If you live in Novato and believe that public school ought to be more than reading, writing, and arithmetic, you’ve probably heard of the nonprofit School Fuel.
During tough economic times for schools over the past 17 years, the fundraising efforts of School Fuel have prevented the elimination of programs that help assure a well-rounded education – subjects like music, theater, visual arts, computer-based graphic arts, plus library services. You know, the stuff that makes school fun.
Susan Mathews has been the executive director of the organization since she co-founded it in 2003. Clarifying, she’s been the “volunteer” executive director, donating thousands of hours each year for the benefit of local kids. School Fuel has raised and distributed roughly $3.5 million to Novato public schools since its inception, largely supporting programs that might’ve been eliminated during tight budget years.
That is just one reason why Mathews, a Novato resident since 1999, was chosen recently as the 2020 Novato Citizen of the Year. She was announced as the recipient during the Novato City Birthday Party show that aired January 22 on Novato Community Television and the Paint the Town Red YouTube channel.
She was notified of the honor with a knock on the door (more on that later).
“It means a lot to me to see my name along with all the other people who were such exemplary winners of this award,” Mathews said. “It’s incredibly humbling and gratifying looking at the company I’m keeping now. It’s not an honor I ever expected, and it just makes me feel warm.”
In addition to School Fuel efforts, those nominating Mathews for the honor cited her involvement in countless other community-building programs. They include the countywide Schools Rule-Marin (she’s a founder of that as well), the Marin Promise Partnership, the PTAs of six Novato schools, the North Marin Council of PTAs, Marin School of the Arts, and the Novato Unified School District. She has also been a passionate contributor at her church, on the Marin Independent Journal’s editorial board, and a staunch supporter of local businesses.
Mathews’ dedication has made an impression on the 2019 Citizen of the Year, Dale Kline. He has worked alongside Mathews for years on School Fuel efforts and the annual Tour of Novato family bicycling fundraiser. The tour, held each May, eclipsed $1 million in cumulative contributions in 2019. “She’s one of the most selfless people I’ve met in my life,” Kline said.
“It’s never about her, which is why she doesn’t get recognized very much. She pushes others out front and she is the rock behind them. All these years, she has been executive director of School Fuel and has not been paid. She has put in thousands of hours, not hundreds but thousands.”
The 2009 Citizen of the Year, Elizabeth Sleath, also worked with Mathews since the beginning of School Fuel. Sleath said during the pandemic, Mathews was determined not to miss an annual book giveaway to the public school students of Novato. She sorted them, breaking them down by age appropriateness, and blotted out inappropriate markings before leading the weekly distribution effort.
Between 10,000 and 15,000 books have been passed out during free lunch pickups so far during the pandemic.“That’s one of her pet projects, and it’s obvious that she loves it,” Sleath said.
“The kids get their lunch and a bag of books, too. It’s just lovely.” Mathews said it’s her favorite part of the week.
“When I’m giving books away on Thursdays, I get to see the kids’ excitement, and it’s just the best thing in the world.”
“Twenty years ago,” Kline said, “we used to joke about the 80-20 rule, meaning just 20% of the parents volunteering for helping out in the schools. In today’s world it’s more like 95-5, but of the 5% still doing that work, Susan’s in the top 1%. She is passionate and has never lost sight of the educational side of what we do. She’s always setting the bar high and encouraging the children.
Mathews is from a family of educators on both parents’ sides. She grew up in North Carolina, Michigan and Ohio, all places where her father found jobs as college professor and administrator. Her dad was the son of tenant farmers in Appalachia, and his drive to become the first college-educated person in his family sparked Susan.
She earned a degree in political science from “THEE” Ohio State University (Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude, which means she was an academic rock star) and followed with a degree from Yale Law School. During her time in New Haven, Mathews was editor of the Yale Law Journal, a club that includes the likes of several Supreme Court justices, U.S. senators, and deans of law schools all over the country. Education meant so much to her that she married an Ohio State valedictorian, attorney Christopher Gilkerson. Mathews worked as an attorney in Washington D.C. and joined a San Francisco law firm when the family moved West.
She became the mother to Lindsay, Aidan, and Gavin, and started her volunteering efforts on the Olive School PTA. She became so involved that she bid farewell to her 15-year career in international trade law.
“She just loves kids,” Sleath said. “When you talk to her on a committee or anything like that, you realize that she’s always well prepared and has read all the background material. It’s because it’s just in her character to be that dedicated for this cause. I don’t know anybody quite like her, frankly. She’s an extraordinary lady, and what’s especially lovely is that she’s so modest. Her kids all graduated and are no longer in the public schools, but she’s still doing this.”
“There is always a need for community members and parents who care about education to find out more about what’s going on, not just at their own schools but how it all comes together,” Mathews said about her early days with School Fuel.
“I remember how exciting it was to see what’s similar and what’s different about how things are handled at the school campuses. I wanted to learn more about it.” Her friend Jennifer Shepherd, now children’s book author Jennifer Gennari, first recruited Mathews to join a group that grew to become the Novato Foundation for Public Education, the formal name of School Fuel. Before then, there was no group speaking on behalf of all kids in Novato equally, just PTAs working independently.
“They were looking for an attorney to help them get recognized and organized as a nonprofit, and I took it on as pro bono work through my law firm,” Mathews said. There were a lot of skeptics in the beginning who believed School Fuel was a flash in the pan. Either it wouldn’t work or it wouldn’t last. Yet every year, it gained more steam. The organization created the successful Tour of Novato and established partnerships with public and private entities, including the Paint the Town Red Committee.
Once Schools Rule-Marin was created (with Mathews as a co-founder) and it began raising funds for all public schools countywide, Novato schools reaped the benefits of those out-of-town campaigns as well. School Fuel has received nearly $1 million from Schools Rule-Marin to date.
Kris Cosca, Superintendent of the Novato Unified School District, said the contributions of School Fuel and Mathews personally have never meant more to local families than during the coronavirus pandemic. “They have not missed a beat,” he said. “They have demonstrated themselves to be creative, thoughtful, and nimble partners who have continued to do all they can to meet NUSD’s growing needs.
In my experience this only happens through strong leadership and character, both of which Susan has in spades.”
Longtime NUSD Board of Trustees member Debbie Butler added, “No matter what Susan is working on, she always has a positive attitude, smart solutions, and a collaborative approach. She is a true believer that partnerships among schools, families, and businesses are stronger together and make a vibrant community.”
Mathews’ drive is easily summed up. “Education is really your ticket to a better life … that’s what was impressed upon me as a kid,” she said. “Having an outstanding school system is key to a vibrant community, and it doesn’t happen on its own. We have great support from dedicated teachers and staff, but it takes the whole community to thrive.”
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