It's All About the Effort

Tweet! Tweet! The sound of a whistle, the burst of sneakers on the gym floor, the swish of a basketball, and a volleyball thumping against palms echo throughout the gym. Students laugh, complain during pushups, and secretly stop planking when the teacher turns away. Some arrive before school to get in shape in the weight room or in weight training class, while others learn about the four domains of health.

Mr. Porrecco teaches all of that. He teaches PE, Teen Choices, weight training, and also coaches the girls’ basketball team.

“I always try to help our students become the best versions of themselves every day,” said Mr. Porrecco. “It’s all about the effort you put into something to reach any goal you have.”

He builds that mindset with his energy and attitude in the classroom and in the gym.

“I think you have to be extremely positive and upbeat,” explained Mr. Porrecco. “You want to motivate the students to want to engage in your class.”

Sophomore Ava Swartzendruber has experienced that warm, uplifting attitude firsthand in her Teen Choices class.

“He may be a bit stricter than others, but he’s super understanding and nice,” said Swartzendruber.

Another student who has taken multiple classes with Mr. Porrecco shared a similar view, especially regarding athletics.

“He teaches weight training, and I think he does a good job at that because he is definitely a sports person,” noted sophomore Daelin Ruff. “I think he just makes it more enjoyable for the students.”

Sophomore Rylee Cox, who has also taken Teen Choices and weight training, shared a similar experience.

“Mr. Porrecco has a clear passion for engaging students and teaching the class, making it feel more interactive and easier to want to do work,” shared Cox.

Despite the praise, Mr. Porrecco remains modest.

“I’m a very humble person. I’d rather go unnoticed and just make impacts, like seeing kids improving and doing things. That’s more gratifying than an honor like this,” explained Mr. Porrecco.