Donald Porter opened doors to education
by Judy Williams
Around the world, Nov. 19 is recognized as International Men’s Day to “celebrate, worldwide, the positive value men bring to the world, their families, and communities.” Once again, in our November issue, Stockbridge Community News is featuring Men of the Hour—three men from our own little corner of the world who make a notable difference in our community. Congratulations to Don Porter for being nominated as a Man of the Hour. This is Don’s story.
Don Porter enjoying a moment, post-retirement, while communing with nature.
As a dedicated educator, Donald H. Porter, Jr. made a difference in many lives. Parents and students who were part of the Stockbridge Community Schools family between the years of 1973 to 2004 know Donald Porter. During this period, he served the district well in many roles.
He was a middle school/high school assistant principal, a high school assistant principal, an elementary school principal, assistant superintendent and head of migrant education. Not only that, but he worked hard to provide area students with programs to enhance their education.
The early years
While growing up in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Don lived in a typical middle-class neighborhood where everybody knew everyone else on the block. In first grade, Don was transferred to a new school, Chappel Elementary. This was the first integrated elementary school in that community.
“This experience gave me empathy for others,” Don said.
He attended Ypsilanti Roosevelt High School, an Eastern Michigan University training school for EMU students majoring in education. In high school, he excelled in swimming; Don earned a varsity letter all four years of his high school career.
Next, he attended Eastern Michigan University, majoring in history. A highlight of his college career was lettering as a member of the EMU varsity swim team.
On the job
Don’s first job was teaching history and government at Ypsilanti High School. Not only a popular teacher, he was a successful varsity swimming coach and the head of the community’s AAU swimming program. During the two summers that Porter taught swimming classes, he certified 800 swimmers.
Five years later, in 1973, Don was hired by the Stockbridge Community Schools to be an assistant principal in the overcrowded building that housed both middle school and high school.
The crowd cheers as physical education and football coach Al Francis (right) knocks Assistant Principal Donald Porter (left) off the stand during a fundraiser for the student council.
“This was a tough first assignment,” he said. “As an assistant principal, a few of my responsibilities were student discipline, evaluating teachers, and supervising after-school activities such as sports and dances.”
Principal Donald Porter (front) looking dapper in the Halloween Parade.
Family life
While in college, Don worked as a manager for an apartment building. Tammy, a girl he knew from high school, heard there was an available apartment for rent. She wanted that apartment and was relentless in her attempt to be the new renter. This was the start of their romance. On Dec. 16, 1967, they married at Ypsilanti’s Congregational Church.
The Porters now have four children: Donald lives in Virginia; Micah, in Colorado; Casey, in Massachusetts, and Tara, in Michigan. Don and Tammy also have been blessed with 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
While living in Stockbridge for more than 50 years, the Porter family jumped into being a part of the community. They have been members of the United Methodist Church, the Lions Club (where Don served as president and zone chairman), and band boosters. Don has volunteered as a soccer coach, referee, and writer for the Stockbridge Community News. He has participated in numerous other activities and groups, including serving as a member of the Stockbridge United Way board.
Educational programs
Don is proud of the Mini Pioneer Days program. With the help of grant money and Hattie Beckwith’s knowledge of Stockbridge area history, a local history program began. Students took walking history tours of Stockbridge. They also had hands-on experiences at the Waterloo Farm Museum, built in the 1850s, and the Dewey School, an 1800s one-room schoolhouse. The on-site activities were a great way to learn about the lives of the early settlers in the area.
Principal Donald Porter (far right) watches with students as they get to try their hand at basket weaving during a Mini Pioneer Day event.
He also spearheaded a project to keep a physical fitness program in the school district.
“I worked for the school during some tough financial times,” Don said. “At one point, there was talk of the physical education program being cut.
“I have strong feelings about the importance of physical education for our students and wanted to do something,” he continued. “First, I contacted the Department of Health and Human Services. They couldn’t help but suggested I contact Blue Cross Blue Shield. Blue Cross Blue Shield, along with the University of Michigan, pulled together a program called ‘Fitness for Youth.’ We ended up being part of their pilot program. This program included health, nutrition, and physical activity.”
During the time he was the elementary principal, Don also was director of the Migrant Education Program for the area. One day, a state migrant education official inquired if Don could use a shipment of books from Xerox for the migrant program. Xerox had decided to phase-out publishing children’s books and wanted to make the donation for a tax break.
You can imagine his surprise when he was expecting 100,000 books—already quite a large number—but instead received a million books! Don had to rent a U-Haul truck to distribute the books to the migrant workers and their families.
State migrant education official (left) and Donald Porter (right) standing with a million books. Can you imagine Porter’s surprise when he was expecting 100,000 books and received a million.
Friends of Education and millions of books
The large donation led him to put on his thinking cap. Don believed this would be a great program to expand for all of the needy children of Michigan. With this thought, he approached the Michigan Department of Education.
In 1973, he received the first of several grants and soon the Michigan Friends of Education, a nonprofit organization, had its start. In no time, big-name publishing houses were contacting the Michigan Friends of Education to donate books.
“I’m glad I’ve had the opportunity to promote reading,” Don said. “What an impact those books have made on needy children and adults in Michigan.”
Between the summer of 1983 to Sept. 30, 2009, a total of 22,657,649 books were distributed to children in at-risk programs, homeless shelters and adult care organizations. The books had a total value of $149,478,239.
U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (a member of Congress at the time) congratulated Don for his work with Friends of Education.
In a letter to him, she wrote, “You exemplify what it means to be a friend of education. You never wavered in your conviction that reading books opens doors for children and adults alike. For that reason, many students and adults have had access to educational materials they otherwise could not have afforded.”
The Michigan Friends of Education program earned Don Porter several awards and citations. He also received hundreds of letters from children and adults, thanking him for the books that helped them on the pathway to literacy. He served as the director of this program for 20-plus years of the 26 years the program was in existence.
Donald Porter receives the 1998 MEA Distinguished Service Award. From left, Tammy Porter, MEA Vice President Lynn Larson, Donald Porter and MEA Representative.
Busy in retirement
Now, in his retirement years, Don enjoys playing cards or board games with friends, golfing with his buds, and watching the grandkids participate in their sporting events. Woodworking, another activity he enjoys, gives him the opportunity to make special items, such as toy boxes, for his grandchildren.
Don shared a few words of wisdom to pass on to the younger generation.
“It’s important to be understanding and kind,” he said. “Help people get through their tough times and to reach their full potential.”
Through the years, Don has worked to make a difference, and wife Tammy was there along the way.
“Don is patient, sensitive, hardworking, smart, kind, thoughtful, and loving,” Tammy said. “I’m proud of all of his accomplishments. He has truly made this community a better place.”
