Board of Directors

Our people are among the most talented in the industry. It would be our pleasure to put our extensive experience to work for you. We believe in connections that create results for communities to grow and gain from shared resources.

Francois Portee

President and Founder of F.T.L.F.

Mr. Portee is an educator/coach and entrepreneur. Mr. Portee grew up in the 4th District of Southeast San Diego in the early '80s. Raised by a single mother, he learned the values of honest hard work, community service, and integrity.

francois@followtheleaderfoundation.org

Mr. Portee has worked with San Diego Unified School District since 1997 as an assistant wrestling coach, a classified teacher in the Ocile program which was "Outdoor Schools Instruction", and an Education Specialist for both Morse High School and Lincoln High School to provide Specialized Academic Instruction. Now, he holds a position as a resource teacher in the Home/Hospital department under Youth in Transition. Mr. Portee currently holds the "Specialist Certificate in Character Development" under professor Ed De Roach from the University of San Diego.

After graduating from Mission Bay High School in 1989, Mr. Portee's formal education started at Palomar Community College in San Marcos where he started as a freshman on the Palomar wrestling team. Later moved back to San Diego where he attended San Diego Mesa, Grossmont, and Southwestern community colleges to later transfer to San Diego State University where he earned his bachelor's degree in International Business and Western/European Studies in '97. Driven to coach and teach, Mr. Portee returned to SDSU to earn his teaching credential in Special Education in 2006 and then later his Master's degree in Special Education from the University of San Diego where he received the SOLES Scholarship for Educational Leadership in 2009.

His global experience begins when he studied in both Mexico and Spain where he learned Spanish and Latin American Culture. He attended both: "La Universidad De Salamanca and Colegio De Espana" in Salamanca Spain, summer of 1993. Mr. Portee now owns and manages property in Ghana where he is now developing a "Sports and Science Complex for youths to improve Olympic Presence in future Olympic competitions and develop science inquiry for future breakthroughs to promote sustainable communities.

Lastly, Mr. Portee is a member of "Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc." in the San Diego Alumni Chapter. He has served as a member for over 15 years to make a difference with students and community members.

Christopher White

Executive Secretary/Chief Compliance Officer (COO)

Christopher White is an educator/practitioner and educational consultant with over 20 years of experience in the field of education. Mr. White is in an International Honor Society for Educators and holds credentials in English and Literacy.

white@followtheleaderfoundation.org

Tommy Black

Chief Financial Officer

Tommy Black is currently a teacher for the San Diego Unified School District teaching music in the VAPA department. He's had an extensive career teaching students of various grades. Mr. Black has served in our military in Desert Storm and has served his country honorably. Later he attended San Diego State University where he earned his BA degree in Music and Masters in Music and Educational Leadership. He's brought his experience of teaching and leadership to the board to broaden the scope of the organization's mission.

black@followtheleaderfoundation.org

We Need Your Support Today!