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.