Intolerable...

The one thing I will not tolerate is the questioning of my integrity as an educator.  I've been in education over 29 years, and you will not sir degrade me as a teacher.  I did reach out and got testimony from parents as to who I truly am.  

Last school year our daughter moved to Sunrise Ridge a few weeks after school started, and Cindy Matejka quickly became her favorite teacher. She always made sure our daughter was safe knowing she had severe food allergies, even checking with me to make sure any snacks she provided to her class was safe so she wouldn't feel left out. Something most teachers tend to overlook. Language Arts had always been a struggle for our daughter, but it became one of her favorite subjects, most likely because of Mrs. Matejka and her caring personality. At the end of the year our daughter won 1st place in the district writing contest for 7th grade, something we 100% contribute to the wonderful teaching she received. I had the pleasure of meeting Cindy for the first time and I quickly realized why my daughter loved her class. She is stern but caring, and truly loves what she does, and the students she teaches. She made sure to tell me how impressed she was with our child, knowing she walked into as a new student after the start of school, and how quickly she adapted. Receiving this information showed me that she really paid attention to the well-being of our daughter, and I know that she will be one of those teachers that my daughter will look back on who made a huge impact on her life. - Amy O’loughlin

Mrs. Matejka has made a profound impact on my children and is someone who teaches with both heart and vision. She genuinely cares about the growth and learning experience of every student, taking the time to understand their individual needs and helping them build confidence along the way  Beyond her work with students, she is a true leader among her peers—collaborating with other educators to create meaningful, unified learning experiences that benefit the entire school community. Her dedication and passion continue to shape not only my children’s academic journey but also their character. There are few teachers like her who make a lifelong impact in the lives of her students. -Jana Fullmer 

We came to know Mrs. Matejka as an excellent Language Arts teacher to our son in a local intermediate school.  She is committed to helping her students reason and think, and then convey their own thoughts effectively.  Much of today's education focuses on being able to reproduce the thinking and conclusions of others, which in limited ways and as examples is highly important.  What has been missing is teaching children how to think critically for themselves, and it's in this invaluable regard we've greatly appreciated Mrs. Matejka's tutelage of our son.  We are glad to endorse her as a candidate for political office due to how she focuses on strengthening and empowering individuals with correct principles then stepping back to allow them to govern their own lives pursuing life and liberty as they see fit.

Allen and Amy Richards 

What I forgot...

The podcast this past week was a nervous experience for me. Robert did put me right at ease, but there were a few things I forgot to point out.....

• During COVID I did not see my mom for 9 months as she was in a nursing facility. Alzheimer's is tough, especially when your elderly run away. She was in a safe place, but talking through Facetime daily was especially difficult. 
• After I complained about the trash in Goochland, I was put in charge of the trash committee through the Goochland County Board of Supervisors.
• For 2 terms, I was the Vice Chair of the Goochland Youth Advocacy Committee where we worked with at-risk youth.
• If elected, I want to have a monthly town hall meeting to educate residents on what is going on here. People have difficulty navigating the city website for information. Sharing information from the planning commission, city council, the mayor, and listening to the people is of utmost importance (transparency).
• After I turned 18, my best friend Karen and I registered to vote.  I had never felt so empowered in my life. I was so proud to represent our country. My first vote was in the 1988 presidential election between Dukakis and Bush.

That is it in a "nutshell."

-Cindy

Washington Administration Visit....

The Washington County Registrar and Elections gave candidates a tour of the facility, even going into the "secret" ballot room in the basement. It was fascinating and I learned so much from attending.

#CindyMatejkaforHurricaneCityCouncil

Podcast is UP!!! See where I stand what I stand for....

 Find the PODCAST HERE!

Or the Mini-Podcast HERE!

Volunteering in the community is a must....

While being an educator is a busy job, I truly believe volunteering in our community should be one of the focal points of any government official.  Every year I ring the bell in front of Walmart for the Salvation Army, last Thanksgiving I fed the homeless, and most recently joined forces with BAM-Because Animals Matter. 

I believe wholeheartedly in their mission, to save dogs. I have always had a love for animals, but my heart belongs to those in a shelter. Every pet I have owned has come from a non-profit organization. I volunteer for BAM because they matter. I see the love and compassion the volunteers have for the doggies. I utilize my photography skillset in giving back to them the way they give to their animals in need. If only all of us could be as compassionate and as caring as the people who give of their time, love, and loyalty to our animals waiting to find their forever home. Every volunteer there is selfless, compassionate, and sets the example we all should live by. 

Today, I spoke on their behalf at the Hurricane Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Speech is here and yes, I stole some wording for the above post.

My name is Cindy Matejka, I’m a resident here in Hurricane and a middle school teacher in the Washington County School District. I would like to share my story of what it means to volunteer at BAM-Because Animals Matter. 

As an educator and as I always do with my students daily, I say, “I have a story to share,” , usually on a Monday morning, and sometimes I get a groan or two, but most of the time they are excited to hear what I have to say. 

When I was five years of age, my mom made me take piano lessons. I didn’t appreciate it at the time, however, I grew to find a love for music, being able to read it as well as sing it. Weekly I’d show up for my lessons, and one day my teacher was running late with another student. I met their Peek-a-Poo named Oscar. Oscar was a handful for them, and after a few months, they were going to surrender him to a kill shelter. I begged my parents relentlessly for that little dog, and much to my surprise, I came home one night from a church event to be greeted by him. He was our family member for 15 years. 

I have always had a love for animals, but my heart belongs to those in a shelter. Every pet I have owned has come from a non-profit organization. I volunteer for BAM because they matter. I see the love and compassion the volunteers have for the doggies. I utilize my photography skillset in giving back to them the way they give to their animals in need. If only all of us could be as compassionate and as caring as the people who give of their time, love, and loyalty to our animals waiting to find their forever home. Every volunteer there is selfless, compassionate, and sets the example we all should live by. Thank you.

To Civic Center or Not to Civic Center....That is the Question!

Being a political candidate has brought to light much information with valid citizen concerns. Do we have enough water? Why are there constant zoning changes?  Can our schools accommodate the growth? What is this I hear about a civic center being built? (It was an aha moment for me as well). As transparent as I can be on the subject of a civic center, I DO NOT WANT IT!

We moved here from a little town called Goochland, Virginia, not far from Virginia's capital of Richmond. We stayed rural because that is what we wanted.  A small town community, which is rather larger than it appears, but the local government listened to the voices of the people.  If we didn't agree with something the Board of Supervisors was proposing, we voiced ourselves, and thankfully, the majority listened.  

Washington County is growing at an alarming rate, 1210% in less than 5 years. Hurricane is a "yes" city.  If St. George or Washington reject a proposal for a build, guess where it ends up? Say hello to Jellystone, Liberty Village, Civic Center, and one can only guess what else. The proposal for the civic center can be found HERE (click on link). 

An excerpt from the article states:

The cost of this project will be significant, and city administration officials have currently saved 4 to 5 million dollars for the project, and have been exploring other possible financing methods to fund the development, including possibly selling the existing police station property to generate additional proceeds. Typical financing methods for this type of civic project can include:

• Use of Existing City Reserves;

• Sales Tax Bonds;

• Municipal Lease Bonds;

• Tax Increment Financing (TIF);

• General Obligation Bonds (voter-approved debt); and

• State & Federal Grants (if available).

Food for thought and to keep in mind, bonds must be repaid by the locality. Also to consider:

1.  Cost to taxpayers with high construction costs, ongoing maintenance, and fear of waste (Couldn't this money have been used for our schools, roads, public safety?)

2.  Underutilization: Will there be enough events to even balance the cost?

3.  Say Hello to Traffic and Noise, and say goodbye to the small town charm.

4.  Say goodbye to other priorities in our city.

5.  Financial struggles of our citizens are real.  The larger the budget for a project puts the needs of our citizens on the backburner.

I wrote this to educate you not only where I stand on the matter, but what will our city incur if this proposal finally is validated remains to be questioned.