Matthew Diller

Background

About Matthew Diller

Matt has taught third grade at The College School since 1994. He has designed and implemented thematically integrated, expeditionary, experiential, place-based, education for sustainability. He has also mentored or sponsored several student initiatives and feasibility studies such as The River on our playground, solar panels, and a vertical axis wind turbine. Matt holds an MEd in Foundations of Education with a concentration in Education for Sustainability (EFS) from Antioch University of New England. His master's research was an exploration on play motifs of children from 6 to 14 years old and emerging leverage points for play based curriculum design and outdoor landscape design to enhance Education for Sustainability. He continues to advocate for playground and program design that maximizes a balance of social, physical, creative and intellectual development. Matt's work is influenced by the work of his mentors at Antioch, including professor David Sobel, author of Childhood and Nature and other books on place based education. Matt also holds a BA in Elementary Education from Harris Stowe State College. In addition to his work experience at The College School, Matt taught several years in Japan. He also taught several years as a K-12th grade substitute teacher in urban, suburban and rural schools, in both mainstream and special education classrooms. Matt has traveled extensively throughout North America from Alaska to Mexico, most of Europe, and much of Asia. His interests in foreign language and culture have helped him integrate those experiences into curriculum design. Specialties: Education for Sustainability (EfS), experiential, and thematically integrated curriculum design, educational consulting in EfS and learning through natural play environments