Melissa Matz, a junior high school math teacher from Florida, has been named her state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: Florida Education Foundation
Congratulations are due to Melissa Matz, a junior h high school math teacher from Florida. She has been named her state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year, which includes her designation as Florida’s Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education. This role will allow her to elevate and celebrate the teaching profession by promoting the contributions of Florida educators, while visiting classrooms and serving as a keynote speaker.
In a career that has spanned 20 years, Melissa currently teaches mathematics to seventh graders at Lakeside Junior High School in the Clay County School District in Orange Park. She says she is committed to building a strong relationship with each of her students. In fact, she makes it a point to speak with each student as they enter her classroom. Her philosophy is that when an individual steps outside of his comfort zone and takes positive risks, that is how extraordinary gains are achieved.
“Middle school is a big transition,” Melissa observes. “There is more stress, more challenges. They are becoming much more independent,” she continues. “As a teacher, we set them up for success in high school by making sure they have test-taking and study strategies. And giving kids the tools to navigate through that time in their life is just so important to me,” she concludes.
Melissa also strives to include hands-on, real-world projects as part of her curriculum. Clay County Schools Superintendent David Broskie recognized this when he presented the honored educator with her award. “Melissa Matz’s students see firsthand that the skills they acquire in her classroom can be applied to a broad spectrum of fields, and therefore, they can become well-rounded members of our community,” he says.
Melissa also serves as her school’s Math Department Chair, she is the Chairperson for the Lakeside’s School Advisory Committee, and she is a part of the school’s Leadership Team. She helped develop her district’s curriculum map for algebra, and she served on the math textbook adoption committee. And as if all this were not enough, she participates in a mentoring program that supports students as they transition to high school. And Melissa’s passion for teaching math goes well beyond her classroom. Within her community, she raises awareness for water conservation.
Melissa learned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Northern Iowa.
As the 2023 Teacher of the Year, Melissa will receive $20,000 from the state education department and a tuition waiver to pursue a graduate degree from Florida State University’s College of Education. She will also be able to provide a student of her choice with a two-year scholarship to a Florida college.
