Claire Hsieh is a graduate student in George Mason University’s Mathematics Specialist Leadership Program. While working toward her degree online, Claire also teaches math at Henrico Virtual Academy, where she was recently named their Teacher of the Year for 2025-2026. Keep reading to learn more about her experience and for advice she has for prospective and current students.
What does receiving this award mean to you?
“Receiving the Teacher of the Year award has been such a wonderful treat! I put a lot of heart into my classroom to ensure that learning becomes a meaningful, positive, and fun experience for my students. Receiving this award feels as if my school believes in me, and my community has faith in me to provide an accessible and equitable education for their students.”
How has our Math Specialist Leadership Program prepared you for your career?
“Being a part of the George Mason-Henrico County Math Leadership cohort has made me a more reflective educator and has pushed me to give meaningful opportunities for my classroom each and every day. The program has challenged me to think critically about instructional design, purposeful questioning, and how to foster and strengthen mathematical reasoning in my classroom. It has given me a network of educational leaders to collaborate with and has strengthened my leadership skills by helping me develop my voice as an advocate for high-quality mathematics education.”
What advice would you give to prospective and current students?
“Embrace every opportunity for collaboration and reflection. The small group work, projects, and classroom discussions are all experiences where the deepest learning happens. Be thankful for the space that assumes positive intent, a space where together we can tackle hard questions without the fear of judgment, and a community to be a part of that is full of lifelong learners.”