Lyn M. Porter is a physical education instructor at the Allen Brook School, where she has worked with pre-kindergarten through second grade students since 1991. A natural athlete with a gift for working with children and youth, she had always considered the possibility of a career in education. Her decision to teach was inspired by one of her own high school teachers, who, though popular with other students, failed to connect with her.
Inspired to make more of a difference in the lives of her own students, Ms. Porter earned a Bachelor of Science in physical education and coaching at Castleton University in 1987, and in 2006, she completed a Master of Arts in elementary education and teaching through Kaplan University. In addition to teaching in-person and virtual physical education and recreation classes at the Allen Brook School, she sits on the school’s curriculum instruction, classroom management, and virtual teaching and leadership committees. Before joining the staff at the Allen Brook School, Ms. Porter was the director of Twin Hills, Pineridge, and Wapanaki Girl Scout Camps, as well as a recreation and avocation assistant for Northland Job Corps.
Outside her work in education, Ms. Porter is a certified EMT, pediatric advanced life support technician, and child passenger safety car seat technician who has worked with the Hinesburg Fire Department since 2018. She has been a volunteer first responder for Champlain Valley Exposition First Response since 2014 and is the former Hinesburg Fire Department secretary. Ms. Porter is the past president and member-at-large of SHAPE America’s eastern district and has coordinated the organization’s Let’s Move Active School at the state and district level for more than a decade.
In recognition of her work in education, Ms. Porter was named the 2020 Vermont Sanford Teacher of the Year and is a two-time Vermont Association for Health Physical Education Teacher of the Year. She was also the recipient of such awards as the SHAPE America Margie R. Hanson Distinguished Elementary Service Award. Ms. Porter credits her success to her lifelong learning ethos and passion for her work, and hopes to continue to grow as a professional by moving into conference and workshop leadership in the coming years.
