Matthew L. Shaffer, MS Ed.

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Mr. Shaffer graduated from high school in 1982, having never passed Algebra. He attributes this to a low self esteem, disappointing teachers, and a lack of perceived relevance. Mr. Shaffer enrolled in an occupational program (ROP, VOTECH) and earned the units he needed. Alternatives to high school exist today in California that did not exist in the early 80s, and Mr. Shaffer can advise families and students on these alternatives, and help students feel -- and be -- successful.

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After high school, Mr. Shaffer dabbled in community college classes and, after about 18 months, enlisted in the United States Army. He served 6-1/2 years on active duty in Louisiana and then Germany, and was honorably discharged as a sergeant, E-5, in 1990. During his service in the military, Mr. Shaffer was required to salute  any person wearing a shiny insignia on his or her hat. Mr. Shaffer learned about leadership in a thousand salutes: when he respected or admired the officer, Sergeant Shaffer saluted the man or the woman. When he did not respect nor admire the officer, Sergeant Shaffer saluted the shiny insignia on the hat. The officers had college degrees. Sergeant Shaffer decided he wanted a college degree of his own.

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Fall of 1991, freshly returned from Europe after the First Gulf War, Mr. Shaffer enrolled at Chabot Community College, and was placed in Elementary Algebra, with Mr. José Alegre. Mr. Shaffer went on to complete the majority of math courses on offer at Chabot, earning a grade of A in all but one: 3rd quarter Freshman Calculus, where he earned a B. Mr. Shaffer then transferred to CSU Hayward, as it was then named, completing a bachelor's degree in Mathematics with an overall GPA of 3.7, in 1995. Mr. Shaffer returned to CSU Eastbay in 2015 to earn a Masters in Educational Technology Leadership, as well as an administrator's credential.

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From college, Mr. Shaffer worked as a junior actuarial consultant, then as a business analyst and, finally, as a database analyst, before becoming a public school educator in 2002. During this time in industry, Mr. Shaffer developed broad and deep experience and skills in computer data applications and computer hardware and a bit of networking.

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Mr. Shaffer, now in his 21st school year as a secondary mathematics educator, began his teaching career at Hayward High School, teaching Pre-Algebra to 16- and 17-year-olds, and began to quickly learn what skills less successful math students lacked. Simple fact: primary grade curriculum and instruction generally lack mathematical rigor, and students develop deficiencies in numeracy early on. Mr. Shaffer has made the focus of his teaching career the strengthening of core math skills necessary to be successful in later Algebra and Integrated Common Core classes.