Malden math teacher earns Mass. Teacher of the Year honor

In a year with so much uncertainty and adversity around education, one thing has remained certain: teachers are vital.

On Tuesday, a seventh-grade math teacher was announced as the 2021 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley.

The Massachusetts Teacher of the Year program named Jennifer Hedrington, a teacher at Ferryway School in Malden, as the 59th recipient of the award. She automatically becomes Massachusetts' candidate for the National Teacher of the Year program.

The program awards top educators in Massachusetts who show dedication, commitment and positive contributions, according to a release from DESE.

'I teach from love': Jennifer Hedrington, Mass. Teacher of the Year, on how she reaches students

“Beyond math, Ms. Hedrington’s work includes empowering students and improving her school,” commissioner Riley said. “I am pleased to present this honor to someone who brings so much joy to her work.”

Hedrington is in her 16th year of teaching secondary school math and in her 10th year of teaching in Malden. She develops lessons that promote higher order thinking skills and that encourage students to explore math concepts.

“Ms. Hedrington is a wonderful advocate for her students, whether the subject is math or life,” said Education Secretary James Peyser. “It is a pleasure to recognize her contributions to Malden and its students with this honor.”

In addition to her math lessons, Hedrington “takes time for ‘commercial breaks’ during class to talk about issues that affect the school or community,” the release said. She supported students when they spoke to the School Committee to address racist incidents and during Black History Month prioritized students' families in celebrations.

“I once had the pleasure of teaching in the room beside Ms. Hedrington’s, and I learned quickly how good she was at making the classroom welcoming for all students,” said Ferryway School Principal Abdel Sepúlveda.

“She teaches math, but this award recognizes her ability to go beyond that and inspire students for life.”

Hedrington earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Atlantic Union College and a juris doctorate from the Massachusetts School of Law. In addition to Malden, she has taught in Revere, Houston, Texas, and Baltimore, Maryland.

The selection process for the award started in the fall of 2019 with a request for nominations from administrators, teachers, students, parents and others.

After receiving 120 nominations, 12 semifinalists were paired down to four finalists who were interviewed by a panel that included past Massachusetts Teachers of the Year. That panel then recommended one finalist to commissioner Riley.

Cox Media Group