LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Matt Cada was nominated by his principal, Clark Olstad

Mr. Cada is an energetic educator who gives his students an enormous amount of effort every year. He has the unique ability to build strong relationships with all his eighth-grade math students quickly. His classroom atmosphere is very similar to his own personality, which is based on having a lot of fun while working very hard each day.
 
Mr. Cada is an extremely busy person that excels in all types of extra duties. He serves as the lead person for Student Council, Math League, Lego Robotics, Softball, and Bowling Club. He's a Data Coach, teacher mentor, and PLC leader, and he's always willing to help a colleague. Mr. Cada makes it look easy to be that busy of a person. He helps students enjoy many different aspects of school outside his math classroom. Most importantly, Mr. Cada's a father of two children and a husband to a fantastic wife. He clearly understands that family is the most important thing in life.

The annual spring Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment Test has always been a massive success for Mr. Cada's eighth-grade math students. Year after year, they score some of the top results in the entire state of Minnesota. Their success doesn't happen by luck; instead, it directly correlates to Mr. Cada's relentless efforts to help students believe they can be successful in a math classroom.

"Over the past several years, many students have commented to me that for the first time ever as a student, they actually understand the new math concepts and that Mr. Cada makes math seem simple and easily understood," said Olstad. "When I have complimented Mr. Cada on his MCA Tests success and the positive student comments, he quickly gives all the credit to the students. Mr. Cada's humbleness as an educator is another example of why he is an amazing teacher!"

Olstad recalled a quote from Dwayne Johnson: "I'm always asked, 'What's the secret to success?' But there are no secrets. Be humble. Be hungry. And always be the hardest worker in the room."  

"I have had the privilege of working with many educators in my career as a teacher and now as a principal, and I have never met a teacher that I feel has worked harder to become a legendary teacher than Matt Cada," explains Olstad. "Even with Matt's incredible annual success on the eighth grade MCA Test Scores, he remains humble and always gives credit to the students, their parents, and previous math teachers. Matt is extremely humble, and no one outworks him in the classroom. He is, and will continue to be, a LifeChanger to many students and families at Plainview-Elgin-Millville Community Schools!"