ORANGE PARK – Clay County’s 2022 Teacher of the Year is well-known for making math fun and describes the honor as being unbelievable.

Melissa Matz teaches seventh-grade math at Lakeside Junior High. She’s been with the district for 18 years. Originally from Iowa, she visited a teacher fair in Orlando, met a few district representatives and landed a job in Clay.

After a two-hour ceremony at the Thrasher-Horne Center, she can put Teacher of the Year on her résumé.

“It was one of most amazing nights,” Matz said of last week’s Apple Awards. “I’m so thankful they made teachers feel so special and honored.”

Matz isn’t a stranger to encountering a student who initially “hates math,” she said. Matz focuses on small successes and "math confidence." She added that developing math skills requires self-belief.

“What I do is, I believe in them. I tell them they can do it and I show them how to do it,” Matz said.

Her activities and lessons sometimes revolve around calculating sales tax and tips, and having students act out a restaurant transaction.

“It’s like a life skill,” she said. “I’m teaching math in a real-world setting.”

Clay County Board Member Janice Kerekes introduced Matz by saying she showed tremendous dedication to students and has a great work ethic. She said Matz is engaging and a strong motivator. Matz is also heavily involved in district math programs and curricula.

“It’s no wonder why Miss Matz is a great leader that is always ready to step in and assist when needed,” Kerekes said.

“We’re so proud to have her represent us. She does a great job with our students and making sure every kid has exactly what they need to be successful,” Lakeside Junior High Principal Rodney Ivey said. “We’re really proud of her.”

Matz said she’s appreciative of the months-long journey since being tabbed as her school’s Teacher of the Year in September and later a finalist in the leadup to last week’s ceremony.

She called the recognition at the Apple Awards well-deserved for teachers and district employees who give so much to the profession.

“I was very overwhelmed and just filled with gratitude,” Matz said.