About
In our school-wide Expeditionary Learning model, students engage in eight to twelve week experiential learning expeditions. These in-depth and interdisciplinary expeditions require students to engage in sophisticated research, engage with the community in authentic ways, and present their findings in high quality products presented to real audiences.
Our Mission: To awaken our students to the possibilities around them, as leaders in their own learning. To instill a sense of wonder and personal agency that can only be achieved through the exploration of real-world challenges and their potential solutions. To accept students as they are, and in so doing, encourage them to discover their best selves.



Chris Pirkl
6/7 ELA Teacher
I have been teaching since 2008. I have a B.A. in English and a M.A. of Education in Applied Literacy. I teach middle school at King Middle School which serves the most racially, ethnically, and economically diverse neighborhoods in the state of Maine.

David Mann
8th grade STEM Teacher
Hello, my name is Dave and I am a teacher at King Middle School in Portland, Maine. I teach 6th and 8th grade STEAM to a diverse group of students who speak 26 different languages. Many of my students come from low-income backgrounds. I believe in a hands-on and minds-on teaching philosophy, which is why I have recently created an amazing Industrial Arts space. However, we are in desperate need of materials to continue our projects. We have already built and tested rockets, constructed beautiful birdhouses, and we are now making high-quality gemstone and crystal jewelry to sell at our fundraiser event in the spring. I have reached out to many companies for donations, but we still need more contributions to help lift this program to higher levels. In my 20 years of teaching, this has been by far my most rewarding experience, as I see how much my students enjoy this class and how much of an impact it has already made. I hope you can help us continue our vision and support our program.hands-on and minds-on teaching philosophy, which is why I have recently created an amazing Industrial Arts space. However, we are in desperate need of materials to continue our projects. We have already built and tested rockets, constructed beautiful birdhouses, and we are now making high-quality gemstone and crystal jewelry to sell at our fundraiser event in the spring. I have reached out to many companies for donations, but we still need more contributions to help lift this program to higher levels. In my 20 years of teaching, this has been by far my most rewarding experience, as I see how much my students enjoy this class and how much of an impact it has already made. I hope you can help us continue our vision and support our program.