AP World History Teacher Brings the Past to Life with Candy and Storytelling

Misty Matthews' engaging lessons at Westwood High School have students reminiscing about the joys of her class.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Misty Matthews, a veteran AP World History teacher at Westwood High School, is known for her dynamic and interactive teaching style that brings the past to life for her students. From throwing Starbursts as rewards for answering questions to acting out historical scenes, Matthews' lessons are anything but textbook. After initially pursuing a career in dance, Matthews discovered her passion for history in college and has been inspiring students with her infectious enthusiasm and creative approach ever since joining Westwood's faculty over 15 years ago.

Why it matters

Matthews' teaching methods demonstrate how history can be made engaging and accessible for high school students, moving beyond rote memorization to foster a genuine interest and appreciation for the subject. Her ability to connect historical events to current affairs also highlights the importance of teaching history in a way that is relevant to students' lives and the world around them.

The details

Matthews started off as an avid dancer, serving as the major for her college's drill team. However, after taking more history classes in college and having a transformative experience with a history professor, she decided to change career paths and pursue teaching history instead of math and dance. Since joining Westwood in 2010, Matthews has become known for her dynamic teaching style that incorporates storytelling, acting, and interactive activities like her signature Starburst candy question reward system. Matthews also shares personal anecdotes from her travels to historical sites like the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul to bring the content to life for her students.

  • Matthews has been teaching at Westwood for over 15 years, since 2010.
  • Matthews visited the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey for her 20th anniversary.

The players

Misty Matthews

A veteran AP World History teacher at Westwood High School who is known for her dynamic and interactive teaching style that brings the past to life for her students.

Michael Allison

The other AP World History teacher at Westwood High School, who teaches alongside Matthews.

Apple Ma

A student of Matthews' who says that learning history has become more fun because of Matthews' engaging activities.

Mina Stephens

A former AP World History student of Matthews' who says Matthews' positivity and teaching style stuck with her.

Yonnie Yang

A former AP World History student of Matthews' who has fond memories of Matthews' energetic and entertaining lessons.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Ms. Matthews is a super engaging teacher, [because of her] learning about history has become more and more fun.”

— Apple Ma, Student (westwoodhorizon.com)

“She brought so much positivity into the classroom, and that mindset really stuck with me. Ms. Matthews taught me to always believe in myself, even when things get tough.”

— Mina Stephens, Former Student (westwoodhorizon.com)

“My favorite memories from Ms. Matthews's class were all her lessons. I remember she enacted a whole scene about Russia with so much energy that I couldn't help laughing through the whole lesson. One time the power went out, so she couldn't see her slides, but she went on teaching as if nothing had happened. Overall, she's just so inspiring, engaging, and fun. I always had a blast in her class.”

— Yonnie Yang, Former Student (westwoodhorizon.com)

“I love storytelling. I love acting things out. I love whenever I get a chance to act out something. I love that aspect [of history] of acting things out, [and] I love thinking about what people were thinking at the time.”

— Misty Matthews, Teacher (westwoodhorizon.com)

“Teaching history is a mission in general and I think it's so interesting. There's been a few times, you know, when things are happening. I really try not to deviate, but sometimes big things happen and it's like we just have to stop and address this [topic].”

— Misty Matthews, Teacher (westwoodhorizon.com)

The takeaway

Matthews' dynamic and engaging teaching style demonstrates how history can be brought to life for high school students in a way that fosters genuine interest and enthusiasm for the subject. Her ability to connect historical events to current affairs also highlights the importance of teaching history in a relevant and relatable way.