Cayden Kubler is an ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism student covering Marcos de Niza High School for AZPreps365.com.

Matthew Courtney a teacher and coach at Marcos de Niza has a massive impact on the community of Tempe.

Courtney is a special education teacher who has taught on campus for 16 years. He has also been a coach at the school since 2007. While juggling both of those he also took on the role of boys' golf coach in 2012. 

“Coach Courtney does such a great job with them, he lives in the neighborhood with the kids, he’s on campus with them, and he sees them all the time. The boys drop off their bags with him in the morning, so it’s a big family over there,” said assistant head coach and third base coach Jesse Chavez. 

Courtney spends the majority of his time giving his time to students at Marcos. A typical day for him starts with his family as he and his wife get his kids ready. Then it’s off to school and teaching his special education students. Courtney is a self-contained teacher, meaning every day is different depending on his students' needs that day. 

“Mr. Courtney has seen my child first as her strength’s. It’s incredible to hear and see all the things he works with her on that build to her strengths which increase her overall self-esteem. This confidence has then led her to try things she would or could never do like walk a lap on the track during inclusion PE or attend career/college days on campus. Mr. Courtney’s ability to teach emotional, social and academics to meet my child’s complex learning needs is beyond amazing,” said Stacy Cruz, a parent of a special education student at Marocs de Niza. 

Once school is over, it is on to coaching either baseball or golf. Baseball is in season in the spring so the Padres have practices or games every day after class. Senior catcher Jeremiah Paiz has a profound relationship with his coach.

“I was a struggling freshman and sophomore, so he was one of the guys that got on my butt, to get me doing good, and now I never struggle with a grade or anything right now. He really changed my mentality on the game and has me here right now as a captain,” said Paiz. 

The Padres didn’t have an ideal season finishing with a record of 9-17, but ended the season winning three of its final four games. Courtne,y regardless of the scoreboard, was still able to impact his players' lives in a positive way. 

“He’s in my ear every single pitch and we always have to be on the same page. Whenever I walk to the dugout he’s always the first person to tell me good job and he’s the first one to talk to me out of my head,” Paiz said.

After teaching and coaching the high schoolers, he continues to coach his kids. All three of his children play Little League and his twin daughters play basketball. Most days after baseball he heads back to the field for a practice or game. With all of that going on he finds time for food for dinner. On a day that his son has a game, he won’t get home until 9:30 p.m. 

“Mr. Courtney’s 'job' does not end Monday through Friday at 3 p.m. He is involved in so many activities that his impact does not stop in the classroom. We try to take our students into the community as much as possible. This includes fundraisers, sports games and concerts. Each time we have been in the community and Mr. Courtney has been there as well he comes out of his way to say hello to our student who thinks this is the best thing ever! You can see from the smile on her face to the squeal in her voice she is just over the moon to see her teacher out and about,” said Cruz. 

Before starting his teaching and coaching career, Courtney attended Arizona State University, getting a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, Education, Speech and Hearing. After he attended Rio Salado College before starting his coaching career, he coached in the Angels Pro Scout Organization, the Arizona College Wood Bat League and the Arizona World of Baseball. 

“I took sign language in college and so it went in that direction. I was going to do deaf education and kind of fell into it,” said Courtney on why he started as a special education teacher.

Along with giving so much of his time to his students and players, he also gives money as well. According to the National Education Association, “94% of teachers reach into their own pockets to purchase classroom necessities.”

Courtney says he purchases snacks and other food for his students. He also buys it for his baseball players in case they don’t have food or lunch for the day. 

“I always have Gatorade protein bars, hot pockets, Gatorade, water and things like that in my room if they need it. My students usually take advantage of the goldfish, my players definitely take advantage of the hot pockets, protein bars and Gatorade,” he said.

Courtney at one point was also the assistant varsity girls head coach for two seasons. In his time as Marcos de Niza, he’s coached three total sports and teaches a special education class. While teaching on campus since 2008, he’s had many different roles in the baseball program. He served as the pitching coach, infield coach, outfield coach, and head coach for JV teams, he has been a baseball coach for 13 years.

“My main motivation and the reason why I do it is because of these kids, a lot of them this is their opportunity, this is their way to get out and to do something different,” said Courtney.

His impact has been noticed by many around the school such as staff, coaches and parents for the world that he does for his students and players. 

“There have been so many incredible positive impacts that Mr. Courtney has had on my child since being at Marcos. One of the most important things we want for our child is inclusion being around her peers as much as possible. This is especially true after COVID-19 and all of the isolation we faced," Cruz said. "A memory we will never forget and highlighted inclusion at its finest all harnessed by Mr. Courtney. My child was given the opportunity to run on the track as part of Special Olympics Day, with a peer by her side and the crowd cheering. The stage was set beautifully. My daughter was distracted by all the cheers and the rest of the runners ran ahead and finished. It was Mr. Courtney who stood a ways in front of her calling out her name, encouraging her to get back on track and without hesitation she recognized his support and started sprinting to the finish line. Mr. Courtney was instrumental in getting her back on track, believing in her and above all making sure she was safe.

"This is a memory we will cherish forever."