Spotlight on: Matt Watkins
January 2025 High School Teacher of the Month
The Student Council decides monthly student and teacher awards with a specific category each month. The category for January 2025 for teachers focused on “most interesting teacher.”
The Senior Student of the Month awards go to two seniors per month who are nominated and voted on by Student Council members in grades 9-11.
The High School Teacher of the Month award goes to one teacher per month who is nominated and voted on by Student Council members in grades 9-12. All Teachers of the Month become eligible to become Teacher of the Year in June.
The January 2025 High School Teacher of the Month is Matt Watkins.
Read a Q&A with Matt Watkins below.
Q. How does it feel to be recognized as the “Most Interesting Teacher” for Teacher of the Month?
A. I’m 43; I know when I’m being voted weirdest, and it’s pretty cool.
Q. What do you think makes your teaching style or classroom unique?
A. I’m incapable of sugar-coating anything. No that’s not a diabetes joke…all right, it’s a little bit a diabetes joke.
Q. Can you share a memorable or funny moment from your teaching career?
A. Elias played a Nickleback song, and they’re so bad I allegedly kicked a hole through a wall.
Q. How do you keep your students engaged and excited about learning?
A. I climb into a desk on top of a table that could collapse at any moment thereby garnering attention. ‘Cause…ya know…who doesn’t want to see me fall and get hurt?
Q. What’s something your students might be surprised to learn about you?
A. I’m kind of an open book, and I wrote a really cruddy one.
Q. Do you have any hobbies, talents or interests outside of teaching that you bring into the classroom?
A. Philosophy, pro wrestling (participant) and snake charming.
Q. Who or what inspired you to become a teacher?
A. The artist formerly and currently (and posthumously) known as Prince…and the Revolution of course.
Q. What’s one piece of advice you always try to share with your students?
A. Do not waste your time being offended. Being offended is dumb and will change nothing. If you truly want to change something, reach out with understanding. That and scooters aren’t cool, but dirt bikes are.
Q. What’s the most rewarding part of being a teacher?
A. When students are engaged, truly engaged, in what’s being discussed and showing a true curiosity, it’s beyond rewarding.
Q. If you could have lunch with any historical figure, fictional character or famous person, who would it be and why?
A. I would want to have lunch with Bob Dylan. It would go horribly. I’d try to ask him some question or have a conversation that he would undoubtedly find super boring. He’d probably end up going to the bathroom or out for a smoke and not coming back.