Administration
CLAUDIA PORTER ~ Founder - Language/Reading Specialist, Speech/Language Pathologist (e-mail) M.A. in Speech/Language Pathology; Certified Speech/Language Therapist since 1971, GA license in Speech-Language Pathology; CA Life Teaching Certificate; developed L.D. program at High Meadows School; Program Director of Child Development Center in Roswell; Speech/language therapist & teacher/coordinator for the Georgia Challenge Grant Program; North Fulton Child Development Association award; Who's Who in the South and Southwest; Fellowship for Master's degree at Occidental College; Certificate of Excellence by Occidenal College Speech and Reading Clinics; ACE award presented by ASHA for outstanding accomplishments in Continuing Education. In 2007 and 2008, presented at Annual GISA Conference, “The Whole Child”. In 2009 presented at Annual GISA Conference, “Breaking Down the Barriers.” Founded the Porter School with Muriel Lange in 2000.
BARBARA RAMER - Principal (e-mail)
M.S. in Education; 57 years experience in the field of education including teaching (K-8), counseling (K-12), supervision, and administration; Member of National Board of Certified Counselors (NCC); Licensed Professional Counselor in GA and VA (LPC); Postgraduate license for elementary, middle and secondary counseling; Designed community-wide promotions for guidance services in local VA schools; Director of Special Education School; served as Advisory Committee Chairman for the school superintendent to coordinate curriculum for the Virginia school system; Former Vice President of Middle/Junior High School Division American School Counselors Association; Former President of Virginia School Counselors Association; Former Executive Board Member of Virginia Personnel and Guidance Association; Former Executive Board Member of Guidance Department Virginia Education Association; Former Officer of Delta Kappa Gamma; Former President of Beta Sigma Phi; Member of Lychnos Society at University of Virginia; Developed Career Education Program for the school system in Fredericksburg Virginia; Presented with a Career Service Award from the Virginia Counselor’s Association; Joined Porter Academy in 2003.
PAM HIGGINBOTHAM - Business Manager (email)
B.S. in Corporate Finance and Accounting; Seventeen years experience working with all aspects of accounting from large corporations to small businesses. Joined Porter Academy in 2008.
A.S. in Early Childhood Education; Certified in M.I.L.E. math instructor; Skilled in Intermediate American Sign Language; Over 20 years experience in Office Administration; Joined Porter Academy in 2004.
Lead Teachers
MAUREEN KENNEDY – Pre-Kindergarten Teacher (e-mail)
M.S. in Educational Counseling; B.S. in Elementary Education; Licensed Professional Counselor (Ohio); Nationally Certified Counselor; Certified Wilson Reading System instructor; Over 20 years experience with special needs children; Nineteen years experience in Pediatric Rehabilitation; Presenter at GISA Annual Conferences 2007 ("The Whole Child"), 2008 ("The Whole Child"), and 2009 ("Breaking Through Barriers"); Attended continuing education courses including Handwriting Without Tears, varous Sensory Processing courses, Integrated Listening Systems, Visual Processing, Executive Functioning, and Autism; Joined Porter Academy in 2006.
MARIE ROBBINS – Primary Teacher (e-mail)
B.S. in Early Childhood Education; Experience as teacher and teacher assistant Porter Academy; 1 year teaching in Thailand; GA certified in Early Childhood Education; Certified ESOL; Joined Porter Academy in 2006.
BRIAN MALONEY – Elementary Teacher (e-mail)
Master's Degree candidate in Elementary and Special Education; B.A. in Business; Coordinator of Morning Energizers; Middle School Intramural sports program director; 8 years experience as Camp Director at YMCA in SC and GA; Joined Porter Academy in 2007.
BARBARA RICHARD – Supervising Lead Teacher of Primary & Elementary Schools
(e-mail)
M.A. in Educational Administration; B.A. in Elementary Education; 20 years experience teaching Kindergarten-grade 4; 2 years as Vice Principal in Florida; FL and MA teaching certification; Training in Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Sensory Integration Disorders, Math Their Way, and Differentiated Instruction; Joined Porter Academy in 2003.
BARBARA SELKIRK – Elementary Teacher (e-mail)
M.Ed. in teaching reading and writing from Mercer University; Extensive training in Orton Gillingham and Lidamood Bell techniques; BS in psychology with honors from Georgia State University; 3 years on the faculty of Mercer College for Kids teaching creative writing; Academic Assistant in a private school setting for 7 years; 7 years in corporate training as VP of Bank of America; received the Mortar Board Honor Society’s Outstanding Student award from Georgia State University; Level 5 certification in the state of Georgia; Joined Porter Academy in 2006.
LAURA CORN - Middle School Lead Teacher (e-mail)
M.A. in Special Education; Additional coursework in Autism; Georgia certification in level 4; 5 years experience with special needs children, specializing in Autism; trained in Orton Gillingham; sign language skills; Joined Porter Academy in 2006.
MARCIE SCHULTZ – Middle School Co-Teacher (e-mail)
B.S. in Computer Technology; Currently teaching middle school at Porter Academy; Certified Wilson Reading System Tutor; 6 years experience tutoring children with dyslexia in reading and spelling; Joined Porter Academy in 2004.
JACKIE SHALLCROSS – Middle School Co-Teacher (e-mail)
B.A. in Education; 20 years experience teaching children with special needs and behavioral disorders in CT and GA; Currently teaching middle school at Porter Academy. Taught at Mill Springs Academy; Theater teacher at The Howard School; Joined Porter Academy in 2002.
Assistant Teachers
TERESA BOWEN – Assistant Teacher (e-mail)
A.S. in Early Childhood Education; Skilled in Intermediate American Sign Language; Trained in Handwriting Without Tears; Joined Porter Academy in 2003.
LINDA-MAE MERAB - Assistant Teacher (e-mail)
A.S. in Teacher Education; Finalizing degree in Early Childhood & Elementary Education; Member of the Georgia Association of Educators. Joined Porter Academy in 2007.
VICKI MILLER - Assistant Teacher (e-mail)
Vicki is certified as a special education para-professional. Trained in Handwriting Without Tears; Special education assistant - Brunswick Ohio; Special education assistant & Personal Care Assistant - Erie, Pennsylvania; Joined Porter Academy in 2008.
Specialists
JODY KERSHNER - Music Therapist (e-mail)
B.A. in Music Therapy; 30 years of music therapy experience in education and mental health settings; Member of American Association for Music Therapy; Trained with Dr. Gary Mesibov and Dr. Stanley Greenspan; ORFF music education; Collaborates with teachers to incorporate music into the classroom; Joined Porter Academy in 2003.
JENNY TOWNSEND – Art Teacher (e-mail)
Master of Fine Arts - Georgia State, B.F.A. Washington U in Art; 21 years experience teaching art in private schools and community centers; Oversees the art curriculum for Porter Academy and develops projects appropriate to targeted age groups; Teaches a variety of art and media and collaborates with classroom teachers to integrate art curriculum with classroom topics. Joined Porter Academy in 2008.
NANCY KNIGHT – Occupational Therapist (e-mail)
B.S. in Occupational Therapy; Over 30years experience as OT/PT; Certified and licensed occupational therapist; Worked in Fulton County School systems from 1987-2002; Joined Porter Academy in 2007.
LYNN SCHOENECK – Occupational Therapist (e-mail)
M.S. in Occupational Therapy; B.A. in Psychology with honors; Certified and licensed occupational therapist; Attended continuing education courses in Handwriting Without Tear and Solving the Handwriting Puzzle; Auditory training (Integrated Listening Systems, Therapeutic Listening); Visual processing, multiple sensory processing courses, as well as continuing education on learning differences; Joined Porter Academy in 2004.
KRISTINE KASSALEN - Media Specialist (email)
Master's degree in Library Media Technology; BS in Psychology from Florida International University with a Minor in Religious Studies; Teacher Aid at Pinecrest Academy 2005-06; Media Specialist for Upper School at Pinecrest Academy from 2006-2009; Has served as media specialist at Porter Academy since 2009.
