Via West
Account Executive

Nominee Qualifications

Tell us why your nominee should serve on Ben Franklin Academy’s board of Directors.
Matt has a passion for integrating classroom education and technology in order to prepare students for careers in the digital and science-based era. His work experience in both the classroom and in the IT world give him a unique perspective that will add valuable input into the future direction of Ben Franklin Academy.

Nominee’s Biography, include other charter school experience.
Matt graduated with a Social Studies Education major from Greenville College, IL. He has eight years of public and private teaching experience, including teaming English in Japan, Special Education and Social Studies in Illinois, and Middle School History and English in California. Matt transitioned from a full-time classroom teacher to a career in educational sales in 2004. In that role, he worked with public school administrators and educators to bring effective curriculum and technology into classrooms nationwide. Currently, Matt is an Account Executive with ViaWest, a Denver-based IT company. He is very involved with the Colorado Technology Association and works with companies of various sizes and industries. He has volunteered for the Broncos Tackle STEM program, presented at Colorado K-12 Education Technology conference InnEdCO, and was awarded Colorado Technology Association’s Volunteer of the Year in 2015.

Matt has served for three years as a member of the BFA STEAM committee. Within that role, he has coordinated the annual Punkin’ Chunkin/STEAM Fruit toss and the after-school Fruit Toss Club.

What role do you see the nominee playing on Ben Franklin Academy’s Board of Directors?
As a Board member, Matt would advocate for hands-on integration of BFA to the professional and IT community in Colorado. He will strive to create partnerships within the community, especially connecting BFA students to businesses with “School to Work” outreach initiatives. His goal would be to create engaging opportunities for students to reach their full potential.

What strengths/experience do they bring to the Board?
Matt is a connector by nature and has many contacts in the technology community in Denver and throughout Colorado. As a former educational technology consultant and proponent of Project-based Learning approach, Matt has seen good education practice first-hand in Douglas County School District classrooms and across the country and can bring this insight to the teachers and students at BFA.