As AGHS Band students prepare for a new season, Matthew Barcus, the new Band and Percussion teacher, is excited to help students thrive and create a comfortable space for all groups of people.
As AGHS alumni, Barcus is glad to be back and proudly wears his school spirit.
“Because I graduated from Arroyo Grande, I have a lot of school spirit here, and I hope that I’m able to pass that on to [the students],” Barcus said.
Barcus joined Band in sixth grade, and it didn’t take long for him to develop a passion for music. However, playing music and being a part of Band didn’t turn out how he thought it would.
“My Band director said ‘Band is hard, and you have to work really hard’,” Barcus said. “And then in eighth grade, he told me that I would never amount to anything unless I took [Band] seriously.”
Despite being pushed down, Barcus didn’t let his director’s discouragement stop him. He knew it would take work to become a good musician, so he used his director’s words and passion for music to prove that he could amount to something.
“That inspired me to work really hard to be good, and for two years I was really motivated and working really hard to be the best version of myself,” Barcus said.
Barcus continued Band all through his high school career. He loved being a part of something bigger than himself.
“The thing that kept me going was just that sense of belonging, like I was a part of something,” Barcus said.
Which is what inspired him to go on and teach Band. Not just because he loved music but because he wanted to give students a place to feel like they belonged.
“The thing that inspired me to be a teacher was just to create a space where you [kids in Band] feel like you belong,” Barcus said. “Band is for the kids that might not fit in anywhere else. [Then] suddenly there’s a hundred of us. So we’re no longer individuals that don’t fit.”
Barcus is a fun and engaging teacher who takes student’s opinions into great consideration. He knows high school is rough and understands that sometimes life has to come before school.
“[Barcus is] open to students’ opinions and wants and really takes [them] to heart,” Elle Cameron (‘25) said. “But he still jokes around with us a lot.”
His friendly and humorous personality makes him very welcoming to everyone, as he strives to raise people’s spirits and make their day. Barcus’s colleagues appreciate his kind nature.
“[Barcus] is just a kind and thoughtful person,” choir teacher Gina Dattilo said. “He always makes me laugh and when I’m having a bad day he can bring me up.”
Barcus is there for his students and coworkers, ready to listen to them if they need someone to talk to. He is excited for the year ahead and hopes he can continue to inspire students and put a smile on their faces.
