Portell wasn’t initially on the educator path. “I was into forestry, but people kept saying kids gravitate toward you. I didn’t receive my educational degree until 29.” Now, his days are filled with impacting the lives of children and unapologetically disrupting the education field.

Portell’s days as a principal weren’t trauma-informed. It was a lecture he attended on ACES (adverse childhood experiences) that changed everything. “It happened fast that I changed from what we were doing to kids was not what we should be doing for them,” Portell recalled.

Portell quickly began training on ACES and trauma. “Trauma-informed is an operating system. It’s moving from the idea of what’s wrong with kids to what is happening to them,” Portell explained.

Co-regulation became the forefront, which Portell described as “putting our oxygen masks on before we help others and remaining calm amidst the storm.” He continued, “The science is clear that it’s imperative to stand calm and help through dysregulation.”

Portell has created numerous programs that help students and educators, but he knows there’s a long way to go. “Our culture is so grounded in punishment and feel that’s the answer to teaching kids skills. Historically, if someone doesn’t know how to behave, we punish. What we need to do is build capacity for kids and reinforce by teaching.”