About Me
Nathan Matza has worked for more than four decades as a full time high school teacher, health science teacher/professor, and currently, a lecturer in the Department of Health Science at California State University, Long Beach. He holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts Degree, (California State University, Long Beach) and postgraduate research for a Doctorate of Public Health, (DrPH), (Loma Linda University). He also holds credentials as a Nationally Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), and life credentials, in secondary teaching (health science & biological science), standard supervision (administrative), and Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English (SDAIE) from the state of California. He also holds a certificate in computer technology from Boise State University. He is a contributing author of The Health Framework for California Public Schools: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve, (1994, 2003). He was selected to the 2009-2010 Health Framework Committee. Additionally, he has written or presented:
- A Curriculum Guide for Health Education (1989, 1995), Contemporary Health Education, (1995,1998), contributing author of Project Teach Preservice Resource Manual for University Instructors of Health Education (1993,1999), Tobacco Use Prevention, in The Comprehensive School Health Challenge, Cortese, Middelton, eds. (1994 ETR Associates, Santa Cruz, CA), and two college textbooks for health educators, Creative Health Science Lessons (1998) and the current text for Health Science 411B, Health Science for Teachers, (1998, revised edition 2004, 3rd ed., 2007, 4th ed., 2010, 5th ed. 2013. He also serves as a contributing author to the Los Angeles Times.
- He is a member of the executive board of the California Association of School Health Educators (CASHE), and has published articles in The California Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CAHPERD) Journal, and the CASHE Newsletter
- He currently publishes a comprehensive list of health education internet websites that can be accessed at www.nmatza.net.
- He served as a policy board member of the statewide California Physical Education-Health Subject Matter Project (CPE-HP), and as a member of the peer nominated, statewide Leadership Enhancement and Development in Health Forum (LEAD). He also served on the Health Education Assessment Project (Project HEAP) in 2008.
- He has consulted for the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, California State Department of Education, Los Angeles County Office of Education, Los Angeles Unified School District, Orange County Office of Education, Alameda County Office of Education, San Diego Office of Education, Huntington Beach Union High School District, Paramount Unified and other districts throughout California.
- He volunteers as a technical consultant for the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, and the California School Nurses Association.
- He volunteered as an activist for the Smoke Free Workplace law in California and has lobbied for numerous health education issues related to kids, teacher credentialing and public health.
- He has served on numerous district, county and statewide committees on health education, and has taken a leadership role for the advocacy of heath education of all students.
- He his recognized as an expert in health education teaching and has served a six-year assignment as a district mentor teacher for health educators and college graduate students. He has supervised health education and biology student teachers both as a master teacher and university supervisor. He has been selected as a Teacher of the Year, and a finalist for the President Award for Excellence in Teaching. He has taught for more than forty years. Read More