Welcome to my home page. My name is Paula LaPorte and I am your child's third grade teacher at Prairie Ridge Elementary School in the Kalamazoo Public Schools. I have been with the KPS district since 1988. I began my teaching career in 1978 when I graduated from Western Michigan University. My first teaching job began at Barbour Hall Military Academy in 1978. I moved from there when the school closed down and Kalamazoo Academy was created as a replacement school. In 1981, I began teaching at St. Monica's Elementary School. In 1985, I was hired at Climax Scotts Middle School and taught Language Arts. In 1988, I began my career in KPS. I have been at 8 different elementary schools in the district since joining the Kalamazoo Public Schools!