Miss Porter’s School

Mr. Ahn holds two master’s degrees in education and technology from Columbia University and currently pursuing a doctorate in education in Instructional Technology and Media at Columbia University. His research includes using game mechanics and dynamics to increase learner engagement and motivation. Mr. Ahn is also an entrepreneur, having founded various startup companies and he has worked with startups in the global education and technology industry of all sizes from multiple countries. He has mentored and advised hundreds of middle to high school students as a professional educational consultant and many of his students have gone on to produce mobile apps and launch companies or nonprofit organizations. Mr. Ahn enjoys using human-centered design to design learning experiences that are highly immersive and experiential. All of his courses and programs feature engagement with industry professionals, site visits, and real-world problem-solving projects.

Mr. Ahn lives on campus with his wife and their two sons. He also serves as an advisor and a mentor to the TIE certificate students as well as creating new opportunities like hackathons and internships.

Dr. John Bryk graduated from Williams College in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics. There, he was active in student theater, was on the board of directors of the student-run radio station, and was the recipient of the Rosenstein Award for best mathematics major in his senior year. Dr. Bryk then earned his doctorate in mathematics in 2012 from Rutgers University, where he researched algebraic number theory and automorphic forms. Dr. Bryk was a professor in the mathematics and computer science departments at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, a constituent school of the City University of New York in New York City, from 2009 until 2016. He then decided to make the change to teaching high school and worked at Dwight-Englewood School in Englewood, N.J., before coming to Porter's in 2018. He was drawn to Porter’s because of the rich history of the school, the confident and welcoming attitude of the students, and the innovative academic approach of the faculty.

Dr. Bryk teaches mathematics and lives on campus. He also serves as an advisor, dorm affiliate, and advisor to the mock trial team.

The Lucile Thieriot Walker ’31 Teaching Chair

Sophie Paris graduated from Colgate University with an Honors degree in Studio Art, with a concentration in Photography. Sophie is a Photojournalist, who worked for clients including the United Nations, Bill Gates Foundation, Yele Haiti, UNDP, Corbis, New York Times, International Herald Tribune, Miami Herald, Newsweek, Getty, AP and Reuters from 1998 to 2012. Sophie also traveled with Hillary Clinton during her primary run for US President as her personal photographer from 2007-2008, after which she attended the One Year Full-Time Certificate program studying Photojournalism and Documentary Photography at the International Center of Photography in NYC. In 2004, the UN sent Sophie to Haiti to photograph the political insecurity, within days her love for Haiti was ignited, and she decided to make her home in a seaside fishing village where she lived until moving to Farmington in 2012 to join Porter’s faculty. Sophie’s Haiti work has been widely exhibited in Haiti, New York City, and Geneva and it has been published in several books.

Mr. Torrence, a graduate of Brooks School, attended Stanford University and
the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), graduating with a bachelor’s
degree in fine arts. Mr. Torrence taught for several years at the Creative
Arts Workshop in New Haven and then earned his master’s degree of fine arts
from Yale University. (MFA 1981). He taught as an assistant at RISD and
Yale University, and as an adjunct professor at Southern Connecticut State
University before moving to New York City, where he worked for several
years at a 57th street art gallery, in the field of fine art conservation,
and as teacher at Pratt Institute. He joined the Porter’s faculty in 1998.
He has received a Mishkenot Sha'ananim Fellowship for travel to Israel, a
Scholastic Art Teacher Award, the Margaret Howe Wallace ’27 Teaching Chair,
and a Cravens’ Grant. Mr. Torrence has also served as an AP Studio Art
reader and has shown his paintings extensively in New York, New England,
and beyond. He is a member of the Bowery Gallery in New York City.

Mr. Torrence teaches studio art (painting, drawing, and printmaking) and
lives on campus with his wife and two daughters, both current Porter’s
students. He has also served as a crew coach and a computer graphics
teacher. He is currently the chair of the arts department, director of the
galleries, and an advisor.