LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Sandra Matson was nominated by her colleague, Amanda Causey.

"Miss Sandy Matson is exactly who I want to be when I grow up," said Causey. "She has taught for several years as a second career after being a registered nurse for many years before. These past couple of years, she has worked with reading intervention, primarily for our newcomer students. She starts every year thinking about the kids who are coming in. Then, she sets out to create an environment just for them, an environment that shows a great appreciation and respect for their cultures and their stories. She has a presence about her that makes you feel safe enough to tell your story, and she always makes you feel like she is helping you find the best version of yourself. I know this first hand as a colleague, and her students have come to me in math classes and said the same."

Miss Matson can often be found in the hallways, dressed up in the dress-up theme of the day and handing out candies, stickers, and peppermints to kids who know she keeps them in her pockets. Most of the students do not even have her as a teacher, yet she knows their names and their stories. 

"She has taught me so much about the perspective of our newcomers into 9th grade," said Causey. "She has taught everyone a lot about the art and depth of empathy."

Miss Matson's love for her students is deep, and the work she does on a daily basis has ripple affects that everyone around her can see. She welcomes you with open arms into her world full of passionate ideas that can impact our world for the greater good. She mentors her colleagues, and she fills a void in the hearts of so many students. The grief she feels is still raw as she said goodbye to her classroom one last time. She will still be called, texted, and emailed regularly for advice on how to reach a tough kid, but this time, she'll be filling the traveling soul inside herself.