Administration
Aris Ayala - Principal
Principal Ayala’s experiences both within school systems and outside of them have shaped who they are as an educator and leader. Mx. Ayala, who is fluent in Spanish and also speaks French, had leadership and bilingual teaching experience with the Boston and Chicago public schools before joining the Portland Public Schools in July 2022 as principal of Lincoln.
“I was born and raised in Chicago and have attended, taught, and led at Chicago Public Schools, which I am fiercely proud of. I come from a family of immigrants, from a collection of underserved neighborhoods, and multiple languages. My experiences both within the school system and outside of it are what has shaped who I am as an educator and who I am as a leader,” Mx. Ayala said. “First and foremost, is my belief in equity and anti-racist practices. I believe that all children can learn as long as we are providing the appropriate and necessary support while shaping an environment that is healing, revitalizing, and that is the catalyst for their growth. I also highly believe in educators and am committed to fostering a space where we all feel free to own our learning and take risks in order to provide the most holistic education for our students and the most supportive environment for our families and communities.”
Gillian Sirois - Assistant Principal
Gillian Sirois is an experienced educator and teacher leader who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a student-centered approach, both of which align with Lincoln Middle School's mission and values. In her role as assistant principal, which she officially began in the summer of 2025, Gillian works to support academic achievement, climate and culture, and the continued development of students' social and emotional needs.
For the previous 12 years, Gillian was a science teacher and teacher leader in several districts, including the Portland Public Schools. Prior to becoming assistant principal, she was a science teacher at Lincoln for four years. Before that, she worked as a middle school science teacher in Wiscasset, and as a seventh-grade science teacher in Melrose, Massachusetts and Duxbury, Massachusetts, for a total of eight years.
Gillian holds a bachelor's degree in secondary education, with a concentration in biology, from the University of Vermont. She has a master’s degree in education, with a concentration in physical science, from Bridgewater State University.
Outside of school, Gillian enjoys spending as much time as she can outside. This means she can often be found walking on the beach, expanding her garden, hiking, or paddleboarding on the lake. She also loves crafting, and learning new things—including taking a pottery class!