Oak Park and River Forest High School calculus teacher Sheila Hardin is the state’s best math teacher.
That’s according to the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ICTM), which recently awarded Hardin its annual Excellence in Secondary Mathematics Teaching Award.
According to a District 200 press release, the award recognizes a teacher who is not only effective in the classroom but has also shown continued growth as a math educator and contributed to the advancement of math education.
The award is a little more special for Hardin because she graduated from OPRF, arriving for her sophomore year, and student-taught there as well. Her two children also attended the school.
But what’s perhaps most fulfilling is helping students “get it” – even those who think they can’t, in Advanced Placement and non-AP calculus.
“I think that there are students who hate math and feel they can’t learn math,” Hardin said. “I take that as a challenge. You’re learning how to learn, and the fact is part of what I’m doing is teaching them how to learn. And part of learning is grappling with things that are hard.
“(It’s) turning it around from just, ‘You must learn this to take this test,’ (to), ‘How do you learn in a situation that you don’t want to be in?’ I do try to relate it to everyday life. They are seeing calculus all around them. “
Getting to the point where all students are energized about learning an often-tough topic takes a lot of ambition. To that end, Hardin challenges herself with three goals before every school year. This year, her technology goal is to look at how artificial intelligence could have positive aspects. She’s also a racial equity coach at OPRF, so picking up new data points in this area is crucial.
But in talking to Hardin, you get the sense that she considers herself more than an educator – that she is a practitioner. Her third goal this year is to build thinking classrooms.
“I see myself as constantly evolving into my practice as teaching,” she said. “Teaching is a lifelong learning profession. I don’t feel done. There is no done. I’m not at the top my game because there are more students to teach.”
Her colleagues see the same.
“Sheila is a credit to the teaching profession,” said Julie Frey, OPRF’s math division head. “After all her years of teaching, she continues to strive to improve her practice through study and curiosity, and she always centers her practice around equity. Sheila is generous with her time and expertise, supporting new and experienced teachers alike.”
Math teacher Christine Mondragon did her student teaching under Hardin.
“It amazes me that 25 years later, I still continue to learn from her,” Mondragon said. “Sheila has instilled in the teachers at OPRF that as educators. We must never stop learning. There is no such thing as a perfect lesson. Teachers have to keep trying to improve, by taking classes, going to conferences, taking leadership roles in the school, and presenting to other teachers.”
Involvement in school is also a secret to Hardin’s success. She was chairperson of OPRF’s Faculty Senate for 12 years and is still involved in that entity, and is always available as a resource for any teacher at any time. Plus, her work as a racial equity coach provides more perspective on the day-to-day.
“Equity means a lot,” she said. “Centering means I am being honest with myself as a white female math teacher in a classroom that’s diverse, knowing my students, how they identify, meeting them where they are at, looking at different things in my practice.
“Have I said every name every three days? If I haven’t, why not? I try to be very reflective and challenge myself multiple ways.”
