Candid Conversations About Education (Part 4): Mr. Kling: A Teacher Who Defied The Chicago School System

enVision Together

This episode is part of our, "Candid Conversations About Education," series. enVision Together welcomes Demetrius Matthews, writer, director, and producer to our show. Mr. Matthews is known as a filmmaker for his documentary, Kling: A Teacher Who Defied The System. His film celebrates a remarkable educator who changed the lives of students in Chicago’s West Side during the 1980s. This documentary depicts, a man by the name of Mr. Kling took Demetrius under his wing and transformed Douglass Middle School education.

Mr. Kling so impacted Matthews academic performance that by his 8th-grade graduation, Demetrius tested beyond college-level curriculum in both reading and math. However, because Matthews faced hardships and danger growing up on the Westside of Chicago, his mother moved him out of that environment to Richfield, Minnesota. There Demetrius took advantage of his second chance at success and became a well-educated man. Years later he returned to Chicago and learned the harsh reality, he was different. His ex-girlfriend laughed at him for being well dressed and his former peers made fun of him for being well-spoken. But that didn’t stop him. He began his career working as an intern working for a Minnesota-based corporation. Matthews held a series of corporate accounting positions including, database developer and programmer, IT Director, and many other project management responsibilities during the next 10 years. Then, realizing his worth, he branched off on his own and started an IT Distribution and Consulting Firm. He ran into complications and denials within America and started his journey in South Korea.

With determination Matthews traveled throughout Asia alone, meeting electronic manufacturers, negotiating prices, and creating a supply chain. Soon enough Demetrius Matthews became one of the largest IT distributors and resellers in his sector to the present day.

Furthermore, Matthews took on many other tasks. Saddened by how many black boys and men were killed and imprisoned he created his chain of music and recording studios in local shopping malls. These studios were set up with state-of-the-art recording equipment as well as high-end video cameras to create music and music videos. Today he endeavors to continue to make his mark in entertainment and business, as well as to spread the word about a teacher name Kling who changed his life. He wants the world to know how the power of one can make such a difference to many if they are willing. Demetrius is a speaker, discussing his life-changing experiences, from growing up in Chicago's troubled West Side, to the incredible impact a dedicated, caring teacher had. enVision Together presents Mr. Matthews and this delightfully informative conversation to our audience!

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