With years of educational experience in Florida, Mr. Porter joins the Santaluces family with a mission to motivate and inspire students to make their high school years worthwhile. His previous school was Boyd Anderson High School in Broward county. 

“I feel like I’m a master encourager,” said Porter. “So whenever people are down, I love to see people smile and make them happy.”  

Mr. Porter was born and raised in Hollywood, Florida located in Broward county. He was an excellent student throughout his high school years; he attended Stranahan High School in Fort Lauderdale where he played on the football team, ran on the track team, and shot hoops on the basketball team. He was also a part of the medical magnet program and aspired to be a doctor.

In his Senior year, many outstanding schools such as Fairfield University, the United States Military Academy, otherwise known as West Point, and FAU, wanted to recruit him. He ended up choosing Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania where he continued to play football and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. 

Returning to Florida, he went to FAU and earned his Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. He started at a middle school but eventually decided to work with high schoolers.

“I feel like high school kids are much more mature; they’re open to the world and explore things from different perspectives,” Porter said. “I transitioned into high school because I love the activities that are after school, I love seeing kids win and be successful, I love seeing students walk across the stage for graduation; just everything about being in high school, I love it. It’s always been my passion to shape the minds of young adults.” 

Mr. Porter wants to change the stigma of an administrator being associated with students who get in trouble. Instead, he wants all students to see him as a supportive figure in their lives who will help them achieve their full potential.

His family is composed of himself, his wife, three kids, and a dog named Champ. He notes his kids to be his inspiration.

“I just love the fact that I get the joy of seeing other people’s kids blossom and flourish,” he said. “And I get the chance to see my kids be successful.”

This school year, Mr. Porter has met a significantly smaller group of students, all while wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing; this is a definite contrast compared to any other school year, where about 2,500 students and faculty members roam the halls of Santaluces.

“If it’s 5,000 or 500, you still feel good just being around kids and encouraging them,” said Porter.  

He offers this advice to students from the book, “The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom”:

1. Be impeccable with your word. 
2. Don’t take anything personally. 
3. Don’t make assumptions. 
4. Always do your best.