MEA member Jessyca Mathews teaches her students to find their passions and bring individual strengths to bear in shaping their world. Like all great educators, she lives her values and continually stretches her talents toward achieving big goals.

Mathews is widely recognized for the senior English class she teaches at Carman-Ainsworth High School (C-AHS) in Flint, her alma mater where she has taught for 20 years. Under her leadership the class transformed into a research and activism platform which foregrounds student voice.

This year the award-winning educator and nationally known keynote speaker is tackling the challenge of bringing a new Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course to C-AHS.

At the same time, Mathews stepped into a prominent new role this fall as president of the Michigan Council of Teachers of English (MCTE), becoming the first Black woman to lead this state’s affiliate of the prestigious national professional association.

She hopes to bring more attention and opportunities for educators from BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other under-represented communities. “I am honored to be the first Black president of MCTE, and I want to open doors for others to have the chance to lead and be role models for all of our students,” she said.

Named MCTE’s Secondary Teacher of the Year in 2018 and a Michigan Regional Teacher of the Year in 2019-20, Mathews added: “My goal is to ensure that all educators and students in our state are seen, loved, celebrated and respected – especially those from marginalized communities,” she said.

With her launch of an AP African American Studies class at C-AHS, Mathews joins the roll-out of a long-developed College Board curriculum which was piloted nationally over the past two years – including in 12 Michigan schools – amid intense political scrutiny.

Conservative politicians such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis banned the course as part of broader Republican-led attacks on library books and history lessons by or about people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Arkansas and South Carolina followed suit.

As some states restrict students’ right to learn, polling shows most Americans favor freedom to teach and to read. And as Vice President Kamala Harris highlights themes of freedom in her barrier-busting presidential campaign, Mathews said she feels hopeful for the first time in a while.

That spark of hope was ignited at an August rally Mathews attended in Detroit where she witnessed thrilling energy from people of every background coming together in support of Harris and her teacher-running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, she said.

“Having a Black woman president of the United States would show the world is ready to head into a different and more just direction filled with freedom, joy and acceptance.”

Read a first-person piece by Mathews sharing what motivated her to launch the AP course at C-AHS: The Evolution of Student Voice.