“I love my job, and that’s about it,” says Mr. Matthew Brinton, Kempsville High School history teacher.
He states that his goal is to create “better people” who make “better decisions,” he wants what is best for his students and athletes.
Mr. Brinton was born in Southern California and came to Virginia Beach in 1979. He was brought up in the VBCPS school system and acquired his high school diploma at Princess Anne High School. After that he went to various colleges and got his teaching degree at Old Dominion University. He believes that “a positive attitude yields better results.”
He has been a softball coach for 25 years and a teacher for 26 years in the VBCPS school system, in which for all of those 26 years he taught at Kempsville. Being a softball coach and teacher has become a part of who he is. Mr. Brinton is important to the softball community, student-athlete Kelsey Salas stating that his “coaching styles pushes you to be stronger” so that each athlete is supported and guided to be better.
Salas also states that “he’s learned from his past seasons and changed in a positive way.”
Learning from mistakes and losses he has grown and become a better coach because of it, never giving up. His co-coach, Karen Simonic also feels that she “took on a lot of his coaching philosophies” and they try to “mimic a lot of those philosophies today” to remain consistent with the girls. Each philosophy is with the intention of benefitting athletes and creating a positive environment to grow in.
Mr. Brinton is not like many other teachers, his outgoing, quirky teaching and coaching style makes his students feel comfortable and confident to be themselves. Mr. Brinton is passionate about his job and coaching position always striving to be the best. Ms. Simonic stated that “he always comes with a positive attitude” and he is ready to play. Mr. Brinton feels that “It’s not about wins and losses, …, just watching the girls enjoy what they’re doing.”
Now, Mr. Brinton continues in his career and coaching position. He hopes to coach for the “remainder of the time [he’s] here at Kempsville” which is approximately eight years.
Not only does Mr. Brinton love his job, colleagues, student and athletes, but he continues to work hard to help Kempsville succeed. As he continues working hard each day, he will impact students and athletes and help the grow into “outstanding citizens” and be “productive in society.”
