Melanie Matheson: Educating the Educators
Thursday, February 6th, 2025
NWP sessional instructor, Melanie Matheson in action.
Melanie Matheson is good at a lot of things, except, so far, retirement.
As a long-time educator, Melanie brings a lifetime of experience to her role as a sessional instructor in Northwestern Polytechnic’s Department of Education. Melanie officially retired as a high school teacher and administrator in 2020, but instead of putting her feet up, she is enjoying a new chapter shaping Alberta’s next generation of teachers.
Melanie entered retirement looking for an opportunity to try something different. After 16 years as a vice principal at Grande Prairie Composite and Charles Spencer High Schools, she was ready for a change but still sought meaningful work. Teaching at NWP gives her just that, as well as the opportunity to reconnect with the classroom after years in administration. By taking on ED 2510, An Introduction to the Profession of Teaching, Melanie gets to work with students of many ages and backgrounds.
“It’s exciting to teach future educators,” she says, noting that her students range from those celebrating 18th birthdays to young grandparents. She appreciates that the NWP students are intentional about their career paths and that they bring a wealth of life experiences with them, as parents, volunteers, educational assistants, coaches and more.
Melanie also enjoys that her students these days are adults with different perspectives and responsibilities compared to the high school kids she loves. She still works to connect and build community with her classes but also respects their boundaries and choices. “Their time is valuable,” she observes, and because the hours in class fly by, she works hard to make the most of their time together. Relevance, relationships, and rigour; these are the principles that guide her.
“I want my students to know each other by name,” she says, delighted when she walks into a classroom bubbling with discussion and collaboration. She acknowledges that the stakes are high in university, and she wants her students to develop trust with their peers and with her so they can bring their best selves to school.
Like many teachers, Melanie was drawn to the profession because of her positive experiences as a student, including a love for sport that persists today. She taught English and Physical Education, combined with a lot of coaching, and also earned a master’s degree while juggling work and parenting. Her perspective on what defines good teaching was shaped by the reflection required by the degree, as well as by watching many great teachers in action throughout her career.
The announcement that NWP is offering a new Bachelor of Elementary Education degree starting in 2025 is good news for the school and the community, in Melanie’s opinion. By developing a program tailored to the needs of Grande Prairie and northern Alberta, NWP has ensured it will meet the needs of future teachers and their students. “How wonderful to be hours closer to home,” for those incoming Education students, she notes, in addition to being a part of the NWP Education community from acceptance to graduation.
