‘TEACH FROM A PLACE OF LOVE’
Malden math teacher wins title
‘I want to become the teacher that I needed in school that I didn’t have.’
JENNIFER HEDRINGTON
The 2021 Massachusetts teacher of the year said success in the classroom is all about love, and she is encouraging others making their way through pandemic learning to focus on building strong relationships.
“I teach from a place of love and that’s the center, and everything stems from that,” said Jennifer Hedrington, a seventh grade math teacher at Ferryway School in Malden.
Hedrington, her two young sons and her husband were all smiles at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education office Tuesday morning where she was recognized with the state’s top educator award.
“It’s an honor, it’s humbling, it’s scary, it’s exciting. I’m still trying to figure out what to make of this,” said Hedrington, beaming beneath her brightly colored face mask.
Hedrington’s 10-year-old son Ethan said his mom was “screaming” when she found out she had been selected.
The Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Program seeks out educators who exemplify the dedication, commitment and positive contributions of teachers statewide, according to DESE.
Four finalists, including Hedrington, were in the running for the honor along with eight semi-finalists from across the state.
Hedrington, a resident of Lancaster, said she attended law school but fell into teaching and has been an educator for 16 years.
“I want to become the teacher that I needed in school that I didn’t have,” she said.
Hedrington said building strong relationships with students and watching them grow and change for years after they leave her classroom is the best part of the job.
During the difficult stages of teaching during a pandemic, Hedrington said educators have to put emotional needs before academic needs.
“Take care of their emotional needs first and focus on that and everything else will fall into place,” she said.
She said she aims to connect with students of all different backgrounds, “I want to represent the humanity and the love that’s missing … I want to connect with the human, the heart.”
Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement, “The relationships that teachers like Ms. Hedrington build with their students and their students’ families are important to children’s growth and development and have been made more critical as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Malden Superintendent John Oteri said Hedrington, “leads from the classroom and gives her students a greater voice in school and in the community.”
Hedrington is the 59th recipient of the award and automatically becomes Massachusetts’ candidate for the National Teacher of the Year program.