Her Story
About Lizabeth
Lizabeth Matthews is a dedicated educator and literacy advocate with more than three decades of experience supporting young learners. She began her education career in 1990 as a substitute first-grade teacher and has since developed a strong commitment to helping children build confidence and foundational academic skills. She currently serves as a first-grade teacher while also bringing extensive experience as a K–6 tutor in all subject areas.
Throughout her career, Matthews has specialized in early literacy, reading acquisition, and individualized support for children with dyslexia. Her work includes one-on-one instruction for kindergarten through third-grade students, with an emphasis on helping children develop reading skills and recognize letters. She is certified in the Barton Method, an approach grounded in Orton-Gillingham principles, allowing her to provide structured and targeted literacy instruction tailored to each child's learning needs.
In addition to her educational work, Matthews has demonstrated a strong commitment to philanthropy and community service, particularly in support of children and healthcare organizations. She chaired the Panda Helping Children fashion show in 2010, an event that raised $1.2 million, and has supported organizations including the Arizona Heart Association, Barrow Neurological Center, Phoenix Children's Hospital, and children's medical groups in Tucson. Her dedication to education, literacy, and giving back reflects a lifelong passion for helping children and strengthening the communities she serves.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lizabeth
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my passion for service, education, and helping others. My family taught me the importance of giving back, while my years as an educator strengthened my communication, empathy, organization, resilience, and ability to inspire others. These skills have supported both my work with children and my philanthropic efforts. Above all, I believe authenticity, persistence, and a genuine commitment to making a difference have allowed me to build meaningful relationships and create positive impact.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is simple: listen and learn. I believe in taking the time to observe experienced professionals, learn from their knowledge, and ask thoughtful questions before trying to make changes. At the same time, I’ve learned that growth goes both ways—every generation has valuable perspectives to share. Staying curious, listening to others, and remaining open to learning have been essential throughout my career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering education is to make sure you have a genuine passion for teaching and serving children. Listen to experienced educators, keep learning, ask thoughtful questions, and be open to mentorship while trusting your own perspective. Develop strong routines, lead with both compassion and structure, and remember that even helping one child build confidence and succeed can make a lasting impact.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in education is ensuring new teachers receive the mentorship, support, and practical preparation they need despite limited resources. At the same time, advances in dyslexia awareness and structured literacy create valuable opportunities to identify struggling readers earlier and provide individualized instruction. I believe experienced educators can make a significant difference by sharing their knowledge while remaining open to learning from the next generation.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are family, service, integrity, compassion, education, perseverance, and giving back. I believe knowledge and opportunity are most meaningful when they are used to help others. Whether I am supporting a child’s education or contributing to a community cause, I measure success by the positive difference I can make in people’s lives.
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