Lincoln Southwest has added John Matzen as a new associate principal.

Matzen was at North Star for his entire teaching career before coming to Southwest. While at North Star he was a business teacher for seven years, a coordinator for three years, and an associate principal for three years.

At Southwest he is the administrator for students with the last names starting with A-G. He helps students with behavioral problems and other student needs. Matzen help teachers finds new strategies and new techniques to improve their teaching.

“I am in charge of school improvement, which is the way teachers get better at their craft to help improve the school. “ Matzen said.

Matzen had worked with Mike Gillotti, the principal at Lincoln Southwest, before when Gillotti was at North Star. He applied at Southwest to stretch his comfort zone and face a new challenge. Working at North Star for 13 years, he  gained trust from the staff there. He decided to rebuild this level of trust at a different high school.

“I was very excited for the new challenge,” Matzen said. “I was excited to be able to work with Gillotti again.”

The experience so far for Matzen has been great. Everyone has been welcoming and kind towards him.

“It’s been magnificent, everyone has been super friendly. They have been very understanding that I am still learning. But the staff and students alike have all been very welcoming,” Matzen said.