Meet City Year: How a year of service with City Year helped Matthew Owlett find his path in education

Meet City Year is a monthly series that highlights our corps, staff and alums across the country, showing different aspects of our work; our lasting impact; and the human connection that drives everything we do. Meet City Year #1; Meet City Year #2; Meet City Year #3.

Like many recent college grads, when Matthew Owlett, City Year Philadelphia ’13, received his bachelor’s degree, he knew he was interested in education but wasn’t exactly sure what his future would look like. Growing up in rural upstate New York and attending college in a similarly rural area, he was also eager to experience something new. A friend’s positive experience serving with City Year inspired him to apply. That decision, he says, changed the course of his life.

Today, Matt is entering his 13th year at VERTUS High School in Rochester, New York, where he spent nine years as a special education teacher before moving into school administration. Looking back, he credits City Year with helping him discover not only that he wanted to work with young people, but also the kind of educator he wanted to become.

We caught up with Matt to talk about his City Year experience, his career in education and why he still believes deeply in the power of relationships to help students succeed.

What inspired you to join City Year?

I was in my senior year at SUNY Geneseo, and one of my friends who had graduated the year before had served with City Year. I stayed in touch with her, and I thought her experience seemed really interesting.

I was a history major pursuing education certification, so I knew I was interested in education, but I didn’t have a job lined up yet and wasn’t entirely sure what my path would be. I also wanted a different experience. I’m from the country, went to college in the country and thought I’d try something new. So, I looked into City Year and applied.

What was it like serving with City Year Philadelphia?

It was awesome. It was exactly what I was looking for.

I’d never lived anywhere close to a major city before. Moving to Philadelphia was a huge experience for me beyond the service itself. I got to learn how to navigate city life, use public transportation and experience things that were completely foreign to me.

I served at Overbrook High School in West Philadelphia and had the chance to work with some really interesting students. My team was incredibly diverse, and we all came from different backgrounds and had different aspirations. We spent a lot of time together outside of service as well. That combination of serving students and building relationships with my teammates made it a really meaningful year.

Did City Year influence your decision to become a teacher?

Absolutely.

I had already earned my education certification in college, but City Year changed the type of teacher I became. After serving, I realized I really enjoyed the one-on-one interactions I had with students.

I liked being able to focus on a specific skill and work closely with a student to help them grow. Through City Year, I discovered that I found those interpersonal connections especially rewarding. That experience led me to pursue a master’s degree in special education.

I spent many years as a special education teacher before eventually moving into administration.

What skills from City Year do you still use today?

One thing that was really great about City Year was learning to work with people whose backgrounds were different from my own.

I came from a fairly homogenous environment, so having the opportunity to work alongside teammates and students with different experiences was really important. I think one of the biggest skills I developed was simply learning how to relate to and engage with all kinds of people.

These days, part of my role involves hiring educators. I feel like City Year helped me recognize people who have a heart for service and social justice. The people I served with are exactly the kind of people I would want working with students. That experience shaped how I think about leadership and hiring today.

Tell us about your current role in education.

I’m entering my fourth year as an administrator at VERTUS High School after spending nine years as a special education teacher.

A large part of my role involves supporting students with special education needs and helping determine what accommodations and supports will help them be successful in the classroom. I also spend a lot of time coaching teachers, providing feedback and helping them continue to develop their practice.

In addition, I oversee our English as a New Language program and work with teachers to ensure multilingual learners receive the support they need. A lot of my job is centered on helping both students and educators succeed.

What brings you the most joy in your work?

Graduation day is amazing.

The students crossing the stage are often young people who faced significant challenges or who at one point told us they weren’t interested in school at all. Seeing them earn their diploma is hard to compare to anything else.

But there are also the smaller moments. Sometimes it’s watching a student finally understand a concept they struggled with or master a skill they’ve been working on. Those moments mattered to me during City Year, and they still matter to me now.

Another favorite part is when former students come back years later and tell us about their lives. Maybe they’ve started a family, built a career or reached a goal they were striving toward. You knew them as teenagers, and now you get to see the adults they’ve become. Those moments are really special.

Learn more about what to expect when serving with City Year.