By Rachel Neglia

Among the many additions to TPA this year–a new sixth grade class, manifold technological updates, and a plethora of new teachers–is a new headmaster, Dr. Wayne Porter, who was drawn to the school’s liberal model of teaching. Before claiming the position, Dr. Porter was the middle school headmaster at Chandler Preparatory Academy. “All of my teaching experience in grades 6-12 has been done in a school using the same model of teaching as TPA uses,” he explains. “I enjoy asking a lot of questions of my students as I try to help guide them to build knowledge on the foundation of the knowledge they already possess.”

Dr. Porter’s educational background illustrates his proficiency in pedagogical methods. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics at Brigham Young University before earning a Masters of Education degree from Arizona State University in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Mathematics. Afterwards, he went on to receive a Doctoral degree from ASU in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus in mathematics education.

Dr. Porter enumerated that he “could sit in on a math lesson a hundred times and still not find it boring,” a feat at which many students marvel. Don’t let Dr. Porter’s math-focused credentials deceive you, however; he joins ranks of enthusiastic TPA English students when he explains that his favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird. A Tempe Prep headmaster ought to be a man of letters; clearly, Dr. Porter fits the bill.

The word “Headmaster” implies that the person who holds the position has to be prepared to wear many hats, and Dr. Porter admits that he is still learning the ropes. He is the “leader of the students, faculty, and community” and is responsible for “overseeing the financial end of the school, overseeing enrollment of students, and ensuring compliance with all that the state requires.”

Dr. Porter is well-known among the student body for being accessible. “What I love to do the most is interact with students and teachers on campus,” he explains. “I also try to get into a few classrooms each day to see what is going on and how both students and teachers are doing.”

“I don’t have any specific thoughts about how to reform TPA, but my biggest hope is that I can help TPA continue its success while adapting to the needs of an ever-changing educational climate,” Dr. Porter says. Surely, the past few years’ search for a new headmaster has been tumultuous at times, but the Board of Directors seems to have found a worthy choice in Dr. Porter. Let’s welcome him to the Tempe Prep community!