January 2021

The Blue and Gold
January 2021
Local News
maldenblueandgold.com
Malden Teacher Wins Massachusetts
Teacher of the Year Award
Sandra Rivadeneira
Hedrington remembered that “it’s till death do [them] part.” that you care.” As Qranfal describes,
Print Editor-in-Chief
they wanted to have an extra lesson Qranfal saw Hedrington as Hedrington makes sure to show that
When it came to receiving the on Sunday night, which she had forgotten
she agreed to. It is so mean-
[students] could confide in,” she “want to become better.”
“not only a teacher but someone she cares and makes her students
award for Teacher of the Year,
recipient Jennifer Hedrington was
confused.
Hedrington teaches seventh
grade math, previously at the Salemwood
School before recently
transferring over to the Ferryway
School. In October, she was awarded
ingful that they were seeking out
the opportunity for an extra lesson
when most students barely have the
motivation to get through their own
class during a regular school day.
Sepulveda characterizes Hedrington
as someone who’s “mind
continues to describe her former
teacher as someone with “a friendly
nature” who would “always [get]
everyone laugh.” As a student,
Qranfal believes that it is especially
important for a good teacher to be
someone who is also a friend and
What makes the Malden Public
School system unique to Hedrington
is “one-hundred percent, the
kids.” She loves how the city has a
“plethora of representation” and
that you can “see the whole world
in one little classroom.” Every one of
the Massachusetts Teacher of the is at a constant hunger to know Hedrington embodies that perfectly. their voices is very unique and each
Year 2020 award and will now be a more.” That is how Hedrington tries Some of Hedrington’s relationships
of them have something that they
contestant for the National Teacher to connect with her students beyond
with her students have can teach her and, as Hedrington
of the Year.
Hedrington did not prepare a
the classroom.
Hedrington takes time to learn
developed to very personal levels
throughout the years. Hedrington
puts it, they are all “mini people that
are developing into grown ups.”
speech for the meeting that would from every one of her students is a godmother to some of her student’s
Sepulveda expresses that the
announce the winner. Actually, she about the constantly changing
children, has helped one students have “such power in their
had to search up what a Teacher of
the Year Award was the night before.
She asked herself “why [is she]
getting an award for something [all
teachers] should all be doing?” and
still finds herself struggling with
that idea.
Ferryway School Principal
Abdel Sepulveda, who has known
Hedrington since 2010, sees Hedrington
as someone who is unique
world that they are growing up in.
When a student introduces a topic
that she’s not very educated about,
such as pronouns or cultures, she
asks them to teach her about it and
the conversation then opens up the
opportunity for her to be the student
and the kids to be the teacher.
Her efforts never go unnoticed.
Malden High Freshmen Sabrina
Qranfal, who previously had Hedrington
during the process of buying a car
and has even given loans to some of
her students to help them through
their first years of college. She sees
every student who has grown in her
classroom as “[her] kids” and that
she “[loves] them like they are [her]
own.”
Oteri explains that “anybody
can teach.” Teaching is not the difficult
part, being a good educator
hands.” Students, who are quickly
becoming young adults, are “speaking
their truth to the powers to be,”
in the real world. Sepulveda says
that sometimes that includes teachers,
yet it is in “a respectful way so
they can learn as well,” and so teachers
may take a similar approach as
Hedrington and be open to listening
to the conversations from the student’s
points of views.
for her consistent approach towards
during her years at the is a whole different story. “It takes One of the most prominent les-
all her students. “She connects with Ferryway School, describes the unique talents and passions that sons Hedrington has learned from
each and every one of her students
on a personal level,” Sepulveda
explains, “she brings to her teaching
not only her knowledge of the
content but her content to life.”
However, being an educator is not
simply about the teaching, an educator
should be someone who can
connect with their students as well.
environment of Hedrington’s classroom
as one that “makes [anyone]
feel safe and accepted the moment
[they] walk in.”
By going the extra mile, Qranfal
recounts how Hedrington made
the “learning process exciting” and
something students would “willingly
want to participate in.” Qranfal
cannot be taught,” Oteri describes,
“to be an educator is really meeting
kids where they are, taking them
to their potential, connecting with
them, being a voice for them in and
out of the classroom.”
To him, Hedrington is an
extraordinary example of that, as
she is a role model to a lot of the
her open students is that “life is not
stagnant.” As she has seen classes
of kids go through her classroom
through the years, and seeing them
again when they come back to
visit, she’s learned that one does not
“have to remain the person [they]
are at [that] moment,” and that everyone
“can learn and can grow to
Sepulveda describes some of describes Hedrington as someone students that she has had and Oteri be more.”
the best teachers he has known as
the ones who see the student as
“more than just someone learning
who has the power to “make a least
favorite subject become something
[someone can] look forward to.”
describes it as something that comes
“quite [naturally] for her. Growing
up in Malden himself, he knows
Oteri believes that people do
not “truly value educators enough
in society.” Sepulveda supports,
a subject.” Hedrington goes above Hedrington believes that the how important it is for teachers to saying that although “society does
and beyond to show that she cares.
She tries to see her students beyond
the academic score and instead for
who they are as individuals. Malden
Public Schools Superintendent John
biggest achievement in her career
is not the recent award, instead it is
“hands down the relationship [she
has] built with her students.” Every
year, one first day of seventh grade
make learning fun and connect it to
real life and the real world.
“[Teachers] are in the people
business,” Oteri explains, “the kid
doesn’t care about what you know
try” having an acknowledgment
and appreciation for educators more
often is extremely important, as he
describes it as “one of the hardest
jobs there is.”
Oteri describes Hedrington as a math with a new class, she tells them and what you teach until they know Any good educator does more
“trailblazer,” and someone
than just grade papers
who “is an advocate
and plan lessons. They
for her students both
work late, work weekends,
in and out of the classroom.”
even spend their
summer breaks taking
“At the end of the
professional development
day [students] spend
courses, all in the
eight hours with strangers,
good spirit of becoming
we are no longer
better for their students.
strangers,“ Hedrington
When Hedrington
expresses. She believes
asked herself “what did
that all teachers should
[she] do to get the Teacher
put an effort to reach out
of the Year award?”
beyond the classroom.
She “sees [herself] as just
That’s why when it
a teacher, and so [she]
comes to her students she
teaches.” Hedrington
“tries not to put a barrier
does so much more than
between [herself] and
that, and so does any
them.”
good educator. They are
Hendrington recalled
never just teaching. As
one Sunday night
long as a teacher goes the
when she was lounging
extra mile to show that
in her room, enjoying
students they care, reach
some well deserved relaxing
out to support, and strive
time, when she got
to connect, a student will
a message from a student
always remember and
saying, “Hey Miss, aren’t
appreciate that.
you getting on?” Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Award Recipient Jennifer Hedrington. Photos submitted by Hedrington.
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