Matt Fincher
I grew up right here in Gwinnett County, living in Lilburn for nine years and Suwanee for another nine before I went to college. My father, Dr. David L. Fincher, has worked here at GACS since 1972, so I went to school here from kindergarten through 12th grade, graduating as class salutatorian in 1995. At GACS I developed a love of history and politics through my father’s stories, my own readings, movies, and classes I took here in elementary, junior high, and senior high school. I was also heavily involved in extracurricular activities, including Chorus, Academic Team, Math Team, Chess Team, and various clubs.
From GACS I moved on to Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, where I majored in history and minored in political science, English, and Bible and religion. I continued my extracurricular involvement through social clubs, Concert Choir, mission trips to New Zealand and Venezuela, College Bowl, the American Studies Institute, and Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honors Society. I graduated in May 1999 with a 4.0 GPA after four of the most exciting years of my life.
At graduation my intention was to become a college professor of history at a Christian university like Harding, so I entered the master’s program in history at the University of Georgia. Although I grew deeply from the experience and developed my love of teaching through my work as a teaching assistant for survey-level classes, I decided that, instead of moving on to begin my Ph.D., I would simply complete my master’s degree and then try to find a job. With the Lord’s guidance, a position opened up here at GACS for the 2001-2002 school year, just a few months before I finished my thesis.
During the 2001-2002 school year I taught A.P. United States history and world history and served as an assistant coach for the Academic and Debate Teams. I enjoyed my experience, but at the same time I was dating my future wife, Jessica, and, to find a place where we both could get jobs that fit our degrees, I left GACS and moved to Middle Georgia, where I got a job at Westside High School in Macon, Georgia.
I taught at Westside from 2002-2005, and it was an eye-opening experience. It was the first time I had ever been in a public high school, and it was very different from my time at GACS. During my first year one of my classes consisted of some very tough students, and I later found that over half of them had a probation officer! The teachers and administration at Westside were very dedicated and professional, and I enjoyed working with them. While at Westside I served on the High Schools That Work Committee and coached Academic Team for two years. I also earned my clear renewable teaching certificate through Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Georgia.
In the spring of 2005 I got a call from Mr. Bill Burton asking me to return to GACS. After a great deal of prayer and thought, my wife and I decided to return. We live in Lilburn with our two beautiful sons: Luke, 2, and Nathan, 8 months. I currently teach courses in United States history, American government, and A.P. government. I also serve as head coach for the GACS Debate Team and Forensics Team. I am currently pursuing a specialist’s degree in Social Studies Education from the University of Georgia.
