Josh Mattos, who previously served three years on a school council, has three children enrolled in the schools and volunteers with various school projects, is seeking the District 7 seat on the Bulloch County Board of Education.

His candidacy gives District 7 a race between two potential newcomers to the board. Heather Mims announced earlier for the seat, which is currently held by this year's board chairman, Mike Herndon, who is not seeking re-election. Both Mattos and Mims made their candidacies official during qualifying week, which ended March 11.

"I believe in a quality public education for all current and future students," Mattos said in an emailed statement. "I love public schools, but I especially love this system! I have chosen for my family to live and attend school right here in Bulloch County."

Mattos, 38, grew up in Woodstock, near Atlanta, and graduated from Sequoia High School. But he arrived in Bulloch County almost 20 years ago, as a Georgia Southern University student in the fall of 1996. He "fell in love with the campus, the county, the entire area," he wrote.

He also met his wife, Dana, while at Georgia Southern. Although neither was originally from Bulloch County, they made it their home. They married in 2000 and built their house in Brooklet beginning in 2003.

After graduating from Georgia Southern with a bachelor's degree in computer science, Mattos attained a master's in project management from American InterContinental University. He works for General Dynamics Information Technology as systems administrator and network engineer at the Mission Training Complex at Fort Stewart.

Dana Mattos previously taught in the Bulloch County Schools but is now an instructional technology specialist for the Bryan County Schools. Josh Mattos said he has always been a helper in his wife's classroom, especially working with her on school projects evenings and weekends.

A frequent volunteer at events such as school carnivals, he guided students during a school Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Night. Indeed, STEM education is an area of interest for Mattos. He was a volunteer two or three years in the district Technology Fair, judging in the robotics section.

School systems are focusing more on STEM subjects lately, and on how technology can be effectively used in the classroom and how rewarding it can be for students when done correctly, he said in a phone interview. The Bulloch County Schools are already pushing in this direction, Mattos observed, saying that he wants them to continue to grow in technology instruction and to keep pace with the rest of the state.

"It's a passion of mine, but I also see where with our culture everything seems to be tying in closely with technology anymore, and in order to get our students on a level playing field with everyone else going into college, they definitely need to be exposed to it," Mattos said.

Josh and Dana Mattos' older daughter is in eighth grade at Southeast Bulloch Middle School. Their twins, a boy and a girl, attend Brooklet Elementary School in fourth grade. Previously, the children attended Mill Creek Elementary, where their father served on the appointed school council.

Mattos is a member of Compassion Christian Church. He and his wife work with the college ministry and host life-group fellowships at their home. He also serves on the church's media production team.

"Board members must work together to accomplish goals, all while keeping the students as the ultimate focus," Mattos wrote. "Effective board members will also be a conduit for the concerns of all stakeholders and the catalyst for change."

The nonpartisan, two-candidate race will be decided in the May 24 election.

Herald reporter Al Hackle may be reached at (912) 489-9458.