Jim Porter Kansas State Board of Education - District 9

07/12/2026

Jean Clifford is an excellent candidate and would be an excellent member of the Kansas State Board of Education. I had the privilege of working with Jean during her previous term on the Board. She proved to be well informed, open minded and extremely prepared for meetings. I did not know Jean before she became a member but was immediately impressed with her professionalism and competence. All of her decisions focused on what was best for all Kansas Students. You don't rise to the rank of full Colonel in the Air Force without significant leadership qualities and those leadership qualities have been and will be a real asset for the Board.
I had intended to nominate Jean as the next Chair of the Board when my term in that position ended as I believe she has the necessary qualities to excel in that position.
Finally I want to express admiration for her intelligence. Her thoughtful decision making and rational for decisions are extremely impressive. It does not bother me at all to confess that Jean is more intelligent than I am and am happy to be able to support her as the District 5 candidate for the Kansas State Board of Education in the August Primary.
As said before, I am expressing my opinion and am totally responsible for this message. If you support anyone else or have negative comments, that is your right. However, negative comments with not be tolerated on this post and will be immediately deleted.

07/11/2026

As I leave the State Board of Education I am concerned that the members continue to be supporters of public education. Therefore, I plan on identifying a couple of candidates who I know to be strong advocates and have proven records of positive educational leadership. I am only identifying candidates who have primary races at this time. During my discussion I will not criticize other candidates. It is common that during highly political environments candidates with whom you may not agree with are denigrated as a matter of course. I will remain positive as I believe that the effort to tear down anyone, just because we may disagree, is morally reprehensible.

In district # 9, which is the district I have represented for the past 12 years please consider Destry Brown as an outstanding candidate, who I believe would be an excellent member.
I have known Destry for about two decades as an Assistant Superintendent in Chanute, a Superintendent in Frontenac, Pittsburg and Fort Scott as well as a brief stint as a Superintendent in Missouri.

He has always been a visionary leader searching for ways to improve opportunities for all students for whom he is responsible. He has not only been an effective leader in the schools where he has served but is also recognized as an educational leader across the state. We have served together on the Board of the Kansas School Superindentents Association and he has also served in various other professional leadership positions. He has also been an effective community leader everywhere he has served.

I have full confidence in Destry to the point that I believe that his election to this position will be a step up from my service.

I will be voting for Destry Brown in the August Primary and urge you to consider doing so also.

These are my thoughts only. Everyone has the right to support whomever they choose, but not on this post. If you want to support another candidate or make any negative comment feel free to do so, but not here. Negative responses will be deleted immediately.

The next candidate support message will be forthcoming.

07/10/2026

I have not posted on this website for a while but I feel the need to restart that process. I have been honored to have served on the Kansas State Board of Education for the past 12 years. During that time I have served with a number of very good colleagues. We have not always agreed but I have not doubted their desire to work for the best interest of the almost half-million public school students in Kansas. However, I now have considerable concerns about what I have been hearing from some of the current candidates. Should members of the Kansas State Board of Education support public education? Should members of the Kansas State Board of Education support and honor the dedicated school personnel who work every day for the best interest of their students? I believe that the answer to these questions should be a resounding "YES."
However, some of the things I am hearing cause me significant concern. I hear from some candidates that schools are failing and at least one candidate has referred to public schools as a train wreck. I will be the first to acknowledge that public schools are not perfect and there is much room for improvement. However, using selective data to declare that schools are failing is an insult, especially to the tens of thousands of teachers who are on the front line every day and working harder than ever. It also insults that support, administrative and other dedicated personnel who show up every day to help students succeed. Therefore, if you support public education and hear candidates use negative language like failure or train wreck, etc. it is a logical conclusion that they are not supporters of public education but are part of the national and state anti public education community who have to tear down public schools to justify sending public funds to other than public schools (welfare for the wealthy). Because graduation rates are improving and continuing to improve critics of public education question the results as that fact does not fit their negative schools are failing narrative . However, the improvement likely reflects the Individual Plan of Study, implemented by the Board several years ago to help students develop plans that fit their interest and abilities so that graduation is not just the counting of credits but the development and implementation of plans for the future. Here is data that you will never hear from those who are claiming that schools are failing:
Last year there were a record number of post secondary courses taken by public school students - 40,709, a record number of college credits earned 366,007, a record number of students earning 3, 4 or 5 on AP exams. Also a total of 17,702 have or are taking LETRS training in best practices in the teaching of reading and there is a 21% reduction in teacher vacancies. These are not the statistics of failure but should be celebrations of success. Please listen to the words of the candidates. If their message is only negative they may not be who you want to represent you in making the best decisions to support the success of the students of Kansas. Each Kansas student deserves positive advocates serving on the Kansas State Board of Education. We are at a crossroads. Please choose wisely.
I will be posting information about candidates who have proven records of working in the best interest of Kansas in the near future.

Also, these comments come only from me and do not represent the State Board of Education or any other group.

Also, this is my page. If you disagree and want to post negative comments they will be immediately deleted. You are free to post anything you want to your social media but just not here.

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05/30/2024

What do you think? Thumbs up if you agree!

image via TeacherGoals

12/05/2023

We got to attend a wonderful concert presented by the Newton Community Children’s Choir on Sunday. Also performing was the Select Choir from Goessel High School. Both groups were outstanding. Full disclosure, our granddaughter is part of the Children’s Choir, which makes this old music teacher extremely proud.

04/21/2023

04/20/2023