By Theresa Eru and Oba Aofolaju

History, we are constantly making it, but here is someone who is teaching it. 

Please give a warm welcome to one of the new social studies teachers, Ms. Hines!

In her college days, Ms. Hines actually majored in education before veering off into healthcare. She ended up staying in healthcare for 20 years where she specialized in case management, investigations, and project management. “When I took my job in healthcare, I was working with people with mental health issues and at that time, that worked so well for me.” Two years ago, she decided to make the switch back to education. She attended the University of Maryland Baltimore County and the University of Maryland Global Campus. 

When asked what words of advice she would give the students at Oakland Mills, she said, “Life is a journey – it’s not an end road, make sure you understand that and that mistakes happen.You can still pick yourself up and move forward.” Even as a small girl, her words rang true. As a child, she wanted to be a football coach or a lawyer but the end goal was always to do something that involved connecting with people. Ms. Hines’ biggest inspiration is her grandmother, whose words of advice were that “mistakes will not define who you are.” 

In her free time, Ms. Hines enjoys spending time with her family, including her two daughters. Her hobbies include gardening, cooking, and reading. Her favorite book genre is mysteries, though she also reads American Literature to keep up with her lesson plans. Her goal as a teacher is to help students see themselves in the world and understand that they have a place. “This little corner of the world is a stepping stone on their journey,” she said. Head down to room 105 and be sure to tell Ms. Hines welcome hOMe!