If you’ve ever walked into the Learning Center feeling overwhelmed, chances are you walked out calmer, largely thanks to the work of Academic Support Coordinator Mrs. Jane Mattox. With the supportive environment she fosters, her constant encouragement, and her gift for making students believe in themselves, she has been the steady heartbeat of academic support at The Bishop’s School. Now, after more than a decade of transformative work, she is retiring, leaving behind a community forever shaped by her care.
As Academic Support Coordinator, Mrs. Mattox helps facilitate the Learning Center with Learning Specialist Mrs. Jennifer Miller, as well as Director of Teaching and Learning Dr. Stephanie Ramos. She is also the lead organizer of Students as Grassroot Educators (SAGE), a tutoring program at Bishop’s. More than anything, the 15 years she has spent on this campus have allowed her hardworking and compassionate personality to touch the hearts of so many in the Bishop’s community.
Mrs. Mattox first arrived on campus in 2010 and did one-on-one tutoring for four years before formally joining the staff in 2014 as the Academic Support Coordinator. A lifelong educator and third-generation teacher, she brought nearly 20 years of public high school English teaching experience, along with a patient, thoughtful spirit that helped transform the Learning Center into the place it is today.

Mrs. Mattox has always been connected to teaching. “I’m proud to be a third-generation educator,” she said. “My grandmother, my parents, and now me, and I was lucky enough to marry a teacher, too.” Her husband, Mr. Tod Mattox, started working for the School in 1995. He was formerly an English teacher and Volleyball coach, and is currently an assistant coach for the Girls’ Volleyball team. Ever since Mr. Mattox started teaching, Mrs. Mattox has felt “welcomed” and “supported” by Bishop’s.
And for anyone who knows Mrs. Mattox, the feelings of support are mutual. Math teacher Mr. David Johnston, a longtime friend and colleague of hers, highlighted both the warmth and intelligence she brings to her work. “She’s constantly trying to improve people’s circumstances,” Mr. Johnston said. “She’s generous, she’s thoughtful, and she’s made the Learning Center into the extraordinary resource it is today.”
Mrs. Mattox’s colleagues in the Learning Center echoed the words of Mr. Johnston. Dr. Ramos, who has worked closely with Mrs. Mattox in the Learning Center since joining the school in 2020, said, “Mrs. Mattox was instrumental in helping me understand the Bishop’s community and the best ways that we could support Bishop’s students and encourage neurodiversity. She helps students, parents, and teachers develop skills and strategies for academics and for life.”
Mrs. Miller, her other close colleague in the Learning Center, shared, “Working with Mrs. Mattox has been nothing short of inspiring. Her years of dedication to The Bishop’s School, our families, and — most importantly — our students, have left an immeasurable impact on all of us. She added, “It’s been a true privilege to work with someone who embodies such kindness and purpose every single day.”
Through Mrs. Mattox’s, Dr. Ramos’s, and Mrs. Miller’s work, the Learning Center has evolved into a welcoming, inclusive space. Once perceived as a place only for students with formal learning accommodations, it is now recognized as a resource for all students seeking support with time management, study skills, or simply a quiet environment to focus.

For Audrey Duehr (‘29), that space has been essential. “Mrs. Mattox has helped me stay organized, figure out problems, and catch up on work when I needed it,” Audrey said. “I’ll miss having someone I know I’m always comfortable asking questions to. She’s been so patient and supportive. That means everything.”
Emma Banaie (‘26) will most miss the fact that she never really had to schedule an appointment with Mrs. Mattox, but instead has consistently been met with “an open door.” She explained, “anytime I’m confused with something, I just run in there and she’s always there to help me, no matter how sporadic I am.”
Emma, who claims that her “forte” has never been interpreting primary sources, vividly remembers rushing into Mrs. Mattox’s office a class period before her tenth-grade United States History paper draft was due. She was in need of some assistance to analyze a primary source. “I knew it was important, but I could not read it,” she joked. “I will never forget how Mrs. Mattox spent an entire free period going line by line with me, analyzing the entire [source], reading it, and helping me understand it,” Emma explained. “It was just very impactful and just goes to show her dedication because she certainly did not have to devote all that time to me.”
Mrs. Mattox reflected on the help she provides students in the Learning Center. “Sometimes, students just need a place to focus on their learning,” she explained. “We’ve tried to create an environment where they can do that, where they feel supported and focused.”
Mrs. Mattox’s compassionate and friendly personality also extended to her work with SAGE tutoring, a volunteer organization where Bishop’s students tutor their classmates. Mira Singh (‘25), who has been a SAGE tutor since 10th grade, emphasized the “warm and welcoming environment” Mrs. Mattox created. Mira fondly recalls Mrs. Mattox’s support in teaching her the ropes of SAGE tutoring, and taking time getting to know her. “It’s really just a testament to her character,” Mira said. “She really went out of her way to [help me] when she didn’t have to.”

Another pillar of Mrs. Mattox’s character is how understanding she is. SAGE tutor Hanna Liang (‘25) is forever grateful for the grace Mrs. Mattox shows students if they lose track of time and miss a session. “Especially for someone who was pretty stressed for a lot of high school, it was really nice to have someone who just understands and can also listen to you,” Hanna said.
Mira also appreciated how easy it was to have a conversation with Mrs. Mattox. She recalled a recent conversation they had this year, to go over the logistics — though because Mira was already so familiar with them, it became a more personal conversation. “It was a moment for us to be one-on-one… and it really allowed me to be like ‘Wow, look at all the time I’ve had in this program.’ And then it’s all because of her.”
As Mrs. Mattox steps away from her office in the Learning Center, she will forever remember the community she was a part of. “The students here are so appreciative,” she said. “And that’s something I’ll carry with me, that daily gratitude.”
Even as she says goodbye, the positive energy and support Mrs. Mattox fostered will forever stay. As Mira put it, “There are some people in the Bishop’s community, and there’s some people who create that community.” Mrs. Mattox is without a doubt the latter.