INDIVIDUAL SILVER

Matthew
Adams, Mentor

Matthew Adams does a little bit of everything at Mentor Ridge Junior High School.

He teaches, he coaches, he runs the athletic program, and he leads by example.

Adams doesn’t just stand in front of the
class and offer tips on healthy lifestyles, he
engages students before, during and after
school to help them get the most out of their
lives. Additionally, he shows them the path in
the way he carries himself.

How does he talk the talk and run the run?
First, Adams has instituted a robust group of
programs into the school to get kids more
active. In his physical education classes, he
had students participate in a 10,000-Step
Challenge, having them wear pedometers
that track their steps. He had them take 2,000
steps per day in his class, aligning the program with the USDA’s guidelines for a
healthy lifestyle. He also created a ‘Biggest
Loser Challenge,’ investing 18 weeks in a
program spun off from the television show
that promotes physical fitness and healthier
diet decisions.

He also showed students the way by instituting things like the students versus staff
basketball game. The game not only is a fun
way to exercise, but it is also a great example for the kids to see their role models getting out and doing what they tell the kids to
do. In order to make the game happen,
Adams stepped up to find a sponsor, collect
donations and get the teams together.

Finally, Adams has gone above and beyond
the daily call of duty, taking time to coach
and lead kids away from the classroom.
Along with that mindset, he also tied his students’ health into his graduate work, spending a semester doing a research project on
school lunches and the steps needed to
make them healthier.

The end result is that Adams’ students see
an educator who isn’t just telling them what
to do; he’s running in front of them asking to
follow along. As they start to keep up, they
truly begin to appreciate the effort that
Adams is putting forward.