Dilafruz Williams Portland Public School Board

Dear friends of public education
and public schools:

Welcome to my school board website! I have designed this website to engage our community and professionals in questions related to the importance of public education in a democracy. Instead of accepting the negative metaphors (such as “at-risk”) that guide educational practice, my hope is to have us critically explore questions such as: What is education for? What is good education? Why is a vibrant public school system important to a democracy?

I was first elected to the Portland School Board in 2003 and re-elected in 2007. I will try my best to provide access to philosophically sound arguments, articles, and materials, as well as present practical stories of innovations that work at the grassroots level in our public schools.

Because my interest lies in the three Es of education–Excellence, Equity, and Environment–I will share the materials according to these three interests.

My vision for our public schools is nothing less than excellence where the whole child is nourished intellectually, emotionally, and physically. Our public schools are the bastions of democracy. Let’s all stay engaged, committed, and invested in them.

Sincerely,

Dilafruz Williams, Ph.D.

Director, Portland Public School Board