Gratitude Tour: Christiana Harris

In 2024-2025, my final year of teaching, I moved to Maryland and was blessed to be at St. Anne’s School of Annapolis where two of my granddaughters attend.  It had been a while since I’d taught middle school students, and I hadn’t taught girls in twenty-six years.  It had also been quite some time since I had supported students in a learning center setting.  

Thank goodness that Christiana Harris and I shared a teaching space.  She had been the Director of St. Anne’s School Center for Learning the past two years and was called the Lead Interventionist and Instructional Coach during the year in which she was my colleague.  I had been given a similarly fancy title.  She and I laughed at the lofty titles that independent schools can give their employees.  

Christiana performed an impressive juggling routine every day as she parented four young children, ran the Center for Learning and took part in frequent meetings with parents and/or other administrators.  I constantly bent her ear for encouragement and advice.  As much as it humbles me to admit, I know I became one more object Christiana had to keep in the air.  If it bothered her that my forty-two years of prior teaching experience didn’t keep me from asking her opinion frequently, she never showed her frustration, but she must have wondered what was wrong with me.  I should have known the ropes, but I was in waters in which I hadn’t swum in quite some time.  Christiana went out of her way on nearly a daily basis to make my final year of teaching an enjoyable one.

During our initial conversations, it became clear that Christiana had an interest in wanting to move toward administration.  She was so very good with her students, but I wondered if her wanting to be a leader of adults while being a talented classroom instructor felt conflicting to her.  It did.  She was also conflicted about loving the school environment while also wanting to ensure as a mom she was there for her four young children.  I learned, too, that Christiana is a product of public education and had begun her teaching career in a public school.  I had a similar journey, so I know she sometimes questioned, as I did from time to time, if an independent school is where she should be.     

Christiana’s father was a topic of conversation several times when we weren’t discussing teaching strategies.  I wondered, at first, if she was so helpful because I reminded her of her father, but then I learned she cared about the wellbeing of everyone, young or old or in between.  Even though the students in her care benefited enormously from her easy-going personality and teaching techniques, she definitely also had qualities, such as empathy and compassion, that I knew would make her an effective supervisor.  I was, and still am, truly impressed with how she loves her family, her students, and her colleagues. 

During an opening-school meeting, Christiana revealed that she had been voted Class Clown by her classmates in her senior year of high school.  Her dry wit may be the quality that students and colleagues admire the most about her.  It is there when one would expect a bit of levity, but it is also there in much needed ways during otherwise humorless situations.  

After graduating from Southern High School in Harwood, MD, in 2001, with her Class Clown certificate, she attended York College of Pennsylvania where she earned a B.A. in Mass Communication in the winter of 2005.  “Yes, I became a Super Senior because I’d goofed off a little too much and needed an extra semester to earn my degree.  I blame it on undiagnosed ADHD.”  Christiana wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with that degree or her life, but she knew she was ready for the next challenge.  She admits she thrives off of challenges, another personality trait that has served her well in her teaching career. 

At age 25, Christiana worked as a litigation support salesperson for Williams Lea in Washington, DC, a position she landed through connections.  Her responsibilities soon led to daily panic attacks and high stress, and the pay wasn’t enough to keep her interested.  She quit that job in 2008 with no game plan other than to move back in with her parents and wait tables in Annapolis.  

Her parents were supportive while she tried to decide what next, and her dad often suggested she substitute teach.  As a result of his confidence in her, Christiana pursued and was given an opportunity to be a long-term substitute for a teacher on leave at Phoenix Academy, an Anne Arundel County public middle school that provides an alternative educational setting for students with special needs.  All teachers at Phoenix Academy were certified in both general and special education.  

Christiana loved her students and found immediate success with them even though she didn’t have any certifications.  Another teacher noticed Christiana’s effectiveness and especially her joy.  She casually mentioned one day that, if Christiana could handle those students and have fun doing it, she should consider applying to the Resident Teacher Certification program offered by Anne Arundel County’s special education office.  “I wish I could remember that teacher’s name.  It was just an off-the-cuff suggestion, but it really struck a chord with me.  I applied the next week, and that was that!”  That spring, in fact, she was accepted.  

The summer of 2009 proved to be a busy and rewarding one for Christiana as she taught Extended School Year (ESY) in the multiple intensive needs room of Mills Parole Elementary School, waitressed at night and on weekends, and started taking the graduate classes that would qualify her for that certification.  By August, she ended the waitressing gig and was hired to teach fulltime at Tyler Heights Elementary School in Anne Arundel County.  

When Christiana ponders whom she would visit during her own gratitude tour, Faye Daniels, principal at Tyler Heights, is number one on the list.  By all accounts, she was a beloved educator and leader who had a passion for working with children and teachers in underprivileged schools.  Christiana remembers, “Faye held school culture in high regard.  Tyler Heights was a challenging but positive place to work mainly because of her upbeat personality. She was one of those leaders who could do it all.  She was good at her job and took the time to get to know people.”  Faye unexpectedly passed away at the age of sixty on Christmas Eve, 2010.  Christiana recalls that she was an avid and healthy cyclist and sailor, which made her sudden passing all the more shocking.  “Her death was a hard loss for our school community. I learned a lot about the type of leader I wanted to be from her.” 

While at Tyler Heights, Christiana continued taking evening classes toward an MA in Leadership in Teaching from Notre Dame of Maryland University. She completed that course work in 2011.  This meant she took courses while teaching fulltime in a challenging environment.  

Christiana worked as a special education teacher at Tyler Heights during her first five years there. This is when she experienced her first taste of co-teaching with colleagues such as Deb Santos and Molly Sause.  “Deb and Molly taught me so much about true co-teaching.  I came to realize that partnering with at least one other instructor in a classroom was a great way to reach any student, and especially students with special needs.  It didn’t hurt that Deb, Molly and I had a blast doing it.  They would both be on my gratitude tour, too.” 

Molly’s praise for Christiana describes her beautifully. “Christiana is a gifted educator.  She has always had an incredible heart and worked hard to align goals and standards with her practice. When we taught together, the students were not aware of any difference between the teachers and therefore between one another.  We alternated lead roles and devoted additional time to individuals.  It was the perfect pairing of meeting students where they are, while not identifying them as special education kids.  Christiana was loving, engaging, supportive, and strong.  She met that delicate balance of being supportive while setting very high expectations.” 

Sarah Bell, another of Christiana’s mentors, was the school’s literacy specialist and quickly became a good friend, in large part because their senses of humor were so similar.  At the time, Sarah had no idea how much Christiana relied on her guidance.  Christiana recalls, “She would arrive early and leave late just to answer my constant questions.”  Sarah was pleasantly surprised to hear that Christiana considers her a mentor.  That says a lot about Sarah, someone who clearly performs random and not-so-random acts of kindness for her students and her colleagues with no thought that it might have an enduring impact.  She was happy to take time out of her busy schedule to praise Christiana. “The gleam in her eyes and her sly sense of humor, I knew, would help her find success.  She was just so genuine and down to earth.  She and I laughed a lot, I mean a lot, and that bonded us, too.” 

Jacqui Davis was another Special Education teacher at Tyler Heights who had a profound impact on Christiana.  “Jacqui and I were in the trenches together and became close during some difficult years at Tyler.  She was always a voice of reason for me.”  Jacqui recalls, “Christiana showed compassion to all the students she worked with, even those who made it challenging. She was very teachable and willing to learn the Special Education Process and the unique culture of Tyler Heights.  She investigated and innovated to find ways to meet the individual needs of her students.”

Christiana’s grandmother passed away in 2011.  A firefighter by the name of Bino Harris came to pay respects to Christiana’s brother, a fellow first responder in Prince George’s County.  Bino saw and then was told for the first time that his firefighter buddy had a sister.  To appease her brother, Christiana officially met Bino for the first time during a happy hour in Annapolis.  Christiana said she didn’t even look cute that evening.  They married in July, 2014.  

Soon after their marriage, Christiana began taking classes toward her public-school administration certification through McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland – another opportunity, another challenge.  When she and Bino learned she was pregnant with their first child, she figured she wasn’t the first pregnant lady to take college courses.  But then she did have to stop.  “I was sick in my first trimester with Norah, and it was just too much to maintain my health, protect Norah’s health, and take classes.  I put my pursuit for that certification on hold and don’t regret it.” 

Another special education teacher from Christiana’s early years at Tyler Heights is Denise Dove Jones.  She is also on Christiana’s gratitude tour list.  “Denise had advanced special education knowledge that often came into play and was an excellent reading teacher.”  Denise now works in the Office of Elementary Reading & Integrated Literacy for Anne Arundel public schools.  She’s a long-time member of the Christiana fan club.  “Even when Christiana left special education to become a classroom teacher, she differentiated every lesson in all areas to make it accessible to all students.  She embodied the whole-child approach to teaching.”

In her fifth year as a special educator at Tyler Heights, Christiana grew close to a large group of third-graders.  She asked if she could be their fourth-grade classroom teacher.  Her request was granted, and for the first time was considered the general educator on the co-teacher team. 

In those years when she taught fourth grade at Tyler Heights, one of Christiana’s team members was Bonita Bradway.  Christiana learned a lot from Bonita.  “Bonita is still a good friend whom I admire because she stands up for what is right and just.”  Bonita, too, sings Christiana’s praises.  “She is the type of teacher every child deserves. No matter what grade level or content she is teaching, she puts in 100% effort to support her students. She is also an amazing advocate for students, standing up for what is best for them.  I am so thankful I get to call her my friend.”

The Tyler Heights Elementary School community gave Christiana a great start in education.  After seven years, she was ready for the next challenge.  When she began teaching at St. Anne’s School of Annapolis in 2016, Norah was a toddler, and she was pregnant with her son Lucca.  Christiana taught kindergarten.  “I did that for two years during which I had a solid eye twitch.  It went great, but teaching small people was not a long-term goal for me.” In her defense, Christiana went home to a little person, then eventually two little people, each evening.  Bino helped when he could, but the life of a firefighter near a major metropolitan area kept him busy.  By the time Fridays rolled around, Christiana was exhausted.  

Without Erin Maley, Christiana is certain that she would not have survived that year of teaching kindergarten.  Erin offers these kind words about Christiana.  “Not only is she a dedicated teacher who fiercely cares about her students but also an incredible mother to her children, each with their own busy schedules.  In the classroom, she has a calm reassuring presence paired with a quiet confidence that immediately puts both students and colleagues at ease.  Whether turning a classroom into a spy headquarters, a fashion show runway, a racetrack, or something entirely new, she created experiences that filled learning with wonder, joy, and excitement.”

As soon as a middle school position opened at St. Anne’s, Christiana went for it.  Since she was applying for a position in a different division of the school, she was asked to give a demo lesson.  Christiana, being the clever person she is, created a Harlem Renaissance escape room lesson.  “The kids had to follow clues that required them to interpret Langston Hughes poetry, literature from Zora Neale Hurston and artwork from the 1920s and 30s.   As they solved each clue, they plugged in a number to a Google form that led them to the next clue.  The last clue led them to a box that contained a CD with music from Duke Ellington and others from that time as well as other artifacts they could explore.”  This lesson impressed the students as well as those who determined she should have that position.

For the next four years, she taught middle school language and literature.  Tessa, child number three, arrived in 2019.  One of Christiana’s mentors at St. Anne’s School was Gretchen Moran.  Her classroom was next door to Christiana’s, which afforded them many opportunities to compare notes and just generally support one another.  During lunch, they shared the many pleasures and occasional headaches of raising their own children while fulltime teaching.

Gretchen notes that she had taught at St. Anne’s for ten years before Christiana arrived.  “As she taught kindergarten and I taught 3^rd grade, we became immediate friends.  When we both moved to middle school, we became even closer.  She was an extraordinary, creative teacher who was wonderfully collaborative.  Fair and respectful, she made learning engaging and gave specific feedback that helped her students improve academically and personally.  For her colleagues, her door was always open.”  Alluding to Christiana’s whip-smart sense of humor, she adds, “Her friendship and funny take on life made for many a joyful day at St. Anne’s.”    

I noticed but didn’t have the nerve to mention to Christiana something that Gretchen had shared with her years ago – that the birth of her four children seemed to coincide somewhat with her earning additional certificates and degrees.  Gretchen once told her, “If you get your doctorate, you’ll have like ten kids.” 

One year, Christiana led her eighth-grade language arts class in a social issues unit.  “Middle schoolers are forming their self-identity and developing interests, so I thought that unit would appeal to them.”  Not only did they enjoy it but one student wrote an essay about social justice and won a writing contest.  The prize was $250, which the student used to purchase books about social issues for Christiana’s classroom.  His parents matched the $250, resulting in more books for her classroom.  “I was so pleased with my unit, so happy that the students enjoyed it, and amazed that the student and his family thanked me in that way!” 

In 2019, Christiana’s father passed away.  Among all of the other reasons she adored him was that she knew she had become a teacher in large part because of his encouragement at a time when she lacked direction.  Christiana recalls that Detra Watson, another colleague at St. Anne’s who had become a dear friend, prayed with her in the two years that her father was ill and for some time after his death.  “Detra was always available for real conversations.  I will always be grateful for her support.”  Detra is currently a long-term sub in the Boston Public Schools.  She didn’t want to miss a chance to praise her former colleague.  “Christiana has an incredible ability to juggle multiple responsibilities with grace, excellence, and an unwaveringly positive attitude.  She truly sees people and leads with authenticity, compassion, and genuine care. She is also remarkably humble.  I often found myself wondering where she found the energy, but I was always inspired by the way she showed up for others with such consistency and heart.”

In typical Christiana fashion, she wanted to learn more about the inner workings of independent schools.  She thought one of the ways to do that was to earn a Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership for Independent Schools, which she did from Johns Hopkins University about four months before her fourth child Micah was born.  “The independent school world is very different from public education.  That certification led me to teaching in St. Anne’s Center for Learning and eventually being the Director.” Christiana will likely never stop finding ways to challenge herself.  As I write this tribute, she is one class away from earning a certificate in Instructional Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.  

My wife Merf and I met Christiana and Bino for dinner on June 7, 2026, at Garten in Severna Park, MD.  In a symbolic gesture of my gratitude, I footed the bill for Christiana’s and Bino’s beverages that evening.  That Bino is a first responder gave that gesture of gratitude even more meaning.  A lot of laughter and a great deal of mutual respect abounded among the four of us.  I was especially moved by Bino’s recognition that Christiana has been the reason he has risen through the ranks to become Chief Deputy for Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department.   

Christiana is in her seventeenth year as an educator.  She has returned to part-time status as a Special Education Department Chair at Southern Middle School in Lothian, MD, a school she once attended.  “I’m in a leadership position with teachers and still get to work with students.  For me, it’s the best of both worlds, and the part-time allows me to be more available to my kids.”  As someone who had not planned a career in teaching, the spark that has kept her in the game for those seventeen years is her love for the students and the structure of education that provides new challenges around every corner.  Christiana embraces change, too, which we all know is the one constant in education.

When it comes to technology and its many uses in education today, Christiana is in the camp that believes students’ writing skills are being weakened by too much typing, and they are not internalizing core skills because they are relying too much on various forms of editing software.  Even when cell phone usage is limited, students are still given Chrome Books, which she feels are overused.  AI, the latest and greatest two-edged sword, poses its own set of opportunities and challenges in the classroom.  “The potential downside to any use of technology in education is that it threatens one of the most important predictors in students’ growth and success – strong relationships with their teachers.  While we’re all looking at screens, we’re not interacting with one another, and that goes for the adults, too.”  

Christiana is not comfortable discussing her own accomplishments, and she is particularly quick to give everyone else credit when her students make impressive progress, overcome obstacles, and find success in areas they haven’t before.  I worked with several of her previous students during my one year at St. Anne’s, so I don’t have to rely on Christiana for evidence of her impact.  I heard time and time again from them and their parents how highly they thought of her.  It wasn’t just that her teaching techniques were effective.  It was also that she was “really cool and so funny and just very real.”  She was even described by one seventh grader as being “skibidi,” which I’ve been assured is about the greatest compliment a middle schooler can pay a teacher. When I asked Christiana how she thought her students would describe her, she smiled, then chuckled.  “I think they would describe me as laid back, fun, fair/reasonable and having high expectations for them.”  

When asked to recall a situation that hasn’t gone so well thus far in her teaching career, Christiana remembers a student who had severe dyslexia and a lot of issues outside of school.  She was naïve and not well-trained, so she had no idea what to do with his learning difference or his mood swings.  “He failed, but I felt I was the one who failed.  It weighed on me, so I made sure I kept up with his future schooling.  I saw him recently, and he’s doing well.  I know that, if I worked with that same student today, he would not fail.  It still bugs me that I couldn’t meet his needs early in my career.”  

To teachers new to the profession, Christiana’s number one bit of advice is not to take students’ misbehavior or snarky comments personally.  “Even if it feels like it’s directed at you, the behavior or comment is likely a result of something that has happened at home or with one of their friends.  The teacher is often just the convenient punching bag.”  Christiana suggests that relationship building is critical to a teacher’s joy and success.  “Let your students know you care.  They’ll have off days, and, if you’ve built a mutually respectful relationship, they’ll let you know enough that you can help them rather than be their target.”  

She also offers the following strategy when having to complete the tedious but necessary tasks that are part of education.  “They are important but sooooo time consuming.  Chunk them, make checklists, set timers, whatever it takes.  Then reward yourself for a job well done!”  This is advice she would also give her students who struggle with executive functioning.   

Though she has found great success in education, she still wonders from time to time if she made the right decision.  Bino is the breadwinner and often works long hours.  She loves her students but loves their four children even more.  “I want my children to have the best life possible, and life is expensive.  And would less stress and a better work/life balance be too much to ask?”  She, like just about every other educator on the planet, wishes that education paid more.  Avoiding a leap onto my soap box, I’ll simply reiterate that a gifted educator such as Christiana Harris should never have to question whether she should find something different to do so that her family can make ends meet a bit more easily.   

Christiana’s parents saw something in her that maybe she didn’t quite see in herself early on, and that colleague at Phoenix Academy recognized personality traits and talents in her that maybe she didn’t fully appreciate at the time.  They inspired her to make decisions from which education in general and her students and colleagues specifically have benefited for the past seventeen years.  Though she is reluctant to place that much significance on the difference she has made, those students and colleagues don’t hesitate to voice their opinions.  In my final year in education, I was blessed to call Christiana a colleague, too, and, of course, a friend.  

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