Christina M. Boursaw, Ed.D.

Sylvio J. Gilbert Elementary School
Augusta School Department
Augusta, Maine
boursawc@westbrookschools.org

In her short three-year tenure as principal of Sylvio J. Gilbert Elementary, Christina M. Boursaw, Ed.D., has played an instrumental role in building a positive and joyful school climate that encourages students and teachers to be their best selves. By implementing research-based culture-building strategies, Boursaw has helped increase positive contacts with families and shift practices toward a more balanced ratio of favorable and corrective feedback toward students and colleagues. Viewing herself as a facilitator of collective leadership and problem-solving, Boursaw’s empowering approach to professional development has had positive spillover effects for students. Under Boursaw’s leadership, Gilbert students build a positive sense of purpose and identity by exercising both voice and choice in the learning process and regularly sharing in appreciating the achievements and talents of their peers. As an instructional leader, Boursaw stimulates experimental and reflective teaching approaches in her staff, breaking down silos with transparency and trust, and creating opportunities for teachers to share resources, expertise, and best practices to ensure high-quality learning experiences for all students. The net impact of this work has been a shift in mindset toward opportunity, optimism, and resilience and a behavioral transformation toward greater collaboration, communication, and care. Boursaw holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Redlands, an M.A. in Cross-Cultural Education from National University, and a B.S. in Psychology from California Baptist University.