Matthew Callahan
Middle School English Teacher in Redwood City, California
Matt graduated cum laude from UCLA with a BA in History and French and Francophone Studies, followed by an MA from UCLA in French and Francophone Studies. He is currently on leave from UCLA as a Ph.D. student and archivist in French and Francophone Studies.
Matt decided to take a risk and transition from the world of academia and research to pursue what he now knows is his true passion - working with children. From 2007 to 2008, he worked at the Académie de Lyon in France, where he taught English and American Culture to 13 classes of 7–10 year olds. During his time as a graduate student at UCLA, Matt served as a teaching assistant in the French and Francophone Studies department, developing lesson plans and teaching classes of undergraduates at all levels.
He has also spent time as a wine educator at K&L Wine Merchants in Redwood City. References describe him as knowledgeable, motivated, and understanding, with one reference noting in regard to his suitability for teaching, “This would be putting his interpersonal skills, academic expertise, and rigorous intelligence to wonderful use.”