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Porter Elementary School

Excellence Happens Here

Meet our Campus Leadership Team

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Dr. Brown

I have been in education for 24 years and have had the privilege to serve students, teachers, staff, and school communities from PreK3-12th grade. My undergraduate studies were completed at the University of Texas at Tyler with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Spanish. I graduated with a Master’s of Educational Leadership from Lamar University, and later earned my Doctorate of Educational Leadership from Texas A&M University-Commerce.  I am committed to ensuring scholars identify their purpose and develop into the individual they were meant to become in life.  I create engaging learning environments that build a strong, positive, holistic school culture grounded in the three culture commitments to develop our scholars in: Academic Excellence, Community Citizenship, and Leadership.

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Mrs. Grady

This is my 23rd year in Education, all in Mesquite ISD. I taught for 13 years before becoming an Intervention Specialist, and then 3 years ago I became the Assistant Principal at Porter.

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Mrs. Ontiveros

My name is Melina Ontiveros and this is my seventh year as a school counselor and my 35th year in education. I earned my Master’s Degree in School Counseling at Lamar University and my Bachelors Degree in Education at National University in Manila, Philippines. I taught Mathematics and Science from 1st grade to 10th grade in the Philippines for 10 years. When I first came to the United States, I got hired as a 2nd grade teacher at Presidio, TX and that’s when I fell in love with elementary school. I also taught in Dallas ISD before I came here in Mesquite ISD. This year is my 15th year at Porter Elementary.

My role as a school counselor is centered on one important purpose: supporting students as they grow academically, socially, emotionally, and personally while partnering with families to help every child reach their full potential.

My journey from teacher to school counselor has strengthened my belief that every student deserves to feel seen, heard, valued, and supported. I am passionate about creating an environment where students feel comfortable asking for help, celebrating their successes, learning from challenges, and developing the skills they need to become confident and successful individuals.

I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our Porter students and families, and also our teachers and staff. My commitment to education continues to be driven by the same passion that guided me throughout my teaching career: to make a positive difference in the lives of children and to help every student recognize that their possibilities are greater than their challenges

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Ms. Goodner

I studied at East Texas A&M University where I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Educational Interdisciplinary Studies.  I then continued my education at the University of North Texas where I earned a Master of Science degree in Library Sciences.  I have been both a classroom teacher and librarian at Porter throughout my career.

I strive to create a welcoming library environment where every student can discover the joy of reading, participate in STEAM challenges, engage in enriching experiences, and develop meaningful learning experiences.

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Ms. Armendariz

I have been in education for over 21 years and all of them in Mesquite ISD- 21 of them at Porter Elementary!  I graduated from University of Texas at Dallas with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies and earned my Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Texas A&M Commerce.  I have taught Kindergarten, 3rd, 4th, and 6th grades- all bilingual.  I work closely with all grade levels, both monolingual and bilingual as an Instructional Coach on our campus.  I am a strong advocate for public education being that I am a product of it and have a child that graduated from it, a child still learning there, and a grandchild beginning his journey.  My passion is to support teachers with instructional strategies that meet the needs of all our diverse learners that have a right to learn and thrive in our schools. 

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Mrs. Tucker

Hi! My name is Chelsea Tucker, and I am thrilled to serve as the AIM Specialist (Assessment, Intervention, Multi-Tier Student Support Specialist) here at Porter Elementary. I am a proud alumni of Texas A&M University-Commerce, where I earned both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. For the past 15 years, I have proudly served the students and families of the Porter community, spending many rewarding years as a first-grade and third-grade classroom teacher before transitioning into my current role. Today, I partner closely with our incredible educators to analyze data and design tailored, data-driven learning interventions that support each student’s unique, individual needs.

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Mrs. Hughey

My name is Katie Hughey. I graduated from UNT with my BS, and A&M Commerce with my MS in Curriculum and Instruction. This is my 15th year teaching. I have taught Kinder, 3rd, and now ESL. I love working with teachers and students.