Faculty and Staff
Dr. S. Lal Mattu
Ambassador-at-Large
Dr. S. Lal Mattu serves as the Ambassador at Large for Third Schools. As the organization's founder and an experienced educator with decades of administrative success, he is uniquely positioned to promote the schools among diverse community sectors.
Born in India and raised in the highlands of Kenya, Dr. Mattu received his initial education and teaching certificate there before moving to England. After five years of teaching, he immigrated to Canada in its 1967 centennial year, drawn by the era's promise of endless possibilities. His Canadian career began with the early development of schools in northern Alberta.
Dr. Mattu first served as a teacher and principal in a small school within a Metis colony before joining the Wainwright School Division. While distinguishing himself as a teacher, he also pursued advanced education, earning his Bachelor of Sciences (Early Childhood/Reading) and Master of Education (Special Education/Administration) from the University of Oregon.
His potential was quickly recognized in Wainwright, leading to his promotion to Assistant Superintendent of Schools. In this role, Dr. Mattu gained extensive experience in managing administrators and supporting teachers. He built vital links with Alberta Education, allowing him to learn from and influence provincial programming. This led to his own pioneering initiatives in Early Childhood Education and the creation of new programs for students with learning disabilities.
Dr. Mattu's expertise soon became widely sought. He was invited to provide consultative services and mentorship to other Alberta districts, helping them develop and implement resource rooms for special education. A regular keynote speaker, he also advised numerous provincial organizations. A significant achievement came when his presentation on behalf of the Alberta Learning Disabilities Association to the University of Alberta's Senate led directly to foundational changes in its Bachelor of Education program, incorporating mandatory courses on teaching diverse learners for the first time.
During this period, he completed his doctoral studies at the University of Alberta, earning a PhD in Psychology for his dissertation, Role Analysis of Learning Disabilities Resource Room Teachers. Dr. Mattu then certified as a registered psychologist with the psychological associations of Alberta, Canada, and the United States.
Following his tenure in Wainwright, Dr. Mattu was appointed the first Superintendent of Schools for the Jasper School District, where he continued his work establishing specialized learning programs. He was later recruited by the Shuswap District in Salmon Arm, British Columbia, first as an Assistant Superintendent—an assignment he considers his most challenging. In Shuswap, he was responsible for developing personnel policies and implementing support programs across fifty schools. After several years, he was promoted to Superintendent of the District.
Recognizing that far too many children were “falling through the cracks” in the public school system, Dr. Mattu returned to Alberta and in 1997 founding Third Academy in Calgary. Third Academy was established as a Designated Special Education Independent School with a vision that remains today: student success.
Dr. Mattu's career is marked by a deep and unwavering commitment to education and, most notably, to students with learning disabilities. His pioneering work in resource programming and teacher education has transformed school districts across Alberta and British Columbia. We are profoundly grateful for his decades of service, his visionary leadership, and the lasting impact he has made on countless students, educators, and the educational systems he helped to build.
Born in India and raised in the highlands of Kenya, Dr. Mattu received his initial education and teaching certificate there before moving to England. After five years of teaching, he immigrated to Canada in its 1967 centennial year, drawn by the era's promise of endless possibilities. His Canadian career began with the early development of schools in northern Alberta.
Dr. Mattu first served as a teacher and principal in a small school within a Metis colony before joining the Wainwright School Division. While distinguishing himself as a teacher, he also pursued advanced education, earning his Bachelor of Sciences (Early Childhood/Reading) and Master of Education (Special Education/Administration) from the University of Oregon.
His potential was quickly recognized in Wainwright, leading to his promotion to Assistant Superintendent of Schools. In this role, Dr. Mattu gained extensive experience in managing administrators and supporting teachers. He built vital links with Alberta Education, allowing him to learn from and influence provincial programming. This led to his own pioneering initiatives in Early Childhood Education and the creation of new programs for students with learning disabilities.
Dr. Mattu's expertise soon became widely sought. He was invited to provide consultative services and mentorship to other Alberta districts, helping them develop and implement resource rooms for special education. A regular keynote speaker, he also advised numerous provincial organizations. A significant achievement came when his presentation on behalf of the Alberta Learning Disabilities Association to the University of Alberta's Senate led directly to foundational changes in its Bachelor of Education program, incorporating mandatory courses on teaching diverse learners for the first time.
During this period, he completed his doctoral studies at the University of Alberta, earning a PhD in Psychology for his dissertation, Role Analysis of Learning Disabilities Resource Room Teachers. Dr. Mattu then certified as a registered psychologist with the psychological associations of Alberta, Canada, and the United States.
Following his tenure in Wainwright, Dr. Mattu was appointed the first Superintendent of Schools for the Jasper School District, where he continued his work establishing specialized learning programs. He was later recruited by the Shuswap District in Salmon Arm, British Columbia, first as an Assistant Superintendent—an assignment he considers his most challenging. In Shuswap, he was responsible for developing personnel policies and implementing support programs across fifty schools. After several years, he was promoted to Superintendent of the District.
Recognizing that far too many children were “falling through the cracks” in the public school system, Dr. Mattu returned to Alberta and in 1997 founding Third Academy in Calgary. Third Academy was established as a Designated Special Education Independent School with a vision that remains today: student success.
Dr. Mattu's career is marked by a deep and unwavering commitment to education and, most notably, to students with learning disabilities. His pioneering work in resource programming and teacher education has transformed school districts across Alberta and British Columbia. We are profoundly grateful for his decades of service, his visionary leadership, and the lasting impact he has made on countless students, educators, and the educational systems he helped to build.