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North Cumbria teacher Matthew Klein helps members of the Technology Student Association with their projects. Klein was named PA Middle School Chapter Advisor. Courtesy photo
Matt Klein finished 10th in the First Technology Student Association state competition for computer-aided design at Northern Cambria High School.
Today, he’s on a high as a Northern Cambria teacher after being named the Pennsylvania TSA Middle School Chapter Advisor of the Year.
Today, Klein and his wife and teacher Sarah coach the Northern Cambria TSA team. Klein serves as the District 8 coordinator and supervises other counselors in the region.
“I am fortunate to have great students and supportive parents, a supportive administration and a community that has helped us with donations and fundraising.” Cline said.
TSA is a national, nonprofit career and technical student organization for middle and high school students involved in science, technology, engineering and math.
The couple “We do a great job working with our TSA students.” said Lisa Prebish, principal at North Cambria High School. “They work with our students after school, on weekends and holidays to get them ready for competition. Our students compete annually at the regional, state and national levels thanks to their hard work, motivation and the support of the TSA program.
With 35 high school and 35 middle school competitions, TSA has expanded significantly since Klein competed as a student, with categories in computer-aided design and structural engineering in 2000.
Today’s TSA competitions are divided into career paths in Architecture and Construction Technology, Communication Technology, Computer Science and Information Technology, Management, Manufacturing and Transportation Technology, STEM Technology and Research.
More than 3,500 teachers serve as counselors at more than 2,300 schools in 48 states, according to the TSA website.
After the pandemic forced schools and extracurricular events like TSA to go virtual for the first time, more than 6,000 TSA participants, counselors and parents gathered in Dallas, Texas for the national tournament in late June.
Eighth grader Julie Doom, 14, was among the students who traveled to the national competition.
“It’s great with kids.” Julie’s mother Shelly Dumm said. Julie has been involved in TSA since sixth grade and will be a freshman at North Cambria in the fall.
“It inspires all of us students.” “He’s my favorite teacher,” Julie said in a phone interview.
“It was a very interesting thing that happened to me. I worry so much about these things, and my heart races all the time. Julie said. “He was just as excited as us students.”
Being named Pennsylvania Middle School Chapter Adviser of the Year as a “A Little Surprise” to Klein.
Former Forest Hills graduate Brant Hatzel, who previously served as Region 8 coordinator, was selected. Hatzel moved to Camp Hill and is a technology and engineering consultant for the state Department of Education.
When Hatzel put Kline’s name forward for the top TSA awards, he said the state directors unanimously endorsed it. “Matt is very creative. He has done exceptional work as a Regional Coordinator.
Klein said he started students to serve as regional representatives, which increased the students’ leadership skills and abilities, and had three students from Region 8 serve in the regional office.
“Matt helped the students develop their leadership skills and confidence.” Hatzel said.
“I’m very honored.” Klein said as he accepted the award.
TSA has grown tremendously since his involvement as a student and later as a new teacher and TSA advisor at Bedford Area High School in 2009. In his first year as a consultant, he placed students nationally and for seven years his students placed at state. The end.
Klein’s former TSA advisor and technology education teacher, Ed Link of North Cambria, helped Klein establish the Bedford chapter. Later, when an opportunity arose to teach in North Cumbria, Klein returned to his studentship.
Klein and Link have jointly planned and hosted three regional TSA conferences. Link retires in 2021 after 36 years in education. Link still serves as a state and regional tournament judge.
“Matt has the ability to focus less on the awards or the prestige of the event, but rather on the long-term impact TSA has on its students.” Link said.
Link remembered Klein’s first state tournament when he was a sophomore and sick. Fortunately, Klein finished the CAD competition but left before the award ceremony where he placed 10th in the state. Link and the other students present him with the pin on the car.
Region 8 includes 15 high schools.
At the most recent nationals, Region 8 had five top national championships, Klein said, and nine students placed among the top three. They said that 89 students have reached 42 percent of the national competitions.
As the Region 8 coordinator for the past five years, Klein helps other chapter advisors and their students.
The Kline file
Name: Matthew Klein
Age: 38
Residence: Nicktown
Family: Wife, Sarah; their children Amelia, Charlotte, Michael and Warren; and parents, Patrick and Gina Klein of Nicktown.
Education: 2002 Northern Cambria High School; Bachelor of Science in Technology Education with a minor in Mathematics, summa cum laude; Masters in Technology Education and 2021 STEM Support Program from California University of Pennsylvania
Occupation: Teacher in the North Cambria School District since 2014 and previously in the Bedford Area School District.
Community Service: Pennsylvania Tech Student Association Region 8 Coordinator; Boy Scouts of America Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 2066 Nicktown; AYSO Soccer Coach, Carrolltown Fall League; St. Nicholas Catholic School basketball coach; Barr-Watkins Football Coach, Spring League
Awards and Honors: PA Middle School Chapter Advisor of the Year in Technology Student Association; He earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts
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