Portis Kountry Kitchen II

Dr. Maurice G. Portis retired June 23, 2002 as principal of Carl Allen Alternative Discipline and Learning Center, West Oso Independent School District, Corpus Christi, Texas.

His experiences as an educator span forty years. He served as band director and coordinator of music, where his jazz and concert bands traveled and performed throughout Europe and Mexico with performances in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, England, Mexico City and Acapulco. His bands won UIL sweepstakes and received many awards throughout the states.

He has served as principal of West Oso High School. Under his leadership, test scores improved, graduation rates increased, the number of advanced placement and technology courses were increased, and there was great participation and success in U.I.L and extra curricular activities. The basketball team competed in the UIL state playoff three years in a row.

He has served as president of the Texas Unit of the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE), The Black Jazz Music Caucus (IAJE), Texas Black Music Educators, West Oso Unit Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA), Vice President One Hundred Black Men of America Corpus Christi, Board Secretary of Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority and as a Director of Corpus Christi Bucaraders.

Dr. Portis was invited and visited Dalian, China along with three other outstanding Texas Educators. They were invited by the mayor of Dalian, China and administrators of the Dalian School System to participate in education forums, visit schools and visit with administrators, teachers, parents and students. Dr. Portis sang for over four thousand people at a celebration. The Group also visited and toured Beijing, China and Tokyo, Japan.

You can now find Dr. Portis and wife, Dr. Verna Portis at Portis Kountry Kitchen (615 N Upper Broadway) and Gift Shop where they serve the best of Down Home Kountry Kookin.