Stella Porto

Coach

908-463-1300

Stella has provided leadership support in academics and sports, as a college athlete, coach, and school administrator for over 30 years. Stella has worked 30 years in The New York City Department of Education with licenses in special education k-12, Assistive Technology Director and School District Administration Special Education. Stella has earned her BS, MS in Special Education from The College of Staten Island and her SDA Ed. D from The College of St. Rose in Albany. Stella is currently an education consultant. Stella won an Academic Scholar Athlete Award to play softball at Long Island University Division I where she helped her team win the ECACs in 1986. Stella Transferred to The College of Staten Island to finish her remaining athletic time winning three CUNY Softball titles. Stella also played volleyball during her undergrad years. As a young special education teacher Stella was chosen to represent technology integration for the largest special education district in the world, D75. Stella was selected to the NYU Professional Development Laboratories Program where she was working with the NYCDOE Central & District offices creating programs for integrating technology throughout New York City Special Education Classrooms. Stella was inducted into The Who's Who for Assistive Technology in 2005. Stella earned The Don Johnson Outstanding Educator Award in 2005 & 2006. She later left the district to work in the largest special education school site (24 schools we were a part of) as an administrator in charge of Alternate Assessment where she helped develop a 1:1 computer initiative middle school program, alternate assessment PreK-12 school program and a sports program grades 6-12. Stella worked with standardized student athletes and their guidance counselors reach their dreams of playing varsity, travel ball, and NCAA College Athletics.

In her spare time Stella was a Division III Softball Coach for The College of Staten Island where she earned Coach of the Year 7 Times, ECAC Coach of The Year, won 12 CUNY Championships, had 12 NCAA appearances and remains the winningest coach in CUNY history to date. Stella Specialized in recruiting students who needed extra support including having IEPs. She states that was the secret to her success. She helped give students access to softball and helped give them academic guidance through their tenure as a college athlete as the students advocate. Sports have been her constant go to for joy her entire life. Stella stated without it she would not be where she is today. Stella devoted both her careers to students and student athletes who needed that extra support academically and athletically.