Casey McCormack is a parent of three children who attend Amanda C. Rowe Elementary School in Portland and serves on the board of the Foundation for Portland Public Schools.

A few years ago, Amanda C. Rowe Elementary School in Portland was struggling. The school was on its third principal in three years.

Notwithstanding amazing teachers and staff, the school lacked essential resources, support and structure.

At the same time, the district was grappling with the teacher pay debacle, our kids’ future middle school was in a state of disarray and my wife and I were questioning whether we should try to move to a different school district. With a new principal, a new superintendent and dedicated staff at Rowe, we decided to stay.

I’m glad we did.

The turnaround began with a renewed focus on accountability, structure, community and expectations. Teachers and staff took on the Herculean task of implementing these changes with limited resources. Core values — being “safe, respectful, and responsible” — became embedded in the day-to-day student experience. Hallways seemed less chaotic. The school day began to feel more orderly. There were still a lot of challenges, but things seemed to be heading in a positive direction.

That momentum accelerated into the next year, as district leadership responded with meaningful student-facing investments. Even with a $19 million budget shortfall, the superintendent and school board designed the budget to shield students and educators from painful cuts.

Difficult decisions were made to eliminate many central office positions, with more resources being allocated to student-facing roles. For Rowe, that meant more support inside the school: a new social worker, additional educators and a dedicated culture and climate coordinator.

The impact on Rowe was palpable.

This year, despite another principal transition, the momentum at Rowe has continued. The sense of community has deepened, with teachers, staff and others rallying to ensure educational access for all students. A recent schoolwide talent show highlighted not only the students’ unique personalities, but also how much their ability to be “safe, respectful and responsible” has grown.

In addition, the learning environment continues to improve, with additional staff supporting critical early literacy work. And it shows in the data.

The Maine Through Year Assessment is a test that measures the percentage of students at Maine schools that are meeting grade-level expectations in a variety of subjects. Over the past three years, Rowe is one of the most improved elementary schools in Maine — with the strongest gains coming from economically disadvantaged students.

Some highlights include:

• Rowe is the most improved mainland elementary school in Cumberland County
  in reading proficiency.
• Rowe is the third most improved in overall academic proficiency.
• Math proficiency for economically disadvantaged students has doubled.
• African-American students have the highest increases in reading proficiency.
• Younger students at Rowe — who have the most exposure to the district’s new early literacy curriculum — have some of the highest reading proficiency rates in
  the entire state.

While no single data point can capture the full picture of a school community, this data aligns with what many families are witnessing: a more structured, more supported, more effective learning environment. And Rowe is not an outlier in Portland. Other elementary schools are showing similar gains. Both Presumpscot Elementary and Lyseth Elementary have shown strong academic growth, with each school ranking among the top 10 most improved in Cumberland County.

This kind of progress does not happen by accident. It reflects coordinated efforts across every level of the system. Teachers and staff have been on the front lines, pouring their hearts and souls into the work. School leaders have reinforced high expectations and a sense of community. Central office staff have made important decisions about curriculum and resource allocation. And the superintendent and school board have supported these efforts through thoughtful budgeting, policy and oversight.

To everyone who has played a role in Rowe’s turnaround — especially to the teachers and staff who have lived through the turmoil — thank you. I’m not sure the progress is as obvious when you’re in the trenches. It’s been amazing to witness as a parent.