Transforming Education: The Matt DeHart Story

In this episode of the Dream Catcher Podcast, I speak with Matt DeHart who is an innovative educator and nonprofit leader dedicated to transforming education through intentional, community-driven methods. Recognizing the need for a dynamic and student-centered learning experience, he founded the Teach From DeHart Foundation to provide life-changing opportunities for students.

Building on this vision, he established Teach From DeHart Academy (TFDA), a private, tuition-based middle school set to open fall 2025 in a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania suburb. Strategically located in a community facing economic challenges, it represents the first multi-million-dollar investment in over a decade.

Through a uniquely developed curriculum rooted in Common Core and Pennsylvania standards, TFDA will serve 5th-8th grade students, equipping them with STEAM/STEM opportunities and the values, leadership skills, and academic foundation necessary for long-term success. The academy introduces a groundbreaking whole-family education model, offering learning opportunities not only to students but also to their parents and community members—a first-of-its-kind approach nationwide.

Currently a teacher and basketball coach at Saint Joseph High School in Natrona Heights, DeHart has earned national recognition for his educational contributions. He was named Greenville County Schools Emerging Teacher of the Year in South Carolina, awarded the Lt. Governor Challenge Medal, and honored as the Face of Teacher Education and a Top 10 Under 10 Year Alumni by his alma mater, Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina.

Beyond the classroom, DeHart has been featured on KDKA-TV, in the Pittsburgh Business Times, as well as nationally in Authority Magazine and Canvas Rebel Magazine. He has also appeared on several local and national podcasts, sharing his story as a trailblazer and the vision behind the academy.

DeHart actively participates in numerous community and civic organizations, demonstrating his commitment to service and education. He is a member of the PGH Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Collaborative, a group of HBCU alumni and supporters dedicated to promoting academic success and college completion through community engagement and advocating for education as a pathway out of poverty. 

A participant and volunteer with the New Kensington-Arnold Slow Roll Bicycle Event, DeHart promotes youth and family engagement in cycling as a viable transportation option. He serves on the board of directors at Valley High School in New Kensington. Additionally, his involvement extends to Lazarus Tomb’s Coffeehouse and Outreach Ministry and he volunteers at the Speed Family Blessing Box and Pantry in Arnold. He is an American Revival board member, an organization dedicated to bringing people to Christ as part of a larger international revival movement.

He is an accomplished national speaker, addressing audiences on education, company culture, leadership, and motivation. As one of the youngest education professionals to start a school, DeHart is committed to pioneering 21st-century learning methods that inspire both students and educators.

DeHart lives in Natrona Heights with his wife, Kaylie and dog, Dixie.