Hello! 

My name is Chris Matzen and I am excited to be completing my internship at Edmonds Woodway High this year.  I am originally from Bothell, Washington and was a student in the Edmonds School District from kindergarten through twelfth grade; it is wonderful to be back in the area and working in such a great district and community.  After graduating from Lynnwood High in 2006, I attended the University of Washington and earned a degree in history in 2010.  I am currently working on my Master's in Teaching through Western Washington University.  In my spare time I enjoy hiking, cooking Italian food, sports (especially basketball and golf), and playing electric bass.

As an educator, I am driven by a passion for history and a love for the learning process, and I hope to instill this enthusiasm in the students with whom I work.  For me, it is important for students to understand that studying history is an active process.  Rather than simply memorizing names, dates and events, historical study is an ongoing debate about the past and what it means to us today.  It asks us to step into the shoes of others, consider multiple points of view, and analyze and evaluate arguments so that we may learn not only about past peoples but also ourselves.  I also believe that the skills and habits of mind which are fostered in the social studies classroom go on to serve students long after they leave school.

For my semester-long internship, I have the privilege of working with two experienced cooperating teachers: Mr. Bill Van Wyck and Mr. Martin Louie.  I also have the opportunity to collaborate with Mr. Ryan Crane, a fellow Western classmate who is also completing his teaching internship.  I am so delighted and grateful to begin this journey into teaching with such excellent company, as it will no doubt further enrich what promises to be an amazing experience.  Likewise, I look forward to working with students at EWHS; learning from them; and helping them develop as critical thinkers, thoughtful writers, and reflective individuals.  Here's to a great semester!

Most sincerely,
Chris Matzen