During his run as state representative of House District 42, Jeff Porter was a big supporter of public education.

“He stood fast and he made decisions based on what he thought in conversations with area superintendents in Northeast Missouri that were best for public education,” Montgomery County R-II Superintendent Dr. Tracy Bottoms said. “We always don’t get that support in Jefferson City. So we really greatly appreciated it.”

Porter’s contributions to education helped him win a big honor on March 22. The Montgomery City resident was one of eight individuals to receive the Missouri Association of School Administrators Friends of Education award. Porter received his plaque during the awards banquet at the MASA Spring Conference at the Lodge of Four Seasons at the Lake of the Ozarks.

“I was kind of a fish out of water,” Porter said. “I went down there and I appreciated it. I didn’t know that I was involved until this happened.”

Porter was nominated for the award by colleagues in the Northeast MASA District. The Friends of Education award is presented annually to recognize non-educators from each of the eight MASA districts for their work in education locally or statewide.

“I knew some of the folks at the Northeast (District) had some interactions with Jeff Porter,” Bottoms said. “So we decided to nominate him because of his support for public education. I know he’s not currently serving in the House or Senate, but during his time there when he was in the House, there was not someone who had a louder voice in Jefferson City trying to help public education than Jeff Porter.”

One of Porter’s major contributions to education happened last year, when he filed a bill, HB 2567, which focuses on early childhood literacy and creates the Imagination Library of Missouri Program.

Porter said being an advocate for public education was challenging.

“I fought some battles and I took some heat on some things, but I don’t care as long as I take care of my constituents and the people back home,” Porter said. “That’s like trying to be a bodyguard. They have to make sure they understand our rural values for public education. You always hear about metro issues, which I think are important. But I’m brought to the dance because of my area and I have to represent my area.”  

Porter said he communicates with superintendents and listens to their concerns about what needs to be done about public education.

“I’ve been in sales my whole life,” Porter said. “A lot of times, listening is the best thing you can do for people. That’s what I tried to do.”