Matthew Blue: 2004 NC Teaching Fellow

This interview was conducted by email as part of a series on teacher diversity in North Carolina.

• Read the full series: NC's teacher diversity gap
• Read more interviews with other North Carolina Teaching Fellows

What years were you a Teaching Fellow, and what college did you attend?

2004-2008 at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Why did you apply to be a Teaching Fellow, and how did the program affect your life?

I applied because I was a good math student in high school and wanted a career where I could encourage others to learn and appreciate the fun that math offers. Coming into college with the others in the program gave me an instant family. We attended workshops and got to observe all grade levels from the very beginning (freshman year).

What have you done since college, and what are you doing now?

I completed my student teaching at St. Pauls High School in St. Pauls, N.C. in Dec. 2008, and began teaching in the math department in Jan. 2009. I went back to school in the fall of 2012 and completed my master in mathematics education in May 2015.

Why have you stayed in (or left) teaching?

I really love the people I work with at St. Pauls High. We encourage, laugh, cry, and love each other. That makes this job that much easier.

I also enjoy my time with my students. They can be very loving and somewhat amazing at times, but, just like life, you have to take the good with the bad. Not every day is going to be great, but persevere.

What advice do you have for colleges hoping to recruit more people of color and men to study teaching?

The teaching profession is bad-mouthed as much as it is praised. I can see where it would be hard to encourage someone to enter the profession. If there were incentives to persuade possible students to explore the idea of teaching, maybe that would help. When I say that, they should go after students who are SOMEBODY, and not just SOME BODY. We have many in the profession that lack the love and care that the kids need.

What advice do you have for schools hoping to retain people of color and men as teachers?

Treat them as the professionals they are. Listen to their suggestions! The schools are changing every year as student values, wants, and needs also change. There are some things we can't treat the same as we did in 1980.

Help boost morale! If people are overworked and over-stressed, we don't need more work or duties to do. When going to an administrator for help, please listen to them and do what they can to help. They came to you for a reason, so don't push it aside.