Dr Tom Porta

Hey there, I’m Tom. I am an academic, educator, researcher, and author - I used to write these biographies in the third person, to serve the reader as being an observer of my life, however, I have abandoned this form in my bio.

So, to that end, I will keep it brief.

My world revolves around shaping inclusive education and differentiated instruction. Completing my PhD in Inclusive Education in 2023 was a milestone, and now, I'm weaving my expertise as a Lecturer and educator, into helping schools achieve inclusive education.

With over a decade spent teaching in both primary and secondary settings, and another four years in tertiary education, I've dived deep into inclusive education, numeracy, learning difficulties, disabilities, and crafting programs for high support needs. I served as the Director of Inclusive Education, steering a local school toward a genuine culture of inclusion. It was a journey I'm incredibly proud of. I worked as a curriculum lead and project officer for the South Australian Government, supporting schools in curriculum implementation. Previously, I worked at Seymour College, teaching a range of subjects, heading the South Australian Certificate for Education, Vocational Education, and Learning Support. Previous to Seymour, I worked as Inclusive Education Coordinator for Mary Mackillop College in Kensington.

My research delves into senior-secondary schooling, focusing on how teachers approach differentiated instruction and their attitudes towards it. Exploring curriculum frameworks across Australian states is another passion of mine, seeking ways to enhance instruction efficiency and effectiveness. I'm all about empowering educators through robust professional development, nurturing their skills and confidence in embracing diverse teaching approaches.

I am the author of the book "The dance of differentiation", published by Amba Press in 2024. This book is a culmination of my learnings of a decade of teaching, in how to implement differentiation in the classroom.

Beyond my academic pursuits, I'm a board member of the Australian Association of Special Education committee (SA Chapter), driven by the collective goal of enhancing educational practices for students with diverse needs. I am an avid golfer and love spending time with my partner and our fur baby, Flora.