Dr. Raychelle Harris, Gallaudet University’s MASLED Program Co-Director
Matt offers authentic, fluent ASL skills as well as culturally Deaf experience and values for the classroom. Matt also brings positive energy into his work which serves as inspiration for his classmates and colleagues. He is socially conscious and committed to social justice, equality and equity for all, both in and outside of the classroom. Matt is a forward thinker; he constantly aims for improvement personally and professionally. He excels in combining and implementing his academic studies and personal experiences into his future endeavors within the field of sign language education.
Peter Cook, Columbia College Chicago’s American Sign Language Department Chair
Matt has an intensive ASL background and was able to seamlessly demonstrate his teaching skills in his classroom. He was able to bring the knowledge and the applications of the language and transform them into exhilarating teachable units.Beside his teaching experience, Matt was able to go further in education enchantment by working with his students on one-one basis to ensure that the students have the sufficient foundational skills in term of preparation for higher level of language courses.Matt is also rigor with his grading rubrics and has a strong sense for allowing room for the benefit of language errors so that his students can learn to mediate their own sign errors in safe learning environment. Lastly, Matt is a firm believer in holistic approaching toward to language immersive setting by incorporating DeafSpace where ASL as well as Deaf Culture norms can be optimized maximally in place what we called as language reef for non-native ASL users which is a refreshing in this field and everyone should follow his fine examples.
Diana Gorman Jamrozik, Columbia College Chicago’s American Sign Language Department’s Associate Chair & Associate Professor
Matt is one of those rare teachers that is skilled at all parts of teaching - from thoughtful prep, to energetic and engaged teaching, and finally to detailed assessment of student work. Matt has transformed the classroom experience for his students through technology, current pedagogical practices, and humor, and his students are comfortable taking risks and learning from mistakes due to his patient and diligent teaching. Matt understands different working and learning styles and is able to lead others in a way that creates synergy and respect. He is a trusted colleague, and raises the bar for all in the field of ASL education.
Sarah Miller, Columbia College Chicago’s ASL Club president (FA2018-SP2019)
Matt is one of those extraordinary teachers who leave a lasting impression beyond the classroom. He goes above and beyond just simply imparting knowledge-- he not only manages to make complex information easily understandable, he also injects an unique blend of flair and energy to the lesson itself. Dry information is transformed into compelling and transfixing presentations. Matt's love of teaching shines through the time and effort he puts in perfecting his curriculum and through his personality. You can't help but be drawn by his positivity and smile. For this reason and the fact he is always willing to make time for students and to attend ASL Club functions as an advisor, Matt is one of the most loved teachers at Columbia College Chicago.