A substitute teacher and a local business owner are running for the only contested seat on the Portland school board this fall.

Maya Lena, 39, and John Rousseau, 51, both political newcomers, are the only candidates seeking the at-large seat currently held by Nyalat Billiew, who is not seeking reelection, on the Nov. 5 ballot. Lena and Rousseau are both parents of Portland Public Schools students and are running for public office for the first time.

At-large board members represent the entire city and are voted on by all Portland residents.

The District 1 and 2 seats are also on the ballot, although only one candidate has filed for each race. Incumbent Abusana “Micky” Bondo is running to keep her District 1 seat, and newcomer Abdulkadir Ali is the sole candidate for District 2. 

Lena is a substitute teacher in the district and a state-certified visual arts teacher. She grew up in McLean, Virginia, and received her bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin. She has also worked as a K-12 art teacher in Virginia, a substitute at the Waynflete School in Portland and as an art teacher at Scarborough Middle School. She has two elementary-aged children in the district.

“I have direct experience working in a wide range of schools – public schools, private schools, universities – and I’ve worked elementary, middle and high school,” Lena said. “I feel like I’m someone who is truly connected with the community.”

Rousseau is a business owner and artist, who has spent almost 30 years running Rousseau Reclaimed. He grew up in southwestern Maine, went to the University of Southern Maine and describes himself as interested in community and diversity of thought. He said his daughter, a 2024 graduate of Casco Bay High School, motivated his run for office.

“I am inspired to give back to that community that gave to her,” Rousseau said.

WHY THEY’RE RUNNING 

Lena has served as the president of the Nason’s Corner Neighborhood Association and worked on leadership hiring committees for her children’s school, Amanda C. Rowe Elementary. She said her perspective will be valuable on the board because she has worked inside Portland school buildings.

“I’ve seen how important it is to have somebody on the board who works in the schools, or has worked in schools in general, but is willing to hear the voices of the staff and make decisions based on what is needed in the schools,” Lena said. “So I’m running to be a voice for the students, families and staff within Portland Public Schools.”

Lena said she would step down from her job with the district if elected to the board.

Her priorities, if elected, include promoting staff voices and balancing class sizes if the district moves forward with a redistricting plan. Lena said she wants to ensure all specialty programs – like the Breathe Program for students with emotional and behavioral needs – are fully staffed by looking at potential salary increases. 

Rousseau said his biggest priorities are implementing the district’s new strategic plan and focusing on support for teachers. He said Portland’s educators are still hurting because of the payroll crisis last school year and a round of layoffs. His solution? Board members should spend a lot more time visiting schools. 

“As important as it is for the school board to supervise or give feedback to the superintendent, I think it would be very important for the school board to listen and talk and understand,” Rousseau said. “There’s a disconnect from the board to what’s really happening on the ground in schools.”

Rousseau said his experience as a businessman sets him apart.

“I have learned to be resourceful, to problem solve, meet people; I understand what it is to live within your means,” he said. “I want to be able to contribute these skills that I have, and have conversations. Look at things from a different lens.”

Lena and Rousseau both said the biggest concern they hear from constituents is about rising property taxes. Maine school districts receive a portion of their funding from the state based on a formula that accounts for each district’s enrollment numbers, property values, economically disadvantaged students and other factors. The rest comes from local taxpayers. The state Legislature is considering a change to that formula, as critics call it inequitable.

Lena and Rousseau both argue that Portland pays more of its fair share compared to other districts in the state.

“There are other schools in Maine that are getting over 79% state funding. We’re getting under 18% state funding,” Rousseau said. “If we could get to, say, 30% it would relieve some of the burden off the taxpayers here in Portland.”

Lena also said she’ll be an advocate for more state funding for Portland schools.

“Portland has a really diverse student body and a really diverse district,” Lena said. “And I don’t think we’re getting our fair share of the state allocation.”

DISTRCT RACES

Bondo, a two-term incumbent, is running unopposed in District 1. She serves as vice chair of the board and has held her seat since 2018.

She’s a parent of five Portland Public Schools students and is the co-founder and director of the nonprofit In Her Presence, which works to empower immigrant women. Bondo was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has called Portland home since 2009, according to her biography from the nonprofit.

In District 2, Ali is running to replace Emily Figdor, who is not seeking reelection.

Ali is the director of advocacy at Maine Youth Justice, a campaign committed to closing the Long Creek Youth Development Center and end youth incarceration broadly, according to his biography from the organization’s website. He’s also an artistic director with Maine Inside Out, a theater organization focused on informing people about incarceration. Ali was born in Ethiopia and came to the United States as a refugee with his parents in 1999 when he was 3 years old.