"I believe that my reason for being on this earth is to be involved in Good Trouble. That means standing for what's right, assisting young people in finding their voices, and in speaking my truth as a Black woman, educator, and believer in having the world be a better place."
​-Jessyca Mathews

Michigan Region 5 Teacher of the Year-2019-2020
The Educator's Room Top 50 Educators Winner-2026
Fannie Lou Hamer Community Service Award-2023
NCTE Teacher of Excellence-2018
MCTE Secondary English Teacher of the Year-2018
Samford Inspirational Teacher Award Winner-2018
NEA Social Justice Activist of the Year Finalist-2017
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About Jessyca Mathews...
​I am an educator who believes teaching is an act of truth-telling, care, and possibility.
Inside the classroom, I work to ensure students—especially Black students—see themselves reflected with dignity, complexity, and joy. I teach literacy not as compliance, but as a tool for thinking critically, speaking boldly, and understanding the world more honestly. My classrooms center rigorous reading, meaningful writing, and the belief that students’ lived experiences are not obstacles to learning—they are assets.
Beyond the classroom, I partner with teachers, schools, and districts to reimagine what culturally responsive instruction can look like in practice. As a national presenter and curriculum designer, I support educators in building classrooms that honor students’ identities while maintaining academic excellence. My work bridges research and reality, helping teachers move from intention to implementation with confidence.
At the heart of everything I do is this belief:
Truth and care can—and must—coexist in education.
Rigor does not require erasure. Joy is not separate from justice. And students deserve learning spaces where they are challenged, protected, and seen.
My legacy is not measured in programs or presentations alone, but in the ripple effect—students who learn to name their experiences, teachers who feel empowered to teach honestly, and classrooms that become spaces of liberation rather than limitation.
I am committed to leaving the next generation with language, courage, and the understanding that their voices matter—on the page, in the classroom, and in the world.