Meet the Principal

Principal’s Message

Dear Porter Elementary School Family,

It is my honor and privilege to serve as the Principal of G.R. Porter Elementary School. With 24 years of experience in education, I have been blessed with opportunities to serve students, teachers, staff, families, and community partners in a variety of roles. Throughout my career, one thing has remained constant: I believe every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, lead, and thrive.

My calling as an educator is to create engaging and meaningful learning experiences that develop the whole child—emotionally, mentally, physically, and academically. I believe that when children feel valued, supported, challenged, and connected, they are empowered to reach their fullest potential.

My journey in education began at the University of Texas at Tyler, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish with an English as a Second Language (ESL) Endorsement. During my undergraduate studies, I had the opportunity to study abroad twice in Mexico—first in Cuernavaca at Tecnológico de Monterrey and later in Puebla. These experiences strengthened my appreciation for culture, language, global learning, and the importance of creating inclusive learning environments where every student feels a sense of belonging.

I began my career as a Spanish teacher and spent eight years serving students through a variety of programs, including the Middle Years Programme (MYP) International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, Pre-AP, and Advanced Placement (AP). I later served as a Campus Interventionist, Campus Instructional Coach, and MYP IB Coordinator. These experiences allowed me to support students and educators from multiple perspectives and deepened my commitment to instructional excellence.

In 2012, I began my journey as an educational leader. I earned a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Lamar University and later earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Texas A&M University-Commerce. Throughout my leadership career, I have had the privilege of leading, supporting, and developing students and educators across every level from PreK3 through 12th grade.

As the proud principal of G.R. Porter Elementary, I am committed to building a strong, positive, and holistic school culture grounded in three culture commitments:

Academic Excellence — ensuring every student receives engaging, rigorous, and meaningful learning experiences that inspire curiosity and growth.

Community Citizenship — fostering a culture of kindness, belonging, responsibility, respect, and service where students understand the importance of contributing to their school and community abroad.

Leadership — empowering every child to recognize their strengths, develop their voice, make positive choices, and see themselves as leaders.

At Porter, we are a school family! We believe that educating children is a partnership among students, educators, families, and our community. Together, we will continue to create a school where every child is known, valued, challenged, supported, and celebrated.

Our mission is to Grow Every Student, and we are committed to bringing our vision to life each and every day through our single focus:

Every Child. Every Need. Whatever It Takes.

Thank you for entrusting us with the privilege of educating and nurturing your children. I look forward to partnering with you, celebrating our students, supporting our teachers and staff, and continuing to make G.R. Porter Elementary a place where every child has the opportunity to live the Mesquite Promise to excel, belong, have dignity, and be a difference maker.

With gratitude and great enthusiasm,

Dr. Litisha Brown
Principal, Porter Elementary School