Mathews has been a teacher for 12 years, teaching at Shorewood for 10 of them. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Madison for biology and environmental science. Then, he earned his teaching license at Cardinal Stritch University. He later earned his master’s degree in natural resources and environmental science at the University of Stevens Point.
Mathews saw the positive impact he could have on others being a teacher and wanted to be a part of that impact.
“That’s really what inspires me to keep going in education, a profound belief in the fact that education opens doors for people and that teachers are really the people on the front lines who are helping students gain the skills and knowledge necessary to open as many doors as they possibly can,” Mathews said. “I think teaching and education broadens the options that students have for what kind of life they might actualize down the road.”
Understanding the way the planet works and why things occur has always been an area of interest for Mathews.
“What we see around us has a pattern, has a rhythm, has a cycle that provides it with beauty and integrity and stability, and if we take care of it, [we can maintain] continuity and sustainability into the future,” Mathews said.
Alongside teaching AP Environmental Science, ELS, and Anatomy, Mathews co-teaches a class unique to Shorewood, Watershed Wisdom, with English teacher Eric Gietzen and art teacher Jessica Mohagen. This class is offered to any current 10th or 11th graders and contains an English credit, science credit, and art credit. Starting in February they learn necessary skills for their 10-day camping trip of hiking, biking, and canoeing. They then write an essay reflecting on their experiences and create a field guide detailing some of the ecology experienced on the trip.
“It becomes exceptionally meaningful and relevant to students,” Mathews said.
Along with creating a comfortable learning environment, Mathews enters the classroom everyday with the priority of being present mentally for his students and having high expectations for them.
“It’s my job to create a climate in my classroom that prioritizes engagement and pursuit of knowledge, and I try to hold students to that expectation,” Mathews said.
Moreover, Mathews enjoys sharing his passion for environmental science with his students.
“Being a teacher is a lot like planting a tree,” Mathews said. “[The] most rewarding part of my job is when I feel like the seeds I planted for somebody in high school, five, 10, 15 years later, come to fruition.”
Having been impacted by what he has learned throughout his own education, he is fulfilled by making that same impact on his students.
Teaching is a very demanding job which Mathews says some people don’t understand. Many educators have to balance external demands while also balancing demands of the curriculum.
“I wish that people looked at teaching with the same level of respect that they looked at other high level professions, especially when teachers have worked diligently to Eric Mathews pursue advanced degrees and gain years of experience in the profession,” Mathews said.
Regardless, Mathews appreciates Shorewood’s autonomy with allowing teachers to do what is best for their classroom.
“I’ve written a curriculum for classes… I’m lucky because I get to teach what I think is important. So there’s not a lot of things that I feel like I can’t teach because it’s not in the curriculum,” Mathews said.
As far as the future of education, Mathews hopes that the district continues to empower teachers while continuing to provide rigorous classes.
“I have one kind of overarching hope, and my overarching hope is that the Shorewood School District continues to support autonomy, creativity, and authenticity in our educational programming,” Mathews said.