Instructors

Kurt Richardson started teaching horticulture at the Franklin County Technical School in 2002 after several years as a substitute during winter down times in his private business.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental design from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.  He became a licensed vocational teacher in Massachusetts in 2016.

Before entering the education field, Kurt owned and operated several “green” businesses including a retail garden center, a greenhouse operation, as well as landscape contracting, irrigation contracting, and tree work companies.  His wide range of experience allows him to introduce students to a variety of career paths and opportunities in the horticulture sector.   Kurt's philosophy on technical education is to provide students with the employability skills they will need to succeed after high school, no matter what career they may choose.

He holds a Massachusetts Commercial Pesticide License, a Massachusetts Hoisters License, a Commercial Driver’s License, a Massachusetts Horticulturist Certificate, and is certified as an irrigation contractor and as an irrigation auditor.  He is also a long-serving coach for the FCTS boys' soccer team.

Amanda Mattison started teaching Landscaping and Horticulture at the Franklin County Technical School in 2022. She holds an associate degree in Horticulture and a bachelor degree in Plant, Soil & Insect Science from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at UMass Amherst.   

Prior to teaching at FCTS, Amanda spent 13 years in the industry. Her industry experience started during her high school co-op working at a garden center north of Boston selling plants to landscapers and contractors. Upon completing her time at UMass Amherst she began working at Pioneer Gardens in Deerfield, MA, a wholesale perennial plug and bare root grower supplying large growers and garden centers across North America. She worked her way up from an assistant grower to head grower and production manager overseeing 2+ acres of greenhouse grown plugs and several dozen acres of field grown perennials. 

In addition to her role as a landscaping and horticulture instructor, Amanda proudly serves as an FFA advisor and has been involved with the National FFA Organization since she was a member in high school. When she is not teaching or working on FFA activities she enjoys spending quality time with her husband and twin sons, especially outdoors.