Matt seeks inspiration from the way good games function to design learning environments that promote student engagement, autonomy, and belonging. He is excited to bring his passion for hands-on, collaborative learning to the HTM Mesa team from New Jersey where he developed the middle school STEAM program for the Morris Plains School District and has taught for the past five years. He enjoys supporting extracurricular activities and coaches soccer, wrestling, tennis, and chess. Matt has never encountered a sport he doesn’t like playing. He also enjoys reading, hosting game nights, spending time at the beach, and struggling with a good riddle. In his spare time, he is currently developing an original computer game. Matt earned a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice and a minor in computer science from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. While working as a police officer, Matt had the opportunity to serve as an adjunct professor and discovered that his true passion was education. He went on to complete the “New Pathways to Teaching” program in New Jersey and hasn’t looked back since!