On Thursday, December 18th, the Deering High School community gathered for an inspiring academic conference with our upcoming cohort of Spring Ahead students. As we prepare for the start of the January 2026 semester, forty-one (41)  ambitious Deering students met to finalize their transition into this transformative early college program. This group represents a milestone for the school: since the program’s inception, Spring Ahead participation at Deering has grown by an astounding 173%!

The afternoon was led by our Co-Directors of School Counseling, Laurie Medeiros and Shawn Kennedy. They both shared helpful insights into what makes the Spring Ahead experience so rewarding, building on the academic one-on-one meetings and advisory sessions our students have had with their counselors throughout the year. Their expertise ensured our students felt prepared and empowered as they stand on the threshold of their college journeys.

What is Spring Ahead?

The Spring Ahead program is a premier early college initiative in partnership with Southern Maine Community College (SMCC). It offers Deering students the unique opportunity to begin taking college-level courses while still in high school.

 The scale of this opportunity is reflected in the numbers: this year, Deering Spring Ahead students have enrolled in a combined 389 college credits at SMCC. By earning these credits now, our students are accelerating their path toward a degree and gaining a significant head start on their careers. Perhaps most importantly, this program provides a major financial boost to our community—Deering students this year will have saved a combined $37,344 in tuition costs!

Distinguished Support & Mentorship

We were honored to welcome Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed, Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools for Portland Public Schools. As a longtime champion of Deering students, Dr. Ahmed has been instrumental in advocating for the growth and success of the Spring Ahead program.

The conference also featured Pat Haviland, the Spring Ahead Success Coach from the SMCC Early College Office. Pat serves as a vital resource and Success Coach for our students. Pat is already a familiar face at Deering; traditionally he spends a week on our campus, operating out of the counseling offices to meet one-on-one with every student in the program. This hands-on partnership ensures that our students have yet another trusted ally to help them navigate the SMCC campus and balance their new academic responsibilities.

Voices of Experience: The Alumni Panel - 

One of the highlights of the event was a panel discussion featuring current college students and proud Deering alumni. Lexy Bilodeau-McDevitt, Christianne Kulu, Claudia Muaka, Sonita Sam spoke as insiders: having walked these halls themselves, these former "Rams" provided invaluable "insider" perspectives on:

• Navigating a college campus for the first time.
• The transition from high school expectations to college-level academics.
• Balancing schedules and maintaining the "Spring Ahead" momentum.

Nothing resonates more with our students than hearing directly from their peers who have successfully paved the way.

Building Community

We would also like to extend our gratitude to the distinguished guests from the PPS Central Office who attended to offer their encouragement. Embarking on a new campus can be a daunting milestone, and having a robust support system from both the building and district levels makes all the difference.

The afternoon concluded with a catered reception, where students had the chance to mingle, discuss their upcoming courses, and connect personally with Pat Haviland, Mr. Kennedy, and Ms. Medeiros once again.

It was a day defined by academic ambition and community support. 

We look forward to seeing our students thrive at SMCC this spring!