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Rising to the Challenge: Lessons from a Graduate Student’s MAT Journey at University of Portland
Pictured: Brian LeMaster, far right standing in the back, with his Summer Learning tutoring program group.
Last spring, Brian LeMaster (MAT ’25) was nearing the finish line of his MAT program and student-teaching at Roosevelt High School when the principal of Central Catholic came calling. What started as a substitute math teaching gig became an offer to join one of Portland’s most prestigious private high schools full time for the 2026-27 school year. That’s a testament to Brian’s drive, and to the level of preparation University of Portland’s Master of Arts in Teaching graduate degree program provides.
We caught up with the newly minted grad as he prepares to obtain his licensure in Advanced Mathematics, and teach Pre-Calculus and Accelerated Geometry/Algebra 2 at Central Catholic in the coming academic year. Find out how he navigated the rigors of the MAT program at University of Portland, and how it empowered him to obtain his career goals.
What advice do you have for MAT candidates?
Organization, time management. Find a system that works early and keep it up. Things can become overwhelming if you lose track of what you need to do and when it is due.
What advice do you have for MAT candidates that you wish you had when you were in the program?
Teaching isn't something you learn how to do the “right” way. There is no one way that all teachers should be. Being able to reflect, adapt, and improve on every lesson, every day, is how we learn to be our best teacher selves.
What are MAT classes like at UP?
Classes are what you make them. The professors are great; the content is valuable. The extent that you engage with materials and apply them to your own pedagogical journey will improve your learning. Trust the process, be willing to be uncomfortable.
Why did you choose UP’s MAT program over others available?
It was 10-months and over 200 more in-class hours than comparable programs. Plus, the summer learning program, job fairs, prestige; UP has a lot to offer.
What did you like about the MAT program?
Small cohesive cohort, variety of classes (theory/practice), Summer Learning Program, job fair support, campus, faculty (specifically the support from the faculty).
When given the opportunity to be a long-term substitute teacher before you even graduated, did you feel prepared? Do you feel prepared to lead your own classroom this fall?
Yes, but I know that I won't be where I want to end up, but that is okay. I am a lifelong learner, and I will continue to improve. The mindset I approach to teaching is so different than what I had in my head when I applied to this program.
What “aha” moments did you have as an MAT student?
Relationships are everything in the classroom. If students trust you, then you can ask them to do things that they might not think they can do. Kids are smart and resilient; one bad lesson or bad unit isn't going to do irreparable harm.
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