Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Dear SPSD Community:
I am excited to share that we have two teachers who will be stepping into assistant principal positions to provide support. At South Portland Middle School, Nicole Coutu will step into the assistant principal role vacated by Mitch Ouellet, who will be serving as our Director of Operations and Safety. At Skillin Elementary School, Helen Pelletier will step into the assistant principal role vacated by Nikki Remsen, who is now the Skillin Principal. It is inspiring to see our SPSD educators stepping up to provide leadership where it is needed!
Because these appointments are occurring so close to the start of school, we need to develop transition plans that are mindful of all schools' needs. Ms. Coutu and Ms. Pelletier will start in their current schools and we will keep you informed as our transition plans are confirmed.
Ms. Coutu has spent 17 years in special education, most recently at Small School, where she has led academic and behavioral programming for students at the upper elementary level. She was also a member of the district’s leadership cohort, designed to prepare educators for future opportunities as building administrators. Her skills working with families and other educators to meet the needs of students will be an asset at our middle school.
Ms. Pelletier has been a kindergarten teacher and teacher leader in Lewiston and at Dyer Elementary School in South Portland. She was also selected to serve as interim building leader at Kaler this past spring. As a kindergarten teacher, she has honed her expertise in supporting students and families with the transition to school and this will be an asset she brings to her new role at Skillin.
We are glad to welcome Ms. Coutu and Ms. Pelletier to their new roles as assistant principals!
Thank you to the members of our community and staff who assisted in the search process.
Sincerely,
Angela Atkinson Duina
Superintendent of Schools
South Portland School Department