Mattison named outstanding teacher

Mary Mattison, 1303 N. Corning Road, Merrill, will be over 60 when she graduates this month from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

That in itself is notable, but her goal to work with juvenile offenders is something to which most people don’t aspire. She became interested in helping troubled teens while student teaching at the school at Lincoln Hill prison, the state’s most secured setting for young males in trouble with the law.

Both her student teaching supervising teacher, Elaine Miller, Merrill, and her university adviser, Barbara Dixson, describe her as a remarkable student. They recently nominated her for a statewide award which she received.

Mattison was named Outstanding Teacher by the Wisconsin Council of Teachers of English and Language Arts (WCTELA). In addition, she received a Chancellor’s Leadership Award at UWSP.

She was one of two teachers in the state selected for the WCTELA recognition. The organization includes elementary, middle and high school teachers, supervisors of English programs, college and university faculty, local and state agency English specialists and professionals in related fields.

"Mary took her assignments far beyond the requirements," Dixson said. " She researched deeply, searching for readings focused on the needs of her students, spending many hours in the library and on the Internet. She purchased nearly 50 books, selecting readings of particular interest to the young prisoners."

Mattison began her college career in 1982, but withdrew in 1986 because her mother became ill. After 10 years of all the challenges life could hand her, including a rocky marriage that ended in divorce and caring for her dying mother, Mattison decided to return to school to finish her bachelor’s degree.

She returned to UWSP in 1995 and will graduate on Sunday with a bachelor’s degree in English education and minors in writing, psychology and women’s studies.

"It’s more like working in a one-room school than a regular classroom," Mattison said. "You’re not only a teacher there, you’re an adviser," she said. "You get to know and care about each kid."

"The average student teacher would be afraid to take on such a daunting population for her first experience with students," said Miller, Mattison’s supervising teacher at LHS. Mattison soon learned that her students were adept at making ordinary implements into weapons and that they could explode in rage unexpectedly.

"As Mary continually bumped up against security issues, it quickly became clear to her that restrictions were in place because our students demonstrated tremendous potential to manipulate every benevolent gesture on her part and turn it into a security violation that could be used against her."

With each new obstacle, she would seek out materials and methods that would be more appropriate and successful with the young men. "The gratifying result of Mary’s rapid switching of gears was great success," Miller says.

Mattison went beyond the duties required of her as a student teacher. She drove to Merrill on days when she wasn’t needed in order to attend training sessions with the rest of the prison staff and increase her abilities to help students.

"Mary gives and gets respect, while expecting and getting appropriate behavior and cooperative work from her students," said Dixson, professor of English at UWSP. "She has done superb work and she is a fine, fine teacher."

Mattison has told her students in no uncertain terms, "you need to stay out of trouble and get an education." She believes deeply that education is the way out for these young men.

Among many classroom projects, a Polynesian study unit led to an ethnic festival planned and hosted by Mattison and her students. One group built an outrigger canoe in the facility's shop. Another group worked together to decorate the classroom with colorful fish while others organized a committee to cook for the festival.

"Watching her work with individuals or a group of these young men, I see they respect her and listen to her," Dixson said. "Mary is able to get them to function positively as a community, to work in small groups, to overcome their deep distrust of academic structure and do the work she brings them."

Mattison would like to write about her experiences at Lincoln Hills, and hopes she can return to UWSP to get 30 credits of special education so that she can do even more for troubled young people.

"If I take care of my health, I will have a long career as a teacher," Mattison said.

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