Skyline High School Community Assistant Mike Porter grew up in Ann Arbor and attended Ann Arbor Public Schools, beginning at Northside Elementary and continuing through Thurston Elementary, Clague Middle School, and Huron High School.
During high school, Porter served as captain of the football team, ran track for all four years, and sang in an a cappella group. He began his college education at Washtenaw Community College before transferring to Grand Rapids Community College, where he played football.
He lived in Marietta, Georgia, while working at Lockheed Martin for eight years before a layoff led him to move back to Ann Arbor in 2017. He started working for AAPS at Tappan Middle School in 2022 and three years later transferred to Skyline. This is his second year there.
Principal Casey Elmore says Porter is a hard worker who consistently goes above and beyond the expected.
“Mike takes pride in doing a great job, and he works a lot of after-school events for us, so he gets to know the kids in all different environments,” says Elmore. “He is a positive, happy guy who loves Skyline, and we appreciate all he does to keep the school safe and positive. The kids see him as a trusted adult and know he has their best interests at heart.”
And one more thing: “He loves his kids and his family, and he loves to cook, so we’re always hearing about the meals he’s making,” she says. “Sometimes, he even brings us samples.”
Fellow Skyline Community Assistant Gary Cooper enjoys working with Porter.
“Mike is a very good, passionate guy who cares about the kids,” Cooper says. “He’s concerned about what’s happening in the building, and he’s very easy to talk to.”
Porter is the father of six. His youngest son attends Skyline High School and is a senior graduating this year. He also has a son attending Western Michigan University and a daughter attending Xavier University of Louisiana, as well as three older adult children.
What does your role as a Community Assistant at Skyline High School involve each day?
As a Community Assistant at Skyline High School, my role is to support students by greeting them each morning, offering motivation, helping them get to class on time, and being there for them throughout the day.
What do you enjoy most about working with Skyline students, staff members, and families?
I love working with the Skyline community because I’m a people person, and I get a lot of joy from the kids’ passion and excitement, as well as from seeing happy families and staff.
What inspired you to become a Community Assistant?
I wanted to be a positive inspiration for kids who lacked male role models, showing them I could be there for them.
What are some of the ways you build positive relationships with students?
Some of the ways I built positive relationships with students were by just first having a conversation and just asking them how their day is going, also ask guestions of how they like school and what their plans are for college, and just asking them general questions like what cars they like and what sports they like, and from then on we had a positive relationship.
Can you share an example of a moment when you felt especially proud to support a student or colleague?
I felt especially proud to support a student at prom last year when three students came up to thank me. They told me how much it meant to them that I listened to them during their tough times, and that my support helped them get through their senior year. I was truly proud and grateful.
What do you hope students learn from their interactions with you?
I hope students learn from their interactions with me that I genuinely have a love for them, that I am caring and supportive, and that I always give my all to help them succeed, stay on the right path, and gain the best knowledge so they can achieve success.
Does being a father of six help you relate to the students?
Being a father of six definitely helps me relate to the students; they remind me of my kids in different ways, so I can relate to them very well.
What’s your go-to order at your favorite local restaurant?
My favorite restaurant is Blimpy Burgers downtown Ann Arbor. I always order a quad on an onion roll with onions, mushrooms, and provolone cheese.
How do you spend your summers?
I spend my summers working at summer school, and after summer school ends, I go fishing for the rest of the time before school starts. I also like barbecuing and spending time with my family.
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