Matt Ehresman teaches 8th-grade social studies at Center Grove Middle School Central in Greenwood. Matt has passionately adopted Project-Based Learning with a focus on 21st Century Skills. He explores the connections between real world and curriculum, bringing his humor and storytelling into the curriculum. Always seeking new ways to make early American history relevant to students, Matt is willing to take risks and try new strategies to improve his practice. 

One of Matt’s recent student-driven projects involved students planning and pitching a movie based on the American Civil War. Matt coordinated meeting with a movie production company. After eight weeks of work, 160 students worked together to plan a 10-part mini-series titled  A Nation in Ashes.  Students planned all parts of the movie-making process from the storyboards to the marketing campaign. 

Matt’s influence on graduating seniors in his selection as a Legacy Teacher in Center Grove for multiple years.  He was the runner-up for the Indiana State Teacher of the year award for 2014 and is highly admired by students, parents, faculty, and administrators.