MJ Mathis

“You want to change things.”

That was the banner draped across Teach for America’s table at the non-profit career fair I walked through as an undergraduate. I did want to change things and I saw education as a lever for social change.

Immediately upon becoming a classroom teacher (Kindergarten!), I was confronted with contradiction. Even as my colleagues and I said we believed in equity for students and families, we were upholding inequitable systems (grading policies, attendance policies, discipline policies, etc.). My focus became building nurturing, supportive structures in my classroom and within my grade level in which our students could exercise their agency.

I was a classroom teacher for 8 years. When I left the classroom, I worked in business operations in schools and coached and managed teachers. This sparked a nerdy obsession with the science of adult learning. Typically, kids are more willing to take the risks necessary to learn and grow. Now I work to build the nurturing and supportive structures that create the psychological safety for adults to do the same.

As the Managing Director of Learning and Development at Leverage to Lead, I create learning experiences that are human-centered and nurturing containers for growth, connection, vulnerability, and creativity. These experiences are not simply about gaining knowledge but designed so that the experience itself is transformative and relational. I also support individuals with one-on-one processing sessions, career strategy and advisement and professional development for new leaders.

I hold an MA in Elementary Education and Teaching and a BA in sociology and psychology. Originally from San Diego, CA, I now live in Philadelphia, and enjoy visiting family, hiking, traveling, and all kinds of outdoor adventures.