Congratulations Mr. Willke for being the November Staff Member of the Month! PHS wants to thank you for all the hard work and dedication you’ve put into making this school the best it can be!

Mr. Willke was nominated for this honor by English teacher Ms. Sutherland.

“Mr. Willke has been a leader for the 10th grade ELA team this school year,” Sutherland said. “He has also been a major contributor for the Spartan Oracle and has started a Creative Writing Contest for students [so] that they can show off their writing skills. “

Teachers aren’t the only ones who appreciate Willke, however. Many of his students enjoyed being in his classroom.

“Mr. Willke absolutely deserves the title ‘Teacher of the Month'” junior Deanna Harvey said. “I was in his class last year, and I have nothing but wonderful things to say about him.”

He has even inspired students he didn’t have in English class in places like the Spartan Oracle.

“Although I have not had Mr. Willke as a teacher, he is extremely devoted to the Spartan Oracle, and I can only imagine it is the same for his students,” junior Eli Woods said. “Not only does Mr. Willke care about his commitments, he always has an uplifting, carefree essence that sets you at ease, helping you perform your best.”

All around, Mr. Willke is beloved by many at Porter High School, teachers and students alike. He could not be more grateful to have been given this honor.

“Thank you to Ms. Espitia and the TAFE program for this wonderful program, and thank you to Ms. Sutherland for the nomination,” Willke said. “I am thrilled and honored to be chosen as the teacher of the month.”

Once again, congratulations Mr. Willke!

Interview:

About Mr. Willke

1. Where did you grow up?
   1. I grew up in Jersey Village, in NW Houston.
2. What did you want to be when you were a kid?
   1. I think I always knew I would be a teacher in some way. As a kid I worked with other students to help them regularly.
3. What extracurricular activities were you involved in during high school and college?
   1. Theatre. I played Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast and Tartuffe in Tartuffe. I was also in Jekyll and Hyde, but I only had a single line and my voice cracked on that line every single night.
4. If you could give a piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
   1. Don’t let your self-doubts keep you from being sure of what you want. You’re more capable than you think.
5. What did you major in?
   1. After jumping between four different majors (Business, Biology, Business, History), I settled on English!
6. What inspired you to become a teacher?
   1. The excitement of bringing literature and the passion of studying literature to another generation.
7. How long have you been teaching? How long at Porter?
   1. 7 years? I’ve only ever taught at Porter.
8. What’s your favorite memory from Porter?
   1. Going to all the UIL competitions with our journalism and spelling groups.
9. Who inspires you in life?
   1. My wife, who consistently amazes me with her dedication to her career and studies. I can only wish for the skills she has developed.
10. Do you have any pets?
    1. Yes! We have a dog named Kenneth. He’s the best.
11. Do you have any advice for students at Porter?
    1. Self-reflection and awareness are the most important traits you can build each and every day. Foster those qualities, and you’ll find success.

Just for Fun Questions

12. If you could have any superpower which one would it be?
    1. My superpower is teaching. Plus iceman stuff I guess.
13. If you were a potato, what way would you like to be cooked?
    1. Fried. Whole.
14. Which of Snow White’s seven dwarfs describes you best?
    1. I like to think I’m Happy, but really I’m the old witch. Built like Doc though
15. If you could audition for a talent TV show, what song would you pick and why?
    1. “Sounds of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel.