PORTLAND — The curriculum director of Cumberland and North Yarmouth schools has been named to the new position of chief academic officer for Portland public schools.
Superintendent Jim Morse will formally appoint David Galin and seek School Committee approval when the panel meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Room 250 at Casco Bay High School on Allen Avenue.
Morse said Friday that Galin was one of about a dozen applicants and the unanimous choice of the interview committee. He lives in Portland and his children attend the city’s public schools, Morse said.
“He has a wealth of experience in teaching and curriculum development, including a similar position in Falmouth schools,” Morse said of Galin. “The work being done in Cumberland and North Yarmouth is the work we need to be doing in Portland.”
After years of having little or no coordinated curriculum development for kindergarten through high school, the School Committee recently appointed curriculum subcommittee to begin working on the issue with Morse, who became superintendent in July.
Galin has a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University, a master’s degree in instructional leadership from the University of Southern Maine and a certificate in educational leadership from USM.
Galin has been a teacher in Brunswick, Bowdoinham and Falmouth schools (1990-1999); coordinator of teaching and learning in Falmouth schools (1999-2004); and curriculum director of School Administrative District 51 (2004-present).
Chief academic officer is a new position that’s part of Morse’s plan to reorganize the top administration of Portland schools. The position will oversee curriculum and other academic matters in Maine’s largest school district.
The reorganization plan also calls for a chief financial officer and a chief operations officer – both new positions that will be filled this summer, Morse said.
Other top administrative jobs have been or will be eliminated or consolidated, including two assistant superintendent positions, director of special education and director of educational planning.
Morse said the reorganization will be accomplished without increasing administrative costs.
The School Committee will discuss Galin’s salary in executive session during Wednesday’s meeting before voting to hire him.
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