Been There, Done That, Got the T-shirt: Teacher Named 'Outstanding' Woman

Kathleen Hennelly’s approach to teaching may not be conventional, but it works. And it shows.

The longtime teacher has been chosen as a recipient of the Outstanding Women of Burlington County award in the education category.

The Burlington County Advisory Council on Women will honor Hennelly tonight at a banquet at the .

“I think I can sum it up really in one word—a privilege,” said Hennelly of the honor. “I have so enjoyed being a teacher.”

Hennelly started with Cinnaminson in 1997 as a business technology teacher at the high school. She still retains that position and is now the department supervisor for business, technology, art and music.

“I get to interact with teenagers and I love it,” she said. “I learn as much from them as I teach them. They certainly keep me up to date in technology. That’s the biggest thing I learn from them—what is going on in their world.”

The non-conventional style of teaching Hennelly adopts is that she runs her high school classes as she would a college-level class.

“Here’s the material, here’s what we have to learn,” she said. “Bring what you bring to the table and teach each other. I’m the adult in the classroom making sure learning takes place. It’s fun.”

And the proof is certainly in the pudding, as Hennelly puts it herself. Her students placed first three out of the last five years in the New Jersey Institute of Technology Web Design Competition.

Just two weeks ago, her students captured second place. Last year, they won.

“So, how does it work?” Hennelly playfully asks, referring to her teaching style. “It works very, very well. I do have to give all the credit to the students. The biggest thing is to find their passion and guide them to achieve their passion.”

Hennelly’s passion shone through to her 21-year-old son Tim. He’s the one who nominated his mom for the award.

“That’s the nicest part,” Hennelly said.

An engineering student, Tim was a student of his mother’s at CHS at one point. He is following in his mother’s footsteps by attending the University of Pennsylvania.

Hennelly graduated from there in 1980 and received her MBA from George Washington University.

Hennelly is the director of , the high school’s community service club sponsored by . She helps with the group's annual talent show, park cleanup, dances, fundraisers and more.

“I am so inspired by [the students] every year,” she said. “My job is to give them the opportunity and guidance to lead in community service.”

If that wasn’t enough, Hennelly is a decorated, retired Navy captain, who was stationed at a weapons depot during Operation Desert Storm. She was also called to active duty to run the Naval Petroleum Office during Operation Enduring Freedom. She has four years of ROTC, eight years of active duty and 20 years in the reserve under her belt.

“I’ve been there, done that, got the t-shirt,” said Hennelly.

Hennelly will join seven other Burlington County to receive the award this evening. They are:

Kathleen Hennelly—Education
Patricia Angermeier—Entrepreneur
Theresa Tobey—Social Services
Anne H. Redlus—Volunteerism
Marianne Aleardi—Journalism
Jocelyn Ann Mitchell-Williams—Medicine
Gina Tomasetti—Outstanding Student