Mathew Anderson Honored with West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Above and Beyond Award

Mathew Anderson, a Special Education teacher at Divide Elementary School in Fayette County, earned West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Above and Beyond Award for May, 2024. This award recognizes the excellence and creativity of Mountain State teachers.

Anderson received a monetary award and a signature Blenko Glass blue apple paperweight. The West Virginia State Treasurers’ Office, facilitator of the SMART529 college savings program in the Mountain State, sponsors the award.

Anderson just completed his 10^th year of teaching which includes his 6^th year teaching special education. Over the course of his 10 years, he has taught elementary, middle and high school. He explains his love for teaching.  “The one thing I love most about teaching special education is the students all have different styles of learning and different personalities. It’s an amazing experience to see kids learn and when you have different personalities within a certain setting, it always makes for a fun time teaching.

I find it’s very important to have social skills, environmental skills, and see how society functions on the daily basis.”

His students participate in activities with general education students including field trips which have included The Pumpkin Patch, Oakes Family Farm, a movie theater, an animal shelter, and a Dirty Birds Baseball game in Charleston. This helps his students become comfortable in a variety of experiences, see new things, view life in a different way and develop socialization skills. He always tries to make the trips as sensory friendly as possible.  Anderson believes when he is able to bring students “out of their shell” and help them develop the confidence to socialize and communicate outside the classroom it is a major accomplishment.

Anderson’s students are also engaged in community service activities.  One example is the annual school drive to support the New River Humane Society. Anderson’s students love participating in this activity. They help with the collection of donated items – everything from dog and cat food to cleaning supplies, treats and beds. His students “run the numbers” each day to see which class donated the most items. In 2023, Divide Elementary was able to donate over 500 items to the animal shelter.

Away from school Anderson operates a small business, which also supports the students and staff at Divide Elementary and in the community. They provided items needed by students, staff appreciation breakfasts in several schools, and scholarships for local students who are pursuing a degree in a business related major.

Anderson is a graduate of Glenville State University with a Behavioral Science Degree in Criminal Justice and received a Masters Degree in Special Education through Grand Canyon University. He will be teaching in a severe and profound classroom at Summersville Middle School in the fall of 2024. Each month, WVPB has an esteemed panel of judges that select one deserving teacher who goes above and beyond for students in West Virginia. If you know of a deserving teacher who goes “Above and Beyond” please click here to nominate them.