Truth, Courage, and the Power of the Student Voice: The Transformative Work of Jessyca Mathews

For Jessyca Mathews, education has never been about teaching books or preparing students for exams. It has always been about something deeper: helping young people find their voice and use it to change the world.

An English and AP African American Studies teacher at Carman-Ainsworth High School, Mathews has built a national reputation as a teacher who refuses to separate learning from justice. As a member of the second Top 50 Educator group, in Jessyca’s class, students read, write, research—and most importantly—learn how to speak the truth in places where silence is often expected.

Being a Teacher He Never Had

Mathews’ journey to education was not part of a lifelong childhood plan—at least not for him.

But someone else saw it clearly long before he did: his father.

When he was in the fifth grade, he started telling her that one day he would be a teacher. At that time, he removed it. But in his second year of college, he began to see what he had seen all along.

More importantly, he realized why he needed to teach.

Growing up, Mathews did not have a Black teacher throughout his K-12 education. Although he enjoyed school, something was always missing. He often faced prejudice and minor harassment in a predominantly white educational environment, and rarely saw his lived experiences reflected in the classroom.

So he made a decision that would change his entire career:

He was going to be what he never had.

“I am what I didn’t have,” he says—a statement that has guided his career for more than two decades.

When Education Becomes Advocacy

Mathews’ commitment to teaching reached a new level during one of the most devastating crises in modern American education: the Flint Water Crisis.

As Flint residents faced toxic water and government neglect, Mathews listened to his students describe what they were experiencing: hair loss, illness, fear, and anger. Their lives were affected by a public health crisis—and regular classroom education continued as if nothing had changed.

That moment forced him to rethink everything about his teaching.

Instead of avoiding hard truths, Mathews transformed his classroom into a liberating educational environment—a model focused on helping students understand injustice, research it, and advocate for change.

Inspired by the work of scholars such as Barbara Love, Mathews began designing courses that allowed students to investigate real-world issues affecting their lives and communities. Her elders now research social justice topics, develop debates, and speak publicly about the changes they want to see.

For Mathews, the goal is clear: education should help students find power in their voices.

Telling the Truth—Even When It’s Uncomfortable

Of course, telling the truth in education does not always come without consequences.

When Mathews introduced discussions about social justice, equality, and systemic injustice in her classroom, she faced a barrage of critics who called her work “too blunt,” “too aggressive,” or “too violent.” Some parents even pulled their children out of his classes.

But Mathews never considered backing down.

Instead, he stuck to a quote from Zora Neale Hurston that shaped his philosophy: If you keep quiet about your pain, they will kill you and say you enjoyed it.”

For Mathews, silence is not an option. Teaching students to speak up, to challenge injustice, and to seek a better world is not a political platform—it is the very purpose of education.

A Teacher Whose Voice Reaches Beyond the Classroom

Mathews’ influence now extends beyond the students he teaches each day.

After being named Michigan Region 5 Teacher of the Year for 2019-2020, her platform has grown exponentially. That recognition opened doors for him to share his work across the country through writing, speaking engagements, and educational leadership.

He has been featured in major outlets such as MSNBC, Time Magazine, NPR, and The Washington Post, where he has written powerful opinions on race, education, and justice.

His voice has reached thousands of educators through keynote speeches and conferences, including one of his largest audiences at Learning Forward, where he spoke to more than 3,000 educators from across North America.

But even as he gains national recognition, Mathews maintains the same philosophy: teaching does not end at the classroom door.

Advice for Teachers in Difficult Times

With teacher burnout reaching critical levels across the country, Mathews is encouraging teachers to rethink how they make a living professionally.

His advice is simple but powerful: find your circle.

Not just your colleagues at your school—but a broader community of educators committed to meaningful work and professional growth. Whether it’s through conferences, online networks, or shared learning spaces, Mathews believes that strong communities of teachers help build courage when resistance arises.

Because resistance, he says, is inevitable when you do important work.

Envisioning a Bold Future for Education

If Mathews were to reshape American education tomorrow, he would start by giving teachers more control over the curriculum.

Too often, he says, schools cling to stereotypes—teaching the same texts, maintaining the same structures, and repeating the same principles simply because “that’s the way it’s always been done.”

But nostalgia, he warns, can be dangerous.

Students deserve to see themselves in the curriculum, face different perspectives, and engage with ideas that reflect the complexity of the world they live in.

True progress in education will require educators who are willing to question old traditions and think of something better.

A Legacy of Courage—And Joy

After more than two decades in the classroom, Mathews hopes his legacy won’t just be remembered through awards or accolades.

Instead, he hopes future teachers and students advance something far more powerful: permission to be bold.

He wants them to speak with authority about their histories, their identities, and their truths. You want