By Raine Wang ’25
Roberts 213 is fairly inconspicuous. Its warm yellow walls cast a glow on the figure in the center of the room. It looks like a conventional classroom, aside from the desks which, oddly enough, have been pushed into a neat circle. New history teacher Jermaine Matheson sits at one, while his laptop throws blue light onto his eyes and the papers surrounding him.
If I tried hard enough, I could have imagined him while class was in session; facilitating the conversations, assigning homework, all while seated amongst his pupils, able to simply look to his left and talk to one, glasses shining as he discusses with students. It is almost reminiscent of King Arthur’s Round Table – everyone is equal, the plain, wooden desks seem to say. Everyone’s voice deserves to be heard.
The room, although simple, reflects his teaching – his students learn about diversity and empathy in his history classes, and Mr. Matheson implements frequent Harkness discussions to open up the conversation and allow for students to think critically.
Mr. Matheson has had a lengthy teaching career before now – previously, he taught at Phillips Academy Andover, Phillips Exeter Academy, Millbrook School, Hackley School, and Avon Old Farms, all prestigious independent schools in New England. He decided to move from Andover to KO because he’d felt that the school was too big, and he felt as though he didn’t have as much time to spend with his family while still doing what he loved because of his responsibilities as a dorm parent.
Together, he and his wife, who is a Spanish teacher, made the decision to move. As of now, Mr. Matheson is enjoying the smaller population of KO; he feels that it allows for the community to be more close-knit. “I just like the school spirit,” he remarked. “It seems it’s definitely very different from Andover, even though it was a boarding school, where kids lived there. I feel like in a lot of ways there’s more camaraderie for the students here in terms of supporting each other, supporting the teams.”
That’s not to say he has forgotten everything about the previous schools he’s taught at. Mr. Matheson has brought many of his experiences over to KO. While at AOF, Mr. Matheson implemented diversity programs and helped to shape the curriculum to include the voices of marginalized groups, which he believes influences the way he teaches and interacts with students. Currently, he teaches Global Cities and US History, in addition to coaching the JV girls soccer team. “Understanding the past makes you understand the present,” Mr. Matheson commented. “I feel a responsibility, you know, I think the kids at Kingswood are going to be leaders in the community, leaders of the world.”
Mr. Matheson didn’t always think he’d end up a history teacher. “I went to an independent school, and I had no intention of becoming a teacher,” he explained, seemingly lost in memory. “I’ve actually had several careers before teaching. I worked in government and politics and in business before being a teacher.” Although he’d always been interested in history, Mr. Matheson didn’t become a teacher until well after graduating from college – he said that teaching gave him a sense of fulfillment that he hadn’t been able to find in other jobs.
He mentioned that he’s already getting to know the students he teaches, and he likes the school spirit at KO. From AOF to Millbrook to Andover, Mr. Matheson’s impressive teaching career has led him to KO. He’s brought experience and a love of soccer with him, and we welcome him to Kingswood Oxford!
