middle school is such an important time in a student’s life. Throughout my career in education, including my work as a teacher and school administrator, I have had the opportunity to support students through many different stages of growth. Those experiences have reinforced for me how important it is for students to feel known, supported, challenged, and connected to their school. I am excited to bring that experience to Portland Middle School and to work alongside our staff as students develop greater independence, discover new interests, and begin to better understand who they are and who they want to become.

As a school leader, much of my work has focused on building strong relationships, supporting staff, improving communication, and creating positive school cultures where students can be successful. I have also had the opportunity to lead work around student support systems, school improvement, and strengthening partnerships with families. I believe the best schools are built through collaboration between students, staff, families, and the community, and I am excited to continue learning about the traditions that make Portland Middle School special while contributing my own experience to the work already happening here.

Matt Flessner