This month’s teacher spotlight goes to Julie Matthews! Matthews is a wonderful mother to three lucky daughters. Mrs. Matthews has been teaching at Cape Central High School for 16 years, since 2008. She grew up in Jackson, Missouri and attended Southeast Missouri for college to get her bachelor’s degree. She teaches American History, Geography, and Government. She teaches these three important subjects because she enjoys them, as well as the students’ age groups. Out of school, Matthews loves to travel, she has been to 35 different states and has traveled to many countries such as England, Scotland, Paris, Venise, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Mexico, and Liechtenstein. She enjoys hanging out with her family and going to their family farm.

Matthews says, “My favorite part of teaching is talking to students and seeing how they can relate things they learned in class and using it in the real world. My least favorite part of being a teacher though is having to dress code students and having to separate the bathroom ‘parties.’” Because of this, Matthews is considered one of the “chill” teachers. One of her A+ tutors Eliza Criblez says, “Mrs.Matthews is a very kind teacher that listens to every student’s feedback no matter what and we know she won’t judge.” 

Along with all the amazing students she teaches, she also enjoys working with her coworkers. For example, some of Matthews favorite memories are things like when E-hallways staff bathroom gets labeled “Mrs. Heider’s office,” putting yard signs in seniors yards, or back in 2020 when COVID-19 hit Mrs. Heider would give out a “hug of the day.” Funny moments like these can make many memories and motivate her. Matthews says, “What motivates me to keep teaching are things like truly enjoying my job, working with amazing coworkers, and having kind and funny kids.” She believes that CHS is a family with lots of joy and love.