This is my 34th year of teaching and I have been teaching at TPS for 15 years.  Over the past 15 years, I have taught: 3rd, 6th, 7th, and 8th.  I LOVE teaching middle-grade students.  During my time here at TPS, I have also been the spelling bee coordinator, lower school ASB advisor, NJHS advisor, 4th - 8th-grade robotics teacher, lower school coding teacher, and lower school book society leader.  

I truly love that I can teach at TPS.  I believe in our mission of teaching a rigorous classical education that develops critical thinkers and lifelong learners.  I believe that all students have the ability to think critically and love learning.  I myself am a lifelong learner. During the pandemic, I took classes through UCSD to get both my English Language Learner and my gifted and talented teaching certificates.

I graduated from Carroll College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology with a minor in religious education. GO, SAINTS! After graduation, I discovered that my college advisor was right, I loved teaching!  So, I went back to school at Seattle Pacific University to get my teaching credential. In 1989, I earned my multiple subject credential in Washington, and in 2008 I received my California clear credential.  

For the past 34 years, I have been lucky to be able to teach in a variety of different educational settings and at every grade level from Kindergarten - 9th grade.  My first teaching position was at a private Orthodox Jewish school in Seattle, WA.  I also home-schooled my own two children for several years while they were in elementary school.  

On a personal note: I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, just north of Seattle.  I have two children who are 31 and 30 years old.  I have 2 dogs (Harley Quinn and Hancock) and a cat (Kaji).  I enjoy reading, working with yarn (crocheting, knitting, weaving), and creating art.  

I look forward to an AWESOME year with my students!

                            Ms. Mattingly