Along with welcoming all the freshmen for the new school year, let’s say hi to the new Highland teachers.
After working at Highland for seven years as a paraprofessional (assistant teacher), helping students as they went from class to class, Porter Treanor is now officially the new behavior support teacher.
As a behavior support teacher, Treanor’s room is open to anyone who may feel stressed or overwhelmed in class and just need a breather. Students can come into his classroom to work on homework, talk to their teachers, and anything else they might need.
“Anything that can help them be more successful in the class…we come up with tools for individuals to help them work through (stress),” Treanor said.
Teachers can be one of the most important role models in a student’s life. Their attitudes towards teaching can factor into how well students learn, and how much they want to try in school.
Treanor’s main goal is to be a teacher students can rely on by being consistent and punctual, connecting with each student by learning about their likes and dislikes, and being an outlet and having a “centered space” for anyone who needs it.
Treanor wants to give support to students because he knows what it’s like to not have any in high school.
Good teachers give their students things they never got in school. For Treanor, he strives to be “a more open and patient teacher” that is “willing to sit down and have a conversation” rather than someone who doesn’t have patience for rowdy kids.
After graduating from Olympus, Treanor got his bachelor’s of science in psychology at the University of Utah, and is currently in the middle of his master’s program in education at the U.
Treanor loves teaching because not only does he teach others, he also learns about himself and finds happiness in seeing others grow.
“I learn more about how to teach better, which is exciting for me to see growth in students and other people…and growth in myself,” Treanor said.
When he’s not supporting students, you can find Treanor either outside climbing, backpacking, and biking, or you can find him inside playing Magic the Gathering. A fantasy card game that requires quick thinking.
“I like the strategy in it. It’s fully creative for you to make your own combination of effects,” Treanor said as he spoke about wanting to start a club at Highland for the game.
When your job is very scheduled and straight forward, sometimes it’s fun to let your creative side show.
As Porter Treanor keeps supporting students as they learn and grow, Highland is excited to see what he can do.
