Leticia Mattei, a U.S. history teacher, has a profound commitment to education, influenced by a lineage of educators in her family. Since many of her ancestors are educators, Mattei’s love of learning is ingrained in her family’s history. She now accepts the critical role teachers play in influencing the future generation, even if at first she thought she would not go the same route.
With 10 of her 12 aunts and uncles in education, Mattei’s family is the foundation of her teaching philosophy. Even though she said she would never become a teacher, she now understands how important the job is in fostering the development of the next generation into “compassionate, educated, and productive citizens.”.
Making the past relevant to the present, utilizing technology to improve learning, and encouraging critical thinking via inquiry-based debates are the main tenets of her teaching style. To provide a supportive and welcoming learning environment, Mattei places a high value on respect in her classroom and sets an example for her students.
Outside of school, she is dedicated to fostering civic involvement in her students, professional cooperation, and lifelong learning. Her attempts to uplift pupils, equip them for the future, and inoculate them with a lifelong awareness of history and active engagement in democracy demonstrate her commitment to education.
She emphasizes that knowing the past is crucial to influencing the future by connecting “the past to the present,” stating that “we’re living in tomorrow’s history.” Since “we can see the images” of events like the Civil War, she also incorporates technology into her lessons, allowing her pupils to visually visit historical locations and documents.
Mattei uses “questions, questions, questions” to encourage critical thinking in her classroom because she believes that when kids are asked questions, their minds start looking for solutions on their own.
When former students come back and recollect teachings from previous years, she realizes that “what we do in the classroom may have a lasting influence.” Mattei finds immense satisfaction in seeing her pupils succeed, no matter how modest.
Respect is the cornerstone of Mattei’s classroom management strategy. Since she feels that “respect starts with me modeling it,” she makes an effort to treat every student with dignity.
She says, “I expect to be respected, as should everyone.”
By creating an atmosphere where respect for one another is valued, she discovers that everything else falls into place. This guarantees that respect is at the core of her classroom dynamics and fosters a good learning environment where all students feel included and respected.
“One of my favorite things to do is to be a student again!” is a common statement from Mattei, who is passionate about lifelong learning and teamwork. She attends history and government summer workshops to remain current on new teaching techniques and technologies. Through a travel grant, her commitment to education allowed her to visit historic locations on the East Coast, giving her a personal look at the locations she lectures about.
“To read about the Constitutional Convention is one thing, but standing in Independence Hall is a new level of amazement,” she explains. In addition to personal development, Mattei promotes teamwork among coworkers and collaborating to help students succeed. Solid school-home relationships support a well-rounded educational experience, she recognizes the value of parents or guardians being involved in their children’s education.
As a high school teacher, Mattei has encountered many difficulties, but her perseverance is evident in the way she has handled them. First, she wants to enable kids who “never loved or saw a value in learning about the past” to develop an appreciation for history. Secondly, she wants to inspire pupils to take an active role in democracy.
“There are hundreds of opportunities in our lifetime to participate in democracy, and we are very fortunate to be able to!” she says. Mattei is dedicated to preparing her pupils for life beyond high school, whether that road leads to college, employment, or other endeavors, in addition to cultivating a love of history.
Mattei is dedicated to preparing her pupils for life beyond high school, whether that road leads to college, employment, or other endeavors, in addition to cultivating a love of history. She strives to inculcate in her kids the value of being involved in their communities and responsible, knowledgeable citizens.
Throughout her teaching career, Mattei has experienced many unforgettable moments, but witnessing her pupils’ success—no matter how minor the accomplishment—is one of her most treasured memories. She stated that she “would have been a good lawyer because I’m a very logical thinker” and that she would have sought a career in law if she hadn’t been a teacher. She does, however, pose the mocking question, “Are there still magazines or are they online blogs now?”. Traveling or taking pictures of nature would be her “dream profession.”
Mattei’s continual advice to her students, irrespective of her career path, is to “be proud of yourself even when you make blunders or don’t accomplish.” Every student, in her opinion, needs to be proud of their efforts to try and gain knowledge from experiences.
Beyond the classroom, Mattei’s commitment to education is evident in her efforts to encourage pupils to think critically, respect others, and get involved in their communities. Her dedication to making teachings relevant and meaningful is fueled by her love of history and lifelong learning, which helps pupils appreciate the need for knowledge of the past to influence the future.
Her focus on collaboration, inquiry-based learning, and respect fosters a nurturing atmosphere where children feel encouraged to develop. Mattei’s influence as a teacher endures, whether it is by promoting civic engagement, cultivating a love of history, or honoring student accomplishments. Instilling confidence, curiosity, and a feeling of pride in each kid she meets is her ultimate objective, in addition to teaching.
