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
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
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