Outstanding
From Teacher to President


For the past eight years Rebecca Levison has been influencing the lives of Portland students as a sixth-grade teacher at Clarendon-Portsmouth Elementary School.

Levison started a new career venture July 1 as the elected president of the Portland Association of Teachers.

Levison, who grew up in New York and received a degree in public policy from Syracuse University, could not be more excited for her new career. “I wanted to step up and take on more leadership in regards to the advocacy of teachers and union rights,” she said.

Levison’s goals for the association are to make sure teachers’ voices are heard in the district and to help with the bargaining of new and improved contracts. “I am going to miss teaching because I really get invested in the lives of my students, but I know I can do some great work with the association and cannot wait to get started,” she said.
My name is Rebecca Levison.

I am known as the president-elect of the Portland Association of Teachers.

My cause is advocating for the rights of teachers.

I am 38 years old. I feel 40 years old.

My childhood ambition was to become a pediatrician.

My first same-sex crush was on Lucille Ball; I always thought she was so funny.

I like to spend my down time sitting and relaxing in my hot tub in my back yard with Kathleen Sullivan, my partner of 10 years.

My proudest moment was the honor I received because Portland teachers chose me to represent them in the association.

My biggest challenge has always been balancing work and pleasure. I am a major workaholic.

A perfect day in Portland would be spent at breakfast at Wild Abandon, an afternoon seeing a movie at Hollywood Theatre and then dinner at an Asian restaurant on 82nd Avenue.

My first job was at Greenleaf Pharmacy in a town called Hastings-on-Hudson in New York.

My vice is a Vietnamese dish called bun, which is grilled lemongrass chicken mixed with herbs over cold noodles. It is unbelievable!

My inspiration is the students I have served as a teacher.

The last queer or philanthropic event I participated in was a house party for Sam Adams.

My highest hope for the cause is that we can fund education at the level that is needed to provide students with a well-rounded education and give teachers the support they need to do their job.


—James Maxwell