I Am the ROI: Matt Dykstra

A typical physical education class at Ezra Millard Elementary School involves more than physical fitness. Students often get a workout for their minds as well as their bodies, connecting physical activity with concepts they’re learning in other classes.

Matt Dykstra, Physical Education Specialist at Ezra Millard, received his master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s College of Education, which will be the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences effective this fall. Kids in his classes don’t just run relays; they run place value relays where kids learn about numbers and place value while they burn calories. Many activities also incorporate lessons about the solar system; spelling and grammar; or math.

Dykstra sees value in the interdisciplinary nature of his classes. “That’s good for the kids,” he says. “They get the connection between different disciplines and they realize movement is important, and so are academics, but we do them simultaneously.”

His efforts to combine other subjects with physical activity have also continued in the midst of a pandemic. Dykstra regularly posts videos on his Twitter account featuring fun activities taking place in his gym at Ezra Millard or at home due to remote learning. These videos prove that there is no shortage of ways to bring physical education home to keep students engaged and active year-round.

Dykstra received his undergraduate degree in elementary education with an endorsement in physical education. While he never taught in a traditional classroom, he calls his undergraduate education “foundational” in incorporating academic concepts from areas like math, science, and English into his physical education classes. This foundation and an identity as a lifelong learner led him to pursue his master’s in educational leadership at UNO.

“They had a nice educational cohort, a nicely laid out program to get done in two years, and I received a sound education and a solid foundation for that continued learning,” he says. Dykstra also attributes his success to the program’s practiced instructors, who could marry concepts to real-world experiences; the cohort nature of the program; and the preparation he received for a leadership role in education.

Prioritizing family time led him to pump the brakes on pursuing an administrative role in education after graduating, but in the meantime his degree opened doors for him to come back to UNO – this time, as an instructor. For the past nine years, Dykstra has helped prepare future teachers by having them complete part of their practicum experience in his classes at Ezra Millard.

“I always tell people I have the best job in the world being a PE teacher,” he says. “The second part of that is being able to go to UNO and teach there simultaneously, which is incredibly gratifying for me to do.”

“A lot of alumni don’t get to go back to where they got their degree. I get to stay connected and pass on my passion for the university and my passion for what I’m teaching.”

Dykstra has been consistently recognized for excellence inside and outside of the classroom. As an ambassador for the Clinton Foundation’s Healthy Schools Program, he worked alongside educators and professionals nationwide to support schools in keeping kids healthy and active. He has also been recognized with the Excellence in Teaching Award from the National Education Association, the Nebraska Physical Education Teacher of the Year by Shape Nebraska, and the Excellence in Teaching award from the Nebraska State Educators Association. In his role as an adjunct instructor at UNO, he was also recognized with a Part-Time Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award—something he especially takes pride in as an instructor at his alma mater.

Aside from his accomplishments and his connections to UNO as both an alumnus and instructor, his latest role also has him beaming: Maverick Dad.

“My daughter just finished her freshman year at UNO, so having the confidence in the university and having her wanting to go there as well, that’s just been a sense of pride to have my daughter go to the same school that I went to and the same school that I work for.”