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posted September 21, 2026

We are so glad to have Matt Peterson joining our team this year to teach first grade. This will be his first year of teaching, and we are so glad it’s with us! We asked Mr. Matt some questions so that you can get to know him a bit before the school year begins.

Why did you want to teach at Cardinal?
I wanted a school that treated their employees like family. After my interview with Cardinal, I knew that this school was what I was looking for. 

What do you like about teaching 1st grade?
I like 1st grade because I get to not only teach the core subjects but life skills as well. The students look up to you as a role model, and I am eager to help them achieve their best.

What is your favorite part of teaching?
My favorite part of being a teacher is when I can work with the students and see the gears click into place in their mind as they are working. That "lightbulb" moment fills them with confidence and that rolls over into their other subjects as well. 

What is your ultimate goal as a teacher?
My ultimate goal as a teacher is to be a trusted adult for my students and any other students in the building. I want to provide my students with a community that encourages and supports their peers without fear of failing. 

What do you hope students take away from your class this year?
My number one takeaway for students would be that learning is a lifelong process, and everyone learns at a different pace. 

Fun Facts/Hobbies:
I have a motorcycle and love to explore the surrounding areas. I have a bearded dragon named Gandalf. I come from a family of teachers!

My real endorsement of Cardinal Schools and its faculty and staff can be seen each morning when I hand them the one irreplaceable and most valuable thing in my life: my kids. No letter I write could be a greater endorsement than that simple act. I give them my kids, and I do it with a huge smile on my face because I trust them to do what they are most outstanding at: building our future.
Kevin S. Maggio · Cardinal Parent
Cardinal School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age (for employment), socioeconomic status (for programs), religion, disability, creed, national origin, marital status (for programs), sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity in its educational programs and employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or grievance related to this policy, please contact the district’s equity coordinator, Cindy Green.

The Cardinal Community School District offers career and technical  programs in the following service areas:
Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Health Science
Human Services
Business, Finance, Marketing, and Management

Cindy Green - cindy.green@cardinalcomet.com
Middle School Principal/Director of Curriculum & Instruction, Equity Coordinator
4045 Ashland Rd.
Eldon, IA 52554
(641) 652-7531

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