Head of School and Founder
Barbara Porter
Barbara
Porter occupies a special place in the history and life of St. Francis
School. She is both Founder and Head of School, and it is her vision of
education and attention to a child's individual developmental needs
which has always driven the excellence by which St. Francis has become
known.
Barbara is British-born, raised and educated in the north of England near the Yorkshire/Lancashire border. After graduating from the Victoria School of Education at Manchester University, she taught in London for a short time before taking up a teaching position in the United States.
Prior to moving to Austin, Barbara spent time teaching in private schools in Indianapolis, Indiana and Sacramento, California. She also spent three years teaching English as a second language in Zaragoza, Spain. Austin has been her home for over twenty years. During most of this time she has been the Head Of School at St. Francis, a private nondenominational school for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
While living in Austin, Barbara spent a number of years volunteering for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) and Hospice. She is also a graduate of the 2000 class of Leadership Austin. She is a member of "Town & Gown" and Rotary Club Of Austin.
Barbara enjoys watching all sports having grown up as an
ardent soccer, cricket and tennis fan. Living in Lakeway she enjoys
outdoor activities, especially those water related. Barbara enjoys
traveling, reading, dining out, cooking, visiting with her son, Chris
(a St. Francis graduate) and walking her English bulldog, Bentley.
