The Capital Area School Development Association (CASDA) has officially recognized long-time Chatham educator and community leader Judi Matthews with the prestigious Friends of Education Award. Presented during the annual awards dinner in Albany on April 30, the honor celebrates Matthews’ lifelong dedication to the Chatham Central School District community.
Matthews has woven herself into the fabric of Chatham through a career defined by advocacy and innovation. She served for decades as math teacher at Chatham High School. Students often remember her legendary calculus projects, where she encouraged high-level problem solving through creative engineering. These presentations famously ranged from professional-grade short films to a full-sized trebuchet that launched pumpkins across the high school fields. She was a primary driving force behind the District’s ongoing partnership with Shakespeare & Company and, as a pioneering and natural leader, she ultimately became the District's first K-12 Math Teacher Coach. Her commitment was also visible in the smaller moments, from chaperoning the annual Washington D.C. trip to volunteering as a scorekeeper for track and field events. She also served her colleagues as the head of the teachers' union.
Her commitment to Chatham is personal. As a parent of three students who came through our halls, Matthews has always viewed our schools through the lens of both an educator and a parent. Even now in retirement, she continues to share her gifts as the Chair of the Chatham Education Foundation, which awards thousands of dollars in grants each year to support arts and humanities opportunities for Chatham students. She is also the District’s liaison with the Chatham Area Silent pantry, a vital community safety net for families in times of need.
Chatham Superintendent of Schools Andrew Kourt, who nominated Matthews for the Friends of Education Award, spoke at the ceremony and personally presented her with the award.