Hello, my name is Dorothy Portiera, and this is my 17^th year teaching in the Archdiocese of Chicago and my 5^th year at St. John the Evangelist School.  In the past I have taught Kindergarten and 1^st grade at two other schools.  They just keep promoting me!!  I am very happy to be here at SJE to teach because it is also my parish.  Besides teaching in the school, I am also apart of the church choir and a Eucharistic Minister.
I have been married to my husband Erik for almost 16 years and we have 2 children, Gianna and Nicholas, that also attend SJE too.  I also have a 3-year Chocolate Lab mix named Duncan.  In my spare time I love hanging out and going on walks with my family and dog, playing volleyball, singing in the choir, and watching cheesy Hallmark movies and the Food Network.  I also love to cheer on all Chicago sports teams, especially the Bears.
I love teaching 2^nd grade because of the major growth I see in my students, they go from learning to read to reading to learn, and of course it is a special year for our little ones in making their First Communion.  I am so excited to be back at SJE and look forward to the year, whatever it might bring!