Hollister resident Kristen Porter’s luck appears to have
changed.
Hollister – Hollister resident Kristen Porter’s luck appears to have changed.
She pursued – and recently won – an undisclosed financial settlement with the Gilroy Unified School District after being dismissed in the spring for not being a “good match” with district officials.
And, Porter’s finances improved again Wednesday night, after she won $36,200 on the game show Wheel of Fortune.
“It was a really interesting experience,” she said.
Interestingly enough, Porter auditioned for the show the day after hearing she would not be re-hired as an English teacher by Gilroy High School this fall.
“That’s what started the whole talking about (my dismissal) in the classroom,” Porter said, “so it’s come full circle now that I was actually on the show.”
Porter said students asked why she auditioned, so she joked that she “could use the money” if Wheel of Fortune brought her on the show.
District officials refused to comment on the details of Porter’s settlement. The Gilroy Dispatch has filed a Public Records Act to obtain the financial terms of the settlement.
Meanwhile, Porter continues to pursue a master’s degree in educational counseling.
“I’m looking for a school in which to intern,” Porter said. “I have some great ideas for working with groups.”
She also is home-schooling a student in Gilroy and said her experience in Gilroy Unified School District has not soured her on a career in education.
“It turned out the way it was supposed to turn out,” she said. “That kind of renewed my faith and all the support I got from parents and the public.”
