Sarah Jane Poli
BIDDEFORD — Even as a young girl, Sarah Jane Poli knew she wanted to follow in her big sister Lucy’s footsteps and become a teacher. Poli, who was born and grew up in Biddeford and went to Biddeford schools, did just that. In her rise from teacher to superintendent of schools — the city’s first and so far only female superintendent — Poli gave her all and dedicated herself to serving the city’s children and families to the best of her ability.
Poli, born at home on Sept. 2, 1941, to Michelangelo and Idelina Nicetta Poli, passed away on Feb. 10, 2022. She was 80 years old.
Most of those 80 years were spent in Biddeford schools, either attending, teaching or as an administrator.
During Sarah Jane Poli’s stint as superintendent of schools, a major overhall of Biddeford High School took place. Staff Photo by Shawn Patrick Ouellette
“Sarah Jane’s commitment to the city and its schools was second-to-none; she spent 61 years in Biddeford Schools, with 13 as a student and 48 as an educator,” according to a Biddeford School Department Facebook posting.
Poli spent her entire K-12 education in Biddeford public schools, eventually graduating with honors from Biddeford High School in 1959. She received her bachelor’s degree from Gorham State Teachers College in 1963, a master’s degree in 1964, and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in 1972, both from the University of Maine, Orono, according to her obituary.
In 1964, Poli began her teaching career at Biddeford Junior High teaching math, and became the department head the following year, according to her obituary. In 1973, she became curriculum director for grades K-8 and eventually curriculum director for grades 9-12 as well and became assistant superintendent in 2000. In 2003, Poli became the first female school superintendent in Biddeford’s history. She retired in 2012.
Under Poli’s leadership, the school department built a new Biddeford Middle School and undertook a major renovation of Biddeford High School — she said in an interview she delayed her retirement to see the later project through. According to one of her former colleagues, Poli was known as “the great builder” due to these and other building projects she oversaw as an administrator.
In addition to overseeing capital improvements, “she was most proud of the advancements in the quality of education that the Biddeford school system was offering and always striving to improve,” according to her obituary.
In a 2019 interview posted on the Biddeford Cultural and Heritage Center website, Poli said about her tenure as superintendent, “it’s a challenging job. You always have to think very carefully about what you are going to do and say. You are ultimately the person responsible for anything that goes wrong in the district. You have to accept that and take full responsibility. … But you are a politician even though you may not think you are.”
Being the first female as superintendent wasn’t always easy, Poli said. “It was hard for some people to see a woman be at the head.”
When asked how she approached that, she said, “I tried to know the people, the councilors and the School Board members. I had to work a lot harder than some people, probably. I had to prove that I knew what I was talking about. That’s OK. That’s fine. I see some of the members today and they’ll say, ‘I was a little hard on you.’ Yeah, that’s OK,” she laughed.
After learning of her death, many of those who worked with her praised Poli as an educator and as a person.
“Sarah Jane was certainly one of the most committed educators I have ever worked with,” said Jeff Porter in an email. Porter is superintendent of schools for MSAD 51 and was assistant superintendent in Biddeford under Poli.
“She loved the Biddeford schools and was devoted to them during her 48 years with the district,” he said. “She was an incredibly hard worker and her work ethic carried over to others. She was one of the most ethical people I have ever known, in an era when ethics is not always appreciated or valued, and she never wavered in her commitment to doing what is right rather than yielding to political pressures. This stance didn’t always win her popularity contests, but being popular was never her interest; she wanted to do what was right for kids first and foremost.”
Mayor Alan Casavant knew Poli for many years. She was his math teacher in junior high, and eventually his boss before he retired as a teacher at Biddeford High School.
“Sarah Jane dedicated her entire adult life to the betterment of the youth of Biddeford, as a teacher, a curriculum director, an assistant superintendent, and superintendent,” Casavant said. “She was a strong, able leader, whose vision continues to have a positive impact on the education of our students. Her passing is truly a huge loss for our community, as she was so enmeshed, for so long, in the school department.”
“Sarah Jane Poli was a woman who was dedicated to the city of Biddeford,” said Lisa Vadnais, vice chair of the Biddeford School Committee.
Vadnais said she got to know Poli when she was elected to the School Committee, adding, “I knew of her prior to that, if you lived in Biddeford and went to Biddeford schools you knew Sarah Jane.” Vadnais said while on the committee, “I got to see firsthand how dedicated she was to the district and working to ensure our schools were maintained and our students got the best education. She cared deeply not only for the schools but for the community in which she lived her entire life. I was glad I had to opportunity to get to know her.”
“Her commitment to Biddeford schools and the Biddeford community is pretty unmatched,” said Jeremy Ray who was appointed as Biddeford superintendent of schools after Poli retired. He said though their leadership styles were different, she left behind a strong foundation with budgeting and other processes that made it easier for him to take on the role. Even after her retirement, Ray said he looked to her to answer historical questions about the schools and she was always ready to answer. “There was 100 percent respect,” between them, he said.
Porter, one of those who worked most closely with Poli, described not only what she was like as a superintendent but also what she was like as a person.
“Sarah Jane took an interest in those she worked with,” he said. “She always asked me about my children and what they were up to. Ten years after her retirement, she still sent me holiday greetings and cards on different occasions. She was one of a kind, and I will miss her.”
For an interview of Poli about her life, visit https://biddefordculturalandheritagecenter.org/sarah-jane-poli/.
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