PRESS RELEASE

ROLLA 31 SCHOOL DISTRICT

JANUARY 12, 2024

MR. MATT FRIDLEY ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM ROLLA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The Rolla Board of Education accepted, with regret, the retirement of Mr. Matt Fridley at the January 11, 2024 board meeting after 22 years in education. He began his career in 2002 at Wyman Elementary, where he taught first grade. In 2007, Mr. Fridley took on the role of Middle School Principal in the Steelville R-III district where he served for five years. In 2012, Fridley was selected as the Mark Twain Elementary Principal where he has served for the past 12 years. Mr. Fridley began his career after completing an Elementary Education degree from Drury University. While teaching first grade at Wyman Elementary, he completed a Master of Education degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia. Mr. Fridley went on to complete an Educational Specialist degree from Missouri Baptist University shortly after.  

When asked to reflect on his career, Mr. Fridley said, “I was not a traditional teacher from the beginning.  I started my career when I was 33 years old, after serving in the Marine Corps.  I was the father of two young children and I saw the light in their eyes as they learned to read.  I wanted to help more children find the joy of learning, so I went back to college at 29 years old to become a teacher. When I was a child I didn’t always do well in school, so, for me, becoming a teacher was my way of helping others who may struggle in school. I decided to take on a leadership role in education because I felt I could have a positive impact on students and utilize the leadership skills I acquired while serving as a noncommissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps. I am very proud of the teachers and staff I have worked with through the years. I have witnessed the true love and care teachers and staff have for students.  We live in a community where education is valued and I truly appreciate the support we continue to receive in the Rolla School District.”