Mr. Mark Matthews was one of two educators honored at the Winterfest assembly on Feb. 3 as one of two recipeints of the Spirit of Holy Cross Award.

Matthews said, “Of course, it means a lot that Cathedral’s students voted to award me the Blessed Basile Moreau Award. No one becomes a teacher to win awards or be recognized by students or peers. Such things are merely a reflection of what all Cathedral educators do every day.”

He spoke about the environment of his classroom and how it differs. Matthews said, “Cathedral is a special school where educators are able to share not only the knowledge of their content area but also the love of Christ. I want my classroom to reflect our school’s mission to educate both hearts and minds in the Holy Cross tradition. I definitely want my students to learn U.S. history, but I also want each of them to know that God loves them, and I do, too.”

Matthews sees himself as more than a teacher but also a role model, saying, “I hope that Cathedral’s teachers and staff members serve as role models for her students. We’re an extension of students’ families and are here to help to support our families in their child’s education. Part of that responsibility is to try to be good role models for all of our students.”