Matt Black ’10: Asking Questions, Giving Back, and Teaching Full Circle

For Matt Black ’10, Scecina Memorial High School is not just where he went to school—it is where his faith, vocation, and sense of responsibility were formed, and where they continue to grow.

Now a science teacher at Scecina, Matt teaches anatomy and physiology, biology, and is launching a new botany course this year. Outside the classroom, he wears many hats, running Student Council and the Crusader Cup and advising Gaming Club, Roblox Club, Minecraft Club, and the Red and Gold Going Green Club. It’s a wide scope of work, but for Matt, that breadth is part of what education demands.

“Being a teacher is a hard job—it’s very demanding in ways that people don’t expect,” he says. “You’re answering hundreds of questions a day, often unrelated to your subject. Teachers often have to help students emotionally regulate and handle both good and bad news.” Beyond content, Matt sees his role as guiding students toward who they are becoming. “You have to guide them without leading them where to go, helping them become a version of themselves and not who you think they should become.”

Despite the challenges, he is clear about the reward. “You have a huge impact on every student’s future, and that is a giant responsibility—but if you can handle all of that, it can be very fulfilling.”

When Matt reflects on his own time at Scecina, he does so with deep gratitude. “Scecina gave me almost everything I have in life,” he says. The school provided an education that helped him earn a full-tuition scholarship to Marian University, lifelong friendships, and even his future wife, Katie (Hammans) Black ’10. “The amazing educators I had as a student—and who I got to work with as an adult—helped shape me into the teacher I am today.”

Two student experiences continue to influence Matt’s approach to faith and learning. One involved after-school conversations with teacher Margaret Zeh. “I would meet with her after school with my notebook full of questions,” he recalls. “Her taking the time to take my questions seriously and not dismiss them helped me grow in my faith—even when I had doubts.” That openness left a lasting impression. “It taught me that we don’t have to accept what we don’t understand. We are encouraged to ask and question and seek out answers, not just blindly accept on faith.”

Another formative memory came from Mr. Tuley’s classroom, where creative projects—like a mock trial of Lord of the Flies—sparked Matt’s love for innovative teaching. Today, he finds himself on the other side of those moments. “Now I’m a teacher, acting in a skit or workshopping new segments on the Red and Gold Show,” he says. “Seeing the work and effort needed and the positive outcome you get from it—it just feels full circle.”

Matt also recalls a pivotal leadership lesson from his time as a student. When the student body grew upset over a school issue and prepared to protest, then-principal Tom Davis chose conversation over consequences. “He brought us into his office and heard our concerns,” Matt says. “He communicated with us like we were equals, not just students.” That moment still guides him. “Students are going to be adults, and the only way to prepare them is to treat them like adults—give them opportunities to surprise you in how mature they can be.”

Giving back to Scecina feels natural for Matt. His family has been part of the community since 2002, and after graduating in 2010, he continued helping with senior retreats before joining the faculty in 2014. He has even taught three of his younger brothers. “It was instilled in me by my parents that if you’re going to do something, then commit to it,” he says.
Matt is quick to express gratitude, especially to his wife. “A special shoutout to my wife Katie for supporting me through all my years here at Scecina,” he says. “I wouldn’t be able to do it without your unwavering support and patience.”

For Matt Black ’10, Scecina is not just part of his past. It is a living community he continues to serve—one question, one student, and one lesson at a time.