Just like a new character in a book, a new teacher helps bring a fresh perspective to the classroom. As we embark on a new chapter here at Hampton Bays High School, we are bound to see some exciting new faces. This year we are delighted to welcome Ms. Mattus as our new English and Special Education teacher.
Ms. Mattus grew up in Port Jefferson, located on the north shore of Long Island, where she attended a small public high school. When she was a teenager, she recognized that the high school experience was not enjoyable for everyone. Consequently, this has helped her focus on engaging her students and ensuring that they are interested in what’s going on in the classroom. This is validated by her co-teacher Mrs. Difrietus who said, “She is constantly looking for ways to scaffold lessons among other students and make lessons engaging and relevant.”
Ms. Mattus has many goals for her teaching career, one of which is becoming fluent in Spanish. She wants to help a wider group of students as well as supporting those who are learning the English language. Recently, she has started an AIS class for language learners, which provides a space for her students to improve their language skills. “Ms. Mattus is very good at explaining things and questions in class that are crucial to our knowledge”, said Madelyn Osofsky, one of Ms. Mattus’s students. Ms. Mattus believes this will help her students with feeling more confident in their language skills, and enable them to express themselves more effectively.
Before she began working at Hampton Bays, Ms. Mattus held many different jobs, with this being her third career. She first became an English teacher and later found her passion in special education. She believes this is what she has always wanted to do, though. She has a strong passion for the accessibility of work in the classroom when it comes to special educated students, and is dedicated to supporting the special education community.
Ms. Mattus has a lot of interests in teaching, and she’s just as passionate about her own hobbies. She enjoys reading, as one might expect, outdoor adventures such as hiking, and has developed a passion for yoga that has led to becoming a yoga teacher. Additionally, she is devoted to spending time with her two children.
Now that we are diving into a new school year, Ms. Mattus finds Hampton Bays to be incredibly welcoming. She adores the warm environment here and how tight-knit of a community this is. This allows her to create strong relationships with her students, therefore allowing her to see familiar faces in the halls. Plus, she loves the diversity of students from various backgrounds, making it feel like a manifold of different cultures. Taking everything into account, Ms. Mattus can’t wait to see fresh faces flourish under her guidance.
