Corinth Elementary Teacher Carley Matthews Profiled

A Corinth Elementary teacher who has spent 28 years in education, including the last 15 guiding fourth graders in Corinth, is the latest educator featured in the Corinth School District’s “People of the Crossroads: Serving Students” series. Carley Matthews says the best part of her job is watching a child realize they can do hard things.

A Corinth Elementary Teacher Following Family Footsteps

Matthews told the district that no single person led her into teaching, but she points to her grandfather, Marvin Bain, as a lasting influence. Bain worked his way through college, became a teacher, served for many years as principal of Biggersville High School, and finished his career at Rienzi.

“I remember when he passed away the stories people told our family on how he impacted their lives through school,” Matthews said in the district’s profile. “I knew I wanted to follow in his footsteps and do the same.”

Teaching was not her first plan. Matthews said she entered college intending to pursue another major, and her mother, Martha Roberts, later told her she had known all along that her daughter would become a teacher. She also credited her father, Bobby Roberts, for showing her the value of hard work and treating others with respect.

Why Fourth Grade Matters

Matthews describes fourth grade as a major transition year. Students have outgrown the early elementary grades but are not yet middle schoolers.

• Students want more responsibility and choice, she said, but still need structure, consistency, and reminders.
• She tells her classes they can do hard things and should not let anything get in their way.
• When a student finally succeeds at something they have worked hard on, she said, “I know I have done my job.”

Over nearly three decades, Matthews said technology has brought the biggest change to the classroom. It opens the door to interactive learning, research, and creativity, she said, but it can also make it harder for students to sustain attention, practice patience, and stick with work that requires extended focus.

Alcorn County Roots

Matthews is an Alcorn Central High School graduate. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Mississippi State University and a master’s degree in education from the University of Mississippi. Before joining the Corinth School District, she spent 13 years with the Alcorn School District.

She and her husband, Mark, have been married 21 years. Their son, Will, is a freshman at Mississippi State, and Matthews told the district she expects plenty of trips to Starkville in the next few years. Outside the classroom she enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with friends and family, and she hopes to travel more after retirement.

The district’s profile notes that teaching fourth grade means balancing academics with compassion, and that Matthews has spent her career challenging students while giving them a welcoming place to grow.

More From the Series

The Corinth School District has been spotlighting staff members across its campuses this fall. Earlier profiles featured Corinth High School teacher John Ward Grace and Corinth Middle School teacher Kaitlin James.

Source: Corinth School District