S1E19: The Hope Blueprint: A Teacher’s Proven Strategy to Transform ‘4D’ Students (Marc Matthie, Fairfax County Public Schools)

How do we reach students who are hardest to reach, the ones who feel discouraged, disconnected, or burdened by challenges no one else sees?

In this episode of Think Bigger Voices, host Jennie Treby talks with Marc Matthie, a coach, longtime Fairfax County educator, and Think Big for Kids Advisory Board member. For more than 20 years, Marc has mentored students on and off the field, guided by a simple belief: real relationships create real hope.

His journey from football standout to devoted educator, shaped by his move from Jamaica to New York, fuels his commitment to supporting the “4D” kids: Disengaged, Discouraged, Disillusioned and Disconnected. Marc explains how uneven starting points shape a student’s path. Some grow up with stability and support, while others face daily uncertainty through no fault of their own, making mentorship and guidance from point A to point B essential.

In this transformative episode, you’ll learn:

• The Kids at Hope philosophy, which shifts the focus from viewing students as “at risk” to seeing them as “at hope,” and how strengthening a child’s sense of hope acts as a protective dam against difficult life experiences.
• How intentional classes, such as Fairfax County Public Schools’ Agency and Empowerment class, provide safety, support, and room to grow.
• How pairing a student’s natural resilience with trusted mentors and meaningful resources gives them the foundation they need to thrive.

From navigating adolescence to confronting instability at home, Marc shares a blueprint rooted in pouring hope into students, pairing them with mentors, and giving them access to the resources they’ve never had. With their natural resilience finally supported, these kids don’t just catch up, they thrive. And with organizations like Think Big for Kids helping bridge those gaps, Marc paints a powerful picture of what’s possible when youth who’ve had to fight for everything finally receive the tools, support and belief they deserve.

Links:

Educate Fairfax: https://www.educatefairfax.org/

Fairfax County Public Schools: https://www.fcps.edu/

Fairfax County Economic Development Authority: https://fairfaxcountyeda.org/

Think Big for Kids: https://thinkbigforkids.org/

More about Marc Matthie

Marc Matthie: https://thinkbigforkids.org/about-us/leadership/marc-matthie/

About host Jennie Treby

Jennie Treby on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennie-treby/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.