Features

Mr. Matt Moody

It’s Teacher Appreciation Week and you know what that means, a week where we appreciate teachers! Hoover has its share of great teachers in San Diego. This week, The Cardinal spotlights Hoover’s teachers!

Helen Nguyen, Staff Writer

May 8, 2026

Helen Nguyen

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, Mr. Moody is a dedicated ELD and English teacher at Hoover High School who has been teaching at the school for four years. He first volunteered at an elementary school in 2003 and started teaching in 2004 after realizing it was both fun and fulfilling. He believes teaching isn’t about changing kids, but helping them discover who they are and being in their corner once they do. One thing he didn’t expect before starting was the size of his impact.

“You don’t realize it while you’re in it,” expressed Mr. Moody. “But you make a huge impact on so many families across San Diego just by teaching.”

In the classroom, Mr. Moody constantly adapts observing how students respond to instructions. His students taught him that bringing in many cultures and perspectives makes lessons better for everyone. He loves teaching the multiple intelligences unit where students can show what they know through music, art, building something, dancing, or projects. What makes his day better? “They make me laugh and they keep me sharp.” If he had to describe this year’s class in three words, he’d choose hopeful, energetic, and resilient. He values small wins too, he’s grateful for clean air, safe classrooms, and a space where students can learn, feel safe, take risks, and be themselves.

Mr. Moody’s impact extends beyond his classroom. He helped improve Hoover Nights with the LEAD Academy and steps in to help whenever the school calls on him. For the past 12 years, he has mentored future teachers and psychologists, an experience he finds both challenging and inspiring. He takes pride in watching his ELD students grow in such a short amount of time.

Outside of school, Mr. Moody stays busy with his kids’ football and baseball games, going to the gym, concerts, and traveling. Above all, he wants students to know that, “School is practice for real life, the more effort you put into school, the better chance you have at success in the real world. Have trust in the adults who are guiding you.” At the end of the day, Mr. Moody is not only a passionate educator, but also a thoughtful mentor committed to helping his students and future teachers succeed.

About the Contributor

Helen Nguyen, Staff Writer

Helen is a 16-year old junior attending Hoover High School. She has a strong passion to attend a community college and a 4-year university to pursue a nursing career. Some of her goals for this year are to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA by the end of this school year, stay on top of her classes, don’t procrastinate, and to stay motivated. Knowing her junior year is one of the most important years during high school, she is determined to put in her best efforts. A few things she enjoys doing are listening to music, you’ll almost always find her having her airpods in, hanging out with friends, and going out with family. While being born and raised here in San Diego, she is the only one in her family to not be born in Vietnam. This summer, after seven years, she went to visit some family and stayed for about a month. Mostly for paperwork because her uncle is set to come to the US in 2027. Other than having gone to Vietnam, she has also traveled to Virginia for close relatives, though, that was only once. After high school, she plans on attending San Diego Miramar community college to take prep courses for professions and general experience then transferring to a university, CSU San Bernardino. She has interests in nursing because she believes she can do good for others, she enjoys helping those in need, to have the chance to make a positive impact, and because with nursing, it provides meaningful work and growth opportunities.