Clap your hands, stomp your feet, turn your heads and get ready to meet… Matt Johnson, MECA’s newest PE teacher, who’s always ready to turn up the room with his witty remarks and adamant attitude, always looking for ways to improve.
Childhood:
For quite some time, the Johnson name has made itself known in West Covina, specifically its highschool namesake. From 1991 to 2004, Matt Johnson’s father coached for 13 at West Covina High School, later influencing his son to attend the same school before resigning the year of his graduation. Following the completion of his high school years, Matt Johnson later moved to Burmington Young University (BYU), before settling down in Azusa and transferring to Azusa Pacific University (APU), where he would later meet his wife.
Prior to this, while attending West Covina High school, Johnson recounts how,“[he] grew up doing just about everything… football, wrestling, baseball, and track” portraying the captivating allure of sports to him at a young age. This same fixation on sports would later push him into a coaching career at APU for the football team.
In spite of his interests, Johnson took notice of the strain that coaching put on his life, and put an end to his career, choosing to devote his time towards his four children. Johnson claims that,“I want to raise my kids and not somebody else’s” words which would push him to alter his course in life, taking more time to be present in the lives of his children.
Interests and talents:
Following the big leap to cut his career, Johnson became more involved in his family and community life, taking up a full time job at West Covina High School as a teacher, and settling in with his family.
Now, he falls into a familiar pattern, expressing the enjoyment he feels to go home,“[Taking] the kids outside [to] ride bikes… [and] their go karts…play catch, do all that kind of stuff.” That very same passion he held as a child still integrates itself into his life to this day, pushing him and his family towards more active adventures.
From camping to spending a day at the beach, Mr. Johnson continues to have a spirited approach towards life, experiencing each day to its fullest.
Advice:
Growing up, everyone goes through a hurdle of obstacles from time to time. Challenges can be tough, but how you handle them makes all the difference. Johnson talks about how he works through his struggles, “There’s a book that was out. I think it was Brian Kight [who] wrote it or at least he uses the phrase, E + R = O. The event plus how you respond equals the outcome. So really any outcome of any challenge kind of comes from how you respond to it, doesn’t matter what happened.” This shows that Johnson thinks that no matter what happens , how a person chooses to react will shape what happens next. If one handles things calmly and thoughtfully, they’ll have a better outcome than if they just react without thinking. When dealing with problems, he also says “It’s okay to have emotion. It’s not okay, in my opinion, to act out of emotion. Sometimes, you need to step back and think before you act. Detaching, thinking about the best decision possible, and then taking action, is a better way to handle things. By pausing and asking, ‘What is the best thing I can do for this particular situation?’ you can make smarter choices instead of letting your emotions control you.”
Finally, when it comes to advice for students and life overall, he states, “Love Jesus, work hard, treat people right. That’s the three Johnson family rules right there. It’s simple but important advice. The best way through challenges is to face them head on because the conversations you don’t want to have are the ones that you should be having.” In other words, what’s hard will help you grow and lead to better outcomes in the end. These strong pieces of advice and words only add onto Johnson’s character and who he is as a person in general.
Moving to MECA:
Being new to the school and transferring over from West Covina High School, Johnson couldn’t help but notice a few key differences between the two schools. One detail, in particular, caught his attention right away. On his very first day, something small yet significant stood out to him. He said, “The very first day, I noticed when lunch was over, there was no trash left on the ground.” This simple observation spoke volumes to him about the students and the culture at MECA. It wasn’t just about cleanliness, it reflected a sense of maturity and responsibility in the students. Coming from a different environment, he quickly realized that MECA fostered a respectful atmosphere where students took care of their surroundings without needing to be told.
Not only did Johnson point out how tidy MECA students are, but he also admired the work ethic and what great scholars they are. Mr. Johnson takes pride in the students and their ability to handle their academics responsibility without needing constant supervision. He’s impressed by how they approach their work with maturity and independence. “You guys are fairly self motivated and kind of just get the work done, and a little more mature of a crowd,” he remarks, showing his appreciation for their efforts. To him, it’s not just about completing tasks but doing so with a sense of dedication and focus. Mr. Johnson recognizes these qualities and values the maturity he sees, knowing it will serve them well beyond the classroom.
Mr. Johnson, the new PE teacher, is all about fun times. So, whether you’re heading over to PE or just walking around school, take a moment to stop and say hi.
Welcome to MECA, Mr. Johnson!
