Teachers are advocates for students and change makers in society. A teacher provides or reveals opportunities for students both within and outside the classroom. A teacher has the unique role of preparing students to become lifelong learners, equipped to persevere through finding solutions to societal problems.”
Matt’s Story
Teaching Discipline
Mathematics
Why Mathematics
“I understand mathematics as the study of reason, quantity, and space. It is how we make sense of the world around us. We use mathematics every day as we construct arguments and critique the arguments of others. We think mathematically when we determine the relationships between objects or ideas and when we attribute a cause to an effect. Thus, mathematics is important for high school students as they prepare to reason through the problems they will face and messages they hear after graduation.”
Professional Experience
Matt taught mathematics in Washington state since 2016, with a focus on geometry. He worked to develop standards-based learning at his school and taught the AVID elective for the 2017–18 school year. Before moving to Washington, Matt spent two years in Burkina Faso with the Peace Corps teaching eighth grade mathematics in French. Here, Matt also directed gender equity and leadership camps for students and organized or assisted with various health campaigns. While completing his graduate studies as a Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Fellow, he interned with C.A.R.E., an organization that provides job mentoring and job placement for traditionally marginalized students. At C.A.R.E., he analyzed evaluation data. His role expanded when he was hired as a job coach for students with developmental disabilities.
Hobbies
Matt enjoys hiking, reading, and cooking.
Academic Background
- University of Missouri (Master of Education in Learning, Teaching, and Curriculum: Mathematics Education)
- Messiah College (Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics with Teaching Certification)
