An experienced teacher, principal, and community organizer who understands the real lives of families
Matt has lived in San Francisco for nearly 30 years and raised his children here. He was first elected to the Board of Education in 2020 and now serves as its Vice President.
Matt has two decades of experience as a SFUSD teacher and principal, with deep educational expertise and a track record of success as an educator. He’s a values-based leader whose views are rooted in the needs of people not ideology. He’s a bold leader who is willing to hold people accountable and challenge the status quo when needed. And he’s a team player who works well with others and finds common ground across difference, and a collaborator who has built relationships with City officials to bring in resources for SFUSD.
A bold and brave public school leader
Matt’s experience as an educator began in 1996 when he taught social studies at Balboa High School. In the early 2000s, he co-founded June Jordan School for Equity (JJSE), a small, innovative high school focused on inquiry-based learning, strong social-emotional supports, and building student leadership to create positive change. During Matt’s time as Principal, JJSE served a student body that was more than 80% low-income and nearly 30% special education students—and Black and Latino students graduated and were accepted to college at rates exceeding most other schools in SFUSD.
Matt recently collaborated with State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond to co-author Redesigning High Schools: 10 Features for Success, a publication which highlights the evidence-based features of redesigned high schools that create the kind of education we want for all of our children: safe environments where exciting and rigorous academic work occurs and where all students succeed academically, graduate at high levels, and go on to college and productive work.
A grassroots community organizer
Matt works as Lead Organizer and Communications Director at Faith in Action Bay Area, a network of more than 150 congregations and schools in San Francisco and San Mateo counties.
Matt has led citywide campaigns to protect SFUSD families from eviction, to get immigrants released from ICE detention, and to secure housing subsidies for low-income seniors at risk of losing their homes. In 2022, Matt supported Faith in Action’s successful ballot campaign for Prop M, the Empty Homes Tax, which will bring in tens of millions of dollars annually for affordable housing for low-income families and seniors.
This year, Matt is working with a group of homeless immigrant families who are advocating with City officials to ensure that no child has to sleep on the streets in our Sanctuary City.