About Mathew...
Position: Principal
Room: School Office
Phone: (480) 424-8508
Email: Mathew

Connect With Us

Welcome!

I am delighted to be the principal of Chandler Unified School District's 32nd elementary school, Robert J.C. Rice Elementary - Home of the Rhinos! Our school provides options for families by offering both the Classic and CTA (Chandler Traditional Academy) education models. Rice will deliver strong instruction, aligned to the Arizona standards, and a wide variety of extra-curricular opportunities for our students. At Rice, students are our priority.

My Education and Professional Background

M.Ed. Educational Leadership, Northern Arizona University M.Ed. Special Education, Arizona State University M.A. Applied Psychology, Women’s Christian College, India I began my career with Chandler Unified School District in 1995 as a special education teacher at the junior high level. After 13 amazing years in the classroom I became the Student Services Coordinator at Conley Elementary. I then pursued my dream of becoming a school administrator, serving as dean at Conley and Weinberg, principal of Weinberg Elementary, and now the founding principal of Rice Elementary!

My Educational Philosophy

Over my many years in the field of education I have never wavered on three beliefs. First, as educators we are shaping tomorrow’s society. This is a responsibility I take very seriously. Second, every child is capable of learning. The skilled teacher encourages and motivates a child to persevere in his/her learning. Third, the success of every child lies in the partnership between the home and school. At Rice, we have excellent staff who work closely with families to ensure all students are making progress. They care deeply for each student and identify creative ways to make learning personalized, fun, and stimulating. We are very fortunate to have a community that is incredibly supportive of our students, staff, and school.
 

 | Email Shirley Mathew