Social Studies Teacher
Currently teaching Economics, Psychology, and American Government at Whetstone High School in Columbus City Schools.
History Educator · Football Coach
Matthew Brownell
A Michigan State–trained social studies teacher and freshmen football coach building curriculum and classrooms where students grow as thinkers, citizens, and teammates.
“If you want to lift yourself up, lift someone else.”
“Teaching should be such that what is offered is perceived as a valuable gift and not as a hard duty.”
“Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.”
A journey of educational excellence
I am a Michigan State University–trained secondary educator currently teaching Economics, Psychology, and American Government at Whetstone High School in Columbus City Schools. Before Columbus, I spent four years at Harper Creek Community Schools teaching Civics/Economics, Senior Social Studies, American History, and electives in Western Civilization and Visual History.
My classroom is data-informed and student-centered — Civics/Economics pretest averages climbed from 23% to a 77% final-exam average over four years, and I rebuilt the Senior Social Studies course around a new Personal Finance curriculum aligned with Michigan's 2028 graduation requirements. I'm Understanding by Design trained and fluent across Google Classroom, PowerSchool, Pear Assessment, and Edpuzzle.
Outside the classroom I coach freshmen football as an O-line and D-line coach running the wing-t, and I coordinate the senior service hours program — connecting students to volunteer opportunities that meet their graduation requirement and grow them as people.
5+
Years in Education
7
Courses Taught
3+
Seasons Coaching
Curriculum Builder
Designed a new Personal Finance curriculum at Harper Creek to align with Michigan's 2028 graduation requirements.
Measurable Results
Raised Civics/Economics student knowledge from a 23% pretest average to a 77% final exam average over four years.
Football Coach
Freshmen O-line and D-line coach running the wing-t offense since 2022 — mentoring student-athletes on and off the field.
Humanities Educator
Taught American History, Western Civilization, and Visual History — building students' critical thinking through primary-source analysis, historical inquiry, and interdisciplinary connections between history, art, and culture.
Academic background
Michigan State University
2025 – 2026Master of Arts — Educational Technology
Graduate program focused on integrating technology into curriculum and instruction. Expected completion: end of Summer 2026.
Ohio Department of Education
2025 – 20305-Year Professional Adolescence to Young Adult (7–12) License
Valid professional teaching license for grades 7–12 in Ohio.
Michigan State University
2020 – 2021Teacher Certification — 6-12 History Education
Michigan Secondary Standard Certificate with RX endorsement covering History, Economics, and Government. Psychology Certification.
Michigan State University
2016 – 2020Bachelor of Arts — History Education
Teaching Major in History Education with a Teaching Minor in Psychology. East Lansing, MI.
Let's connect
Whether you're interested in discussing educational innovations, exploring collaboration, or just want to connect, I'd love to hear from you.