Matthew Stark

Biography

As a kid, I was obsessed with puzzles and games. Anything that involved solving problems, I was all in. That passion led me to start programming my own video games in middle school. So, after finishing high school at Bellarmine, studying Computer Science at UC Irvine felt like a natural next step. During my time in college, however, I found myself increasingly drawn towards mentoring others, and I’ve discovered how rewarding it is to help young learners build understanding and confidence in their abilities.

Over the years, I’ve taken a variety of educational roles: running a chess club, teaching a programming summer camp, and volunteering at VEX robotics tournaments. During COVID, I even created and taught my own curriculum for an online game-making class. Through these roles, I’ve sharpened my abilities in breaking down complex ideas, adapting to different learning styles, and keeping students genuinely engaged.

At the heart of my teaching philosophy is collaboration. Rather than lecturing, I make students active participants, testing their understanding along the way and adjusting as needed. The most rewarding part of the job is watching a student finally put the pieces together and solve a problem on their own.

Outside of teaching, I enjoy going on bike rides, watching movies, and playing board games with my friends.