Principal's Message
Welcome Message
My name is Mr. MacNevin (A.K.A. Mr. Mac). I have worked in education for over 30 years. I have taught 1st, 3rd, and 5th grades. I served as a classroom teacher, Educational Technology Coordinator, and administrator in the Capistrano Unified and Saddleback Unified School Districts after spending 3 years as an instructor at the Dana Point Ocean Institute. I feel very privileged to be leading the Portola Hills Elementary staff and community as we work together to meet the needs of our Explorers.
I came to SVUSD in 2001. My first position in SVUSD was serving as the assistant principal at Foothill Ranch where I later became principal. I love technology and look for any opportunity to share my love of teaching and learning. My wife is an educator. She is a 5th grade teacher at Lake Forest Elementary. Annmarie MacNevin and I have lived in the Lake Forest area for over 30 years. We have 2 children. My son, Jake, is attending his final year at Boise University, and my daughter, Taylor, works as an influencer marketer in New York city.
Portola Hills is an extraordinary school! Our dedicated and caring staff of professionals work diligently to provide students with the best educational environment possible. Please be sure to stop by our “Why Portola Hills” page to hear what makes our school such a top-notch place to learn and grow together.
PBIS
Here at PHE we are focusing on catching our students doing the right thing or caught being good. We accomplish this goal in the classroom through our behavior expectations and by handing out Compass Coupons. Students can also earn Compass Coupons by going out of their way to help another student at recess or by helping out with our ongoing campus beautification projects. Furthermore, at PHE we also firmly believe in restorative justice if a student makes a poor choice. The student is given an opportunity to address the issue and make it right.