**If a course you are interested in does not fit your schedule, contact me and we can work out a day that is good for your student. I am currently unable to teach on Mondays and Wednesdays.**

Hi there! I'm Matt, and psychology is the main subject I teach. I have bachelors and masters degrees in psychology and am currently a professor at Saint Leo University while working towards a degree in social work.  

I may also sometimes offer weather-focused classes as weather has been a lifelong passion. I have been involved with professional meteorology in various ways since high school. In addition to intensive self-study of meteorology, for nearly 10 years I worked with How The Weatherworks, an education company in Florida; have co-directed numerous summer weather camp programs for middle and high school students; was president of and served as recording secretary and chair of the education and social media committees for the West Central Florida Chapter of the American Meteorological Society; was a founding member of the National Weather Association Diversity Committee and was a member of the National Weather Association Professional Development Committee. I have mentored over a dozen grade school students in meteorology over the years. I also published a book on the psychology of weather and climate.

I teach in a very "person-centered" way that starts with a striving to recognize and accept all students for who they are as people. I seek to create an inclusive, acceptant, and secure learning environment in which all students feel free to express themselves in relation to course material. I don't believe in telling students what or how to think but rather in encouraging them to actively evaluate and engage with course material in ways that foster their own unique understanding. If a course is lecture-based, for example, I'll encourage the asking of questions and open discussion around concepts, and through this students will become better critical thinkers. We'll pause and reflect so that students can put course concepts into their own words, not just memorize some provided definition. If a course is based more on dialogue or interactivity, we'll actively and continually explore new ways of thinking about course concepts in a more conversational way that encourages public speaking and builds strong communication skills.

If a course is needed at a specific time, please reach out to me and we can discuss adding a section for your student(s). I'm also available for 1:1 directed study programs in psychology. 

An article I published which outlines much of my thinking regarding learning can be found at https://adpca.org/article/pcj25/hello-neighbor-a-process-of-person-centered-mentorship-inspired-by-carl-and-fred-rogers/.