When the legendary Mike Thibodeaux retired this year after 44 years, he left big shoes to fill—as well as a beloved classroom, the Neighborhood, that has long been a legend in its own right. In a fitting turn of events, Matt Redmond ’10, who joined the Upper School Computer Science faculty last spring, is now teaching in this space long beloved by STEM enthusiasts, and he is committed to keeping the Neighborhood’s spirit as vibrant as ever. 

“When I was a student, I lived in the Neighborhood,” says Matt. “I probably spent nearly every single lunch in that room with my friends, either learning about programming or doing math puzzles together.” While the Neighborhood is an official Math and Computer Science Club, it’s also a name for the classroom itself; while it has changed locations over the years as our campus has evolved, it has always been a haven for self-identified nerds to rejoice in learning and embrace their interests with pride. 

For decades, the Neighborhood has been deeply entwined with Mike Thibodeaux’s tremendous influence on the School. Matt, a former Thibodeaux student himself, says, “Mike Thibodeaux is one of the most influential people I’ve ever had the honor of meeting—he has a unique sense of humor and a great personality that really resonated with me. I had never programmed or worked with computers before I met Mike, but he inspired me to learn a new way of thinking about problems. He was absolutely a mentor to me (and many others!) and we’re all incredibly lucky to have had him at Menlo for so long.” He adds, “Teaching in the Neighborhood now is an incredible honor and opportunity. My goal is to make everyone feel as welcome in my room as Mike was able to.” 

Ever wondered how the Neighborhood got its name? It’s short for the mathematical concept of the Neighborhood of Convergence, the space around a point where a sequence of values converges. This clever reference provides a fitting name for this Menlo tradition of having a place for self-identifying nerds of all varieties to congregate and converge. As he takes up leadership of the Neighborhood himself, Matt says, “I’d like it to continue to be a psychological safe space where students can celebrate their passions and nerdiness with fellow “tribe members.” 

This story originally appeared in Menlo Magazine, Summer/Fall 2020.