Meet Margina!  She is our newest Director of Personalized Learning and will serve our new middle school at Michigan Technical Academy in Detroit.  Here is her bio.  We interviewed Margina to understand her decision to join Matchbook and what she believes and why about the work ahead.

What led you to Matchbook Learning?  Describe your journey here.

I became acquainted with Matchbook Learning through my teaching experience with the EAA. I was highly impressed with the instructional methodology that Matchbook was using within the turnaround schools their team had joined.  As a teacher that used every opportunity to merge technology with traditional instruction, the transition with Matchbook was literally seamless. Although I began my administrative journey after leaving the EAA, I still employed the student-centered-learning concept and strategies with the teachers and students I serviced. Once I became aware of the possibility to work directly with Matchbook in the capacity of it’s own school, I jumped at the opportunity to do so.

What most attracted you to this position?  What do you think will be the biggest challenge of serving as a Matchbook Director of Personalized Learing?

What attracted me to this position was that I am able to perform in the capacity that I am purposed to.  Being able to translate best practices and model effective instructional techniques in order to inspire pedagogical ingenuity among instructors is what I am able to achieve with any team that I have the privilege to a part of.  What I anticipate to be the biggest challenge of being a Director of Personalized Instruction is becoming proficient with our new SPARK platform. I know that learning any new technology can be demanding, but we have an awesome team in place to ensure that our ambitious strides are met with success.

What are the keys to accomplishing a school turnaround?

The keys to accomplishing a school turnaround include but are not limited to securing quality talent, adjusting the climate and culture to one that is favorable for staff, students and parents and being able to assess, diagnose and treat where our areas for opportunities of growth exist. Successful turnarounds focus and apply their aptitudes towards accomplishing one objective at a time. I believe that by creating universal priorities among team leaders, this will ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards common goals. This in turn will unify the school on all levels and make our progress inevitable.

What are your goals for this next year?  What are your expectations a year from now and how will you be different?

My goals for the next year include my being able to master all of the capabilities that our new platform SPARK has to offer in order to enhance instruction. I want to be able to literate in all of it’s functions and also analyze and translate how we can make SPARK most effective for both teachers and students.

Why should gifted educators consider working for a Matchbook school?

The vision that Matchbook schools follow is one that is tangible and relevant for anyone looking to become an innovator in education.  Matchbook Learning doesn’t just give you an expectation of desired goals, they give you the autonomy and resources in order to make those results a reality. If you have a genuine passion for education and an appetite for change that is productive, then a Matchbook school is an ideal environment for you to operate and thrive in.  (Editor's note:  Here's a link to our jobs page.)

Lastly, what do you like to do in your spare time?  Offer a glimpse of who you are or what you are like outside of the working day. 

I am a mom to three kids, Case, 15; Cobe, 13; and Rylee, 10. My spare time is often occupied with their extracurricular activities, but I am also a writer so I often use any free time towards completing two of the books that I have slated to be released by the end of this year. During the warmer months I love being outside riding my bike or relaxing with friends while enjoying a good meal. I’m one of those people that usually have a variety of projects going on simultaneously, but everything eventually gets done one way or the other.