Kevin Matthew’s graduation from college in the 1970’s was somewhat bland but unique. He was married while still in college and low on money. His wife carried the burden of supporting him during his fifth year in college. Switching majors, he was required to attend for an extra year to receive his degree in Elementary Education and Special Education
With a diploma in hand, he spent the summer after graduation in a paper mill deciding if working on Machine 15 making huge rolls of multicolored toilet paper or unloading barges of pulp on the dock would be his destiny.
He made the decision to try teaching. In uncomfortable interviews, he was offered a job in a Wilmington, Delaware elementary school.
From that first year, his life as an educator and later a coach became an adventure that even in his wildest dreams, he and probably no other person in his life could imagine.
Within almost every year of his forty-year career, he was faced with difficult decisions, improbable incidents, amazing characters and surprising success as a coach and educator. He found humor in his students and within his own adversities during his career. The challenges within his life, though difficult at times, were conquered. Unfortunately, he faced a major obstacle when late in his career, after developing a serious conscience about teaching, he was forced to challenge a deceitful lawyer. She was taking advantage of gaps in special education laws at the expense of those students who were in need.
From that moment, Matthews , parents, students, and administrators would face tragedy, and heart ache within the school community. During those dark times, Matthews was still enjoying the humor and wonderful personalities of his students but recognized the dark force within his school district.
The final unsuspecting incident left Matthews to reflect on his fascinating career, his former students, faculty members, families of students and his own family. No educator could ever experience the heartache or joyful moments and strange dilemmas he faced in his career.
