MATTHIEU FONTAINE
Secondary Science Teacher
Danielson,CT
Summary
As an experienced science educator with six years working in fishery management in Alaska, and nearly four years in the classroom, I bring a hands-on, field-based approach geared toward inspiring future scientists and critical thinkers. My passion for the ocean began with SCUBA diving at age 12, shaping my hands-on, field-based teaching approach, which I regularly incorporate into my lessons.
Overview
2025
2025
years of professional experience
4038
4038
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work History
Secondary Science Teacher
Tourtellotte Memorial High School
01.2022 - Current
- Demonstrated positive and effective classroom management skills.
- Independently developed a high school SCUBA program (one of two high schools nationwide that offer SCUBA certification as a part of their curriculum).
- Served as advising staff member for the class of 2026 student council officers.
- Served as the high school golf coach for two seasons.
- Wrote multiple grants to fund educational opportunities for students.
- Provided my students with real-world research experience by partnering with Harvard Forest’s Our Changing Forest program, where they collected data for an ongoing research study on forest dynamics.
- Promoted critical thinking skills amongst students through inquiry-based learning approaches within various scientific disciplines through the use of project-based learning and collaborative, team-based exercises.
- Wrote curricula, planned, prepared, and taught lesson plans for six separate science courses.
- Developed assessments that accurately measured student progress toward mastery of Next Generation Science Standards, and promptly provided feedback
Student Teacher
Lisbon Central School
8 2022 - 11.2022
Science Teacher
Plainfield High School
12.2021 - 01.2022
- Developed and implemented rigorous lesson plans that aligned with NGSS and state standards for three content areas: chemistry, physics, and integrated science
Teaching Candidate Internship
Lisbon Central School
08.2021 - 11.2021
- Worked in the Flexible Resource Room with the special education department
- Assisted students with exceptionalities with one-on-one instruction in all topic areas
- Differentiated student work based on specific needs outlined in IEP's and 504 plans
Southeast AK Field Coordinator
AIS, Inc.
03.2021 - 06.2021
- Developed and implemented rigorous lesson plans that aligned with NGSS and state standards for two sections of eighth grade general science
- Completed edTPA certification requirements
- Served as the weekend logistics coordinator for a North Pacific Groundfish Observing company for field staff located throughout the state of Alaska
- Responsible for contacting vessels to arrange observer coverage, booking travel, and lodging for field staff, contacting industry personnel (cannery managers, vessel owners, fisheries management staff)
- This job required an in-depth understanding of Alaskan fisheries in order to be able to adequately predict observer coverage needs based on fishing effort
Fisheries Data Specialist
International Pacific Halibut Commission
06.2020 - 11.2020
- Worked directly with members of the commercial halibut fishing industry to collect detailed and accurate fishing information from captains' logbooks and fish ticket information
- Obtained biological data through sampling commercially landed Pacific halibut for length, weight, and otoliths, tissue samples, and redeeming Pacific halibut tags
- Responsible for organizing and submitting all fishing log and biological data to the IPHC
- Sole port sampler responsible for coordinating logistics with multiple canneries to sample offloads from each commercial halibut vessel delivering to the port of Petersburg
Fisheries Observer
AIS, Inc.
08.2015 - 02.2020
- Lived and worked aboard over fifty small (40'-120') commercial fishing vessels throughout the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea
- Independently designed and implemented random sample designs based on commercial fishing gear type
- Quantified catch data by collecting species composition samples, collected otoliths and biological data (genetic tissue samples, sex length and maturity scans, collected rare organisms) from groundfish species of interest
- Documented sightings of marine mammals and seabirds of interest
- Frequently used dichotomous keys to identify new organisms
- Data collected during my time at sea is used for both in-season management as well as establishing quotas for future seasons
RACE Research Assistant
AIS, Inc.
05.2019 - 06.2019
- Participated in two legs of the NOAA Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering (RACE) cruise in August of 2018 and May of 2019
- Assisted in the data collection during the RACE Alaska Bottom Trawl Surveys
- Identified all organisms to species that were brought aboard via bottom trawl
- Collected sex, length, and weight data from species of interest
- Collected otolith and tissue samples
- Assisted with International Pacific Halibut Commission data collection (sex/length/weight, maturity scan, otolith and fin clip collection, and wire tagging)
- Independently collected stomachs from species of interest for an ongoing University of Washington Food Habits Lab research project
Research Technician
University Of New England
05.2015 - 08.2015
- Independently conducted research investigating novel methods to eradicate invasive C
- Maenas (European Green Crab)
- Designed traps that utilized LED lights in order to determine the efficacy of varying wavelengths in attracting C
- Maenas
- Utilized Python to program the time-lapse cameras and LED timers that were used to document crabs' LED wavelength preference
- Implemented aquaculture techniques by cultivating green crab broodstock to investigate whether or not wavelength preference is hereditary
- Soldered circuit boards and water-proofed light fixtures for this project
Dive Master
VIP Diving
11.2014 - 01.2015
- Received emergency first responder, CPR, Rescue Diver, and PADI divemaster certifications
- I served as the sole dive guide on over 40 dives, where I had the opportunity to share my knowledge of marine biology and passion for the ocean with guests
Research Technician
Gulf of Maine Research Institute
06.2014 - 11.2014
- Collected Atlantic Bluefin Tuna catch data from commercial fishing vessels throughout New England
- Collected otolith and genetic samples from over 400 specimen
- Coordinated logistics with fishermen, cannery owners, and seafood buyers to collect and process specimen without hindering seafood distribution
- Transcribed catch data collected from 1980-2014 into Microsoft Excel files
Education
Bachelor of Science - Marine Science
University of New England
Biddeford, MEMaster of Education - Secondary Science
Sacred Heart University
Griswold, CT12-2021
Skills
Classroom Management
Developing strong student relationships
Creating inclusive learning environments
Developing and implementing experimental designs
Interdepartmental collaboration
Strong interpersonal skills
Data collection
Proficient in Google and Microsoft suite software
Excellent verbal and written communication
Safe equipment operations
Scientific inquiry
Teaching Diverse Learners
Project-based learning
Lesson Planning
Technology Integration
Science Communication
Laboratory skills
Phone
cell, 860-608-2329
Relatedcoursework
- Marine Ecology
- Parasitology
- Fisheries Management
- Evolutionary Biology
- Fish Genetics
- Comparative Animal Physiology
- Oceanography I & II
- Statistics
- Cellular/Molecular Biology I & II
- Organic Chemistry I & II
- Marine Science Speakers Series
Certification
PADI Open Water SCUBA Instructor
Timeline
PADI Open Water SCUBA Instructor
06-2023
Secondary Science Teacher
Tourtellotte Memorial High School
01.2022 - Current
Science Teacher
Plainfield High School
12.2021 - 01.2022
Teaching Candidate Internship
Lisbon Central School
08.2021 - 11.2021
Southeast AK Field Coordinator
AIS, Inc.
03.2021 - 06.2021
Fisheries Data Specialist
International Pacific Halibut Commission
06.2020 - 11.2020
RACE Research Assistant
AIS, Inc.
05.2019 - 06.2019
Fisheries Observer
AIS, Inc.
08.2015 - 02.2020
Research Technician
University Of New England
05.2015 - 08.2015
Dive Master
VIP Diving
11.2014 - 01.2015
Research Technician
Gulf of Maine Research Institute
06.2014 - 11.2014
Student Teacher
Lisbon Central School
8 2022 - 11.2022
Bachelor of Science - Marine Science
University of New England
Master of Education - Secondary Science
Sacred Heart University