Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! I start every year with a theme and this year I wanted to include students in my "Mandalorians...AVID and STEM are the way." We will start the very first day with a "wear your favorite Star Wars shirt or a Porter Pride t-shirt" for a Spirit Day. I LOVE the first day of school and I will never take the excitement of seeing kids on the first day of school for granted ever again since remote learning and the pandemic!  I feel very fortunate to serve this community, be a part of the Porter Pride Family and I believe there is no better place to learn than our school.  

Let me tell you a little about myself.  I am a native of Arizona, growing up in the Old Pueblo of Tucson.  My husband and I have been married for 37 years.  We are both adopted, and we were both born in the same hospital.  We have two children who were both born in Mesa and raised in Mesa Public Schools, a son who served in the Army and a daughter who graduated from Arizona State University.  I am so excited to share with you that I have a grandson who attends Pre-K at Porter and a new granddaughter that I am absolutely in love with and you will probably meet them at family events.

As for my professional background, I hold a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona. I hold two Masters’ degrees - the first in Bilingual and Multicultural Education from Northern Arizona University; the second, in Educational Leadership from Arizona State University.  Yes, I am a Wildcat, Lumberjack, and a Sun Devil!

My vision for your child is that they enter adulthood as prepared problem solvers who will continually improve the world around them.  With creative learning opportunities at Porter, and your parental involvement, we will work together to ensure that your child reaches their potential.  Our school vision is - "Academic excellence is expected, possible and attainable by being respectful, responsible and safe." I will do my very best to ensure your child meets all of the skills and attitudes of the  MPS Portrait of a Graduate when they leave Porter for junior high.

I have the goal of being in your child's classroom on a regular basis and would appreciate your support by setting appointments to meet with me in advance.  I am more than happy to meet with parents before school or after school, but as much as possible, during school is reserved for increasing the learning taking place in all rooms around campus so that every child is successful. 

My direct line to reach me by phone is 472-6676 or by email is keray@mpsaz.org.  Please contact me to celebrate any success stories your child has had or any concerns you have about their welfare.

Warm regards,

 Kathy Ray
Porter Elementary School Principal