Teacher Appreciation Week: Matt Martin - Dalewood Middle School
May 8, 2025 -Matt Martin didn't initially set out to be a teacher. He was on track to become a doctor, even taking the MCAT, but after reflecting on his goals, he realized his true passion lay elsewhere. "I decided to give teaching a shot," he said. That one decision changed everything.
Now in his fifth year teaching eighth grade science at Dalewood Middle School, Mr. Martin has found his passion. “I fell in love with it. This is awesome. Teaching is like the best kept secret in the world.”
He uses science not just to teach facts, but to help students grow in all areas. “I like to increase the capacity of my students,” he said. “That could mean helping them be more independent or improving their communication. I use science to do that.”
Mr. Martin creates a classroom that is structured but gives students a lot of responsibility. “I have students doing positive office referrals, handing out blue bucks, grading work, and even teaching lessons,” he said. “It doesn’t start that way. You build up to it.”
One of Mr. Martin’s favorite projects this year focused on the growing number of earthquakes around the world. Students investigated why earthquakes are increasing and explored possible solutions to prevent or reduce them. To take part, students had to apply for positions by writing resumes and going through interviews. Mr. Martin even hired student project managers to lead their teams. “They’re creating hypotheses and justifying them to convince our principal to give them all the money to save the world,” he explained.
Teaching at Dalewood has brought other surprises too. “I met my wife here,” he shared with a smile. “Three years ago, before we were even talking, kids would say, ‘You need to marry the sixth grade math teacher.’” It turns out they were right. “We got married two years ago and we’re about to have a kid this summer. The students have seen the whole thing.”
Mr. Martin is known for pushing his students to grow, not just in science, but in life. “I want them to have a tenacious growth mindset,” he said. “If the door is locked, don’t give up. Find a key. If there is no key, make one. Do whatever it takes to open that door.”
When asked what keeps him coming back to the classroom, he said it’s the chance to keep getting better. “Every time I end the year, I think, if I could have started doing this earlier, there’s no telling what we could have done. You improve so much every year.”
Mr. Martin’s passion and energy make a big difference at Dalewood. “Everybody here shares the same values,” he said. “You don’t come here just to ride out to retirement. You come here because you believe in the students.”
And for Mr. Martin, that belief is stronger than ever.
During Teacher Appreciation Week, we are reminded how lucky we are to have educators like Matt Martin who show up every day with heart, purpose, and the belief that every student has potential.
Thank you, Mr. Martin, for everything you do.