Love & Learning
By Sophia Messineo
For this edition of our Lincoln Kids Teacher Feature, we met with Matt and Machaela McMullin, teachers in Lincoln who also happen to be husband and wife. In the years that the McMullins have been working, they — like all teachers — have had to constantly adjust and readjust to rapidly shifting technological and social constraints. Still, in spite of the challenging nature of their chosen careers, Matt and Machaela consider themselves lucky to teach – and to learn from — their students every day. The pair sat down and reflected on their parallel journeys to becoming educators, and the gratifying experiences they have had working day-to-day with the next generation.
Matt and Machaela met each other during their very first course as freshmen at the University of Nebraska. They don’t recall what exactly was on the syllabus in those earliest days, but they do remember that they kept seeing one another around school. “After that, we had all of our classes together,” explains Machaela. The smaller, more intimate education community on campus became the perfect place for learning, and love, and love for learning, to take root.
Now, with degrees completed, and with three years of teaching under their belts, they recognize in themselves the same things they felt then — their love for getting to know new people, forging new connections, and embracing the energy of working with kids — and those things have propelled them to where they are today. “It’s all too much fun,” Matt says, laughing.
LK: What made you want to pursue teaching?
Matt: My mom was the one who suggested that I would be a good teacher. It wasn’t something I’d thought about. I have two younger siblings, so growing up, I was always leading, explaining, and educating. Knowing how to work with kids came naturally. But after my mom suggested it, I realized that it was also something I could do as a career. And it turned out pretty well!
Machaela: Originally, I was on track to become a nurse. Like Matt, teaching wasn’t something I had considered until someone else suggested that I was good with kids. Throughout high school, I had worked in a daycare. But when I became a full-time college student, I found that I missed and appreciated the positive, energetic impact that the kids had on my day. I thought about it and came to realize that as a teacher, I could find the personal connections I had hoped to find as a nurse. I liked being with kids, and I liked helping them understand things. Now, after several years in the classroom, I feel like teaching is my calling.
LK: What is the most rewarding part of teaching?
Machaela: I love getting to see my students every day, and it’s rewarding to have a relationship with them — to see their faces light up when they come through the door in the morning, or to see them take a new step, academically or behaviorally. Ultimately, it’s a two-way street. I love watching them grow up, and they love seeing my excitement about the progress they have made.
Matt: Building a good connection with the students is always rewarding. I especially like comparing the progress they’ve made from the beginning of the year to the end.
LK: Tell us something surprising about teaching.
Machaela: I was surprised by the time and effort we need to put into teaching to be successful. I’d say that most people don’t understand the time commitment. Yes, we work through the regular school hours of 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM, but most teachers get to school early, and stay there until 4:30 PM or later. We are constantly getting ready for the next day, and the next lesson plan. And, as an elementary teacher, you are teaching every subject, so you have to plan for every hour of the day, and everything has to be incredibly specific and thought-out.
Matt: I would absolutely agree with that. As with any job, there is a lot going on behind the scenes that people wouldn’t expect. You are always planning. You can’t wing it, or show up without a blueprint for the day.
LK: What would you like the community to know about teaching?
Machaela: The kids are bright and hard-working. They really want to do well, and that is such a good indicator of what the future holds for everyone. I love to see former students that have grown up, and moved on to middle school, and to hear all the amazing things they are doing.
Matt: It is such a rewarding job. There are a lot of good moments, and the kids definitely like coming to school more than they would ever admit. There is a good deal of progress that gets made, and as educators, we love to see that. In general, most teachers care deeply about their job, and their students, and genuinely want their classroom to be a place of growth and inspiration. Plus, we get to see the at-school version of kids, which we know is very different from home. People would be amazed by all their great ideas, and their hard work. We’re lucky to witness it every day.
Get Involved
Not everyone can become a teacher. But everyone can help participate in improving education. If Matt and Machaela have inspired you to get involved, there are many ways to
do so:
Support your child’s teacher by gifting classroom supplies, volunteering, or prepping activities
TeamMates is always looking for mentors
Ask a PTO group for any volunteer positions
Speakers are often needed to present to various types of classes
“There never was a person that did anything worth doing who did not really receive more than he gave.”
- Henry Ward Beecher
Matt and Machaela believe that the future is bright, thanks to their students. Let’s all find ways to make this year brighter. Whether in an educational setting or somewhere else in the community, find something worth doing in 2022; learn from it, grow with it, and do something with it.
