Meet Harford County's 2016 Teacher of the Year

HARFORD COUNTY, MD – When Harford County Public Schools announced that its 2016 Teacher of the Year recipient was a math teacher at North Harford Middle School, one of the honoree's former students said she inspired her to teach for the school system as well.

Administrators announced Wednesday that North Harford Middle School mathematics teacher Sharalyn Heinly is the school system's teacher of the year. Heinly has taught mathematics for Harford County Public Schools for 22 years, according to a statement from the school system.

During that time, she has made math accessible to hundreds of students, including Cristina Fiorentino, who now teaches algebra.

"...more than a decade later, I stand at the front of my own classroom, teaching my own Algebra I class at North Harford High School, which brings tears to my eyes because I credit my journey to becoming a math teacher to Mrs. Heinly," said Fiorentino. "As far as I’m concerned, Mrs. Heinly has been the Teacher of the Year every year since I first had her.”

Heinly helps show students why math is important—using examples like calculating time needed to brake while driving and factoring in how drugs and alcohol may affect that—educators said.

In addition to staying current with best practices for teaching math through national conferences, Heinly helps coordinate the running club, the math-a-thon and parent seminars at North Harford.

She said she values the relationships with the parents of her students.

“I try to let parents know, through a phone call, email or note in a planner, that I have noticed the good qualities they have instilled in their children. When the parents know that I am looking for the good in each and every child, they will trust that I have their best interest in mind," Heinly said. "Both parenting and teaching are two of the hardest jobs that anyone will have, if the job is done right. As a teacher of adolescent teens and pre-teens, and raising three children of my own, I know what it’s like to be in both roles. It’s very important to me to demonstrate this partnership in every interaction I have with my school community.”

Heinly has a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Lipscomb University and a master's in deaf education from McDaniel College. She also teaches American Sign Language at Harford Community College.

She will go on to compete for Maryland Teacher of the Year, which will be announced in October.

Photo Credit: Harford County Public Schools.