Portia Morgan H’19, a longtime high school teacher who for years served as co-director of the Kenyon Academic Partnership summer program now known as Camp 4, died Nov. 15 at the age of 74.
An educator with more than 40 years of experience, Morgan spent over 20 years in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and was a mainstay at John F. Kennedy High School, where she taught social studies and first encountered the early college program now known as the Kenyon Academic Partnership (KAP).
For many years, she helped lead the KAP summer program, a three-week on-campus initiative that has introduced hundreds of underrepresented high school students to the College.
“She was a dynamic and quietly charismatic teacher and human being, and the students just adored her,” said Peter Rutkoff, professor emeritus of American studies and former KAP director. “She was a cherished, dear friend and colleague.”
Known as “Mama P,” Morgan brought a family approach to the classroom that resonated with students who welcomed her support and love — tough love, when needed, said Allan Keller H’05, a fellow teacher at John F. Kennedy who co-directed the camp at Kenyon with Morgan for years and who now teaches at The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster.
“She would use the best of herself to bring out the best in others,” he said. “There were strong attachments. Kids would cry on the last day when they were boarding the bus to go home.”
Morgan received an honorary degree from Kenyon for her contributions to the College in 2019, when she was introduced by a former participant in the summer program, Associate Professor of American Studies and History Francis Gourrier ’08. On that occasion, Morgan indicated in remarks how transformational the College can be for high school students.
“Kenyon is not just a place for academic learning. It is a nurturing, safe environment for students to grow up,” she said at the time. “The KAP high school classes and Camp 4, the summer program, offer a place where students develop into self-confident and successful young people.”
A core member of the Teaching American History initiative, she worked with Rutkoff and others to promote innovative education about World War II and the Gullah people of South Carolina. She furthered this work at Kenyon by helping to develop the Gullah Digital Archive.
Born July 3, 1950, Morgan received a Bachelor of Science in social studies education from Kentucky State University and a Master of Education from the University of Louisville. Over the course of her career, she taught in Detroit, Cincinnati and Cleveland schools.
Hope Harrod ’98, a Kenyon trustee and fifth-grade teacher in Washington, D.C., came to admire Morgan through their mutual work with the Teaching American History initiative.
“I learned so much from her about what good instruction looks like and how to form connections with students,” Harrod said. “She was what I aspired to be — a teacher who was impactful in the life of every student she touched.”
Not only did Morgan connect with her students, but she connected them with Kenyon, where a number of them applied and enrolled.
James Greenwood ’02, one of Morgan’s former high school students who attended KAP classes during the school year as well as the summer program before enrolling at Kenyon, called her a mentor, advisor, teacher and “other-mother” whose impact on her students was lasting.
“Portia Morgan was a force of nature, and a force for good in the world,” Greenwood posted in a tribute on social media. “There's not a major decision that I've made over these last 30 years where she wasn't consulted. And as I went on to become a teacher and educator myself, so much of what I do, have done, and aspire to do, is based upon how I saw her work with young people and with her colleagues.”
Morgan is survived by her daughter, Patrice Morgan-Stank (James) and two grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Friday, Nov. 22 from 5-7 p.m. at the Lucas Memorial Chapel in Garfield Heights, Ohio, with a memorial service at 6 p.m. A celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at the 2nd Olivet Institutional Baptist Church in Cleveland, with family receiving guests 30 minutes prior.