Matt Westmoreland: From APS Teacher to School Board Candidate
History teacher at Carver Early College and product of an APS education, Westmoreland says instilling success across all schools and having students meet or exceed expectations is not impossible.
As an honors student at Grady High School, Matt Westmoreland was struck by the racial differences at his school. Though a racially mixed school, he was cognizant of the divide, be it the racial homogeny of his honors classes compared with the non-honors courses or even the social interactions where white students mostly hung out in one area and black students in another. "While it was an amazing four years, I think the problems that plagued Grady are similar to the ones that we face in the city that I've called home my entire life," the Princeton University graduate told a group of Atlanta Public Schools valedictorians and salutatorians in a 2011 speech. He urged them to give to their communities. "Don't forget about home," he said at the …
Walt
5:59 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
I've had the privilege of watching Mr. Westmoreland teach at Carver. His classroom is outstanding. It is clear that "Mr. Wes" (as his students call him) has created a classroom environment where students are passionate about their own education, something that is too often lacking in our schools. Mr. Westmoreland will bring enthusiasm, passion, and a much needed perspective to the APS School … more ›