Matthew Hughson
Leslie Thomas Junior High & Sackville High
What is your “why”? What drives you to do this important work each day?
I do this because I think it's important to give back to the communities that raised you. I benefited greatly from having an Indigenous student support worker in my high school years. I know what it's like to be an Indigenous student in Lower Sackville. I want to give back to my community the same way my Student Support workers gave to me! I want to foster the same safe space, that same sense of community for my students.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
Student success stories. Seeing students outgrow their own expectations of self. Seeing students accomplish things they didn't know they were capable of. Be it socially, academically, athletically, etc.
What would you most like families to know about the role of Student Support Workers in HRCE?
We support students for a variety of reasons! Some students come to me to learn about their culture, some come to me for help on an assignment, some come to me just to say hi and check in. Student support is wholistic, and we support our students however they need it, as a unique individual.