Recipient of the 2021 Green Apple Teaching Award, Michigan State University College of Engineering
Lindsay (Maddix) Hartley graduated with honors from the College of Engineering at Michigan State University with a dual degree in mechanical engineering and applied engineering sciences in 1999.
She began her education at MSU in Lyman Briggs College and switched to the College of Engineering after her sophomore year. While at MSU, she was a member of the Michigan State Cheerleading team from 1995-1998 and was fortunate to be able to travel to several football bowl games and a final four tournament.
Hartley worked in the Biomechanics Lab for Dr. Robert Soutas-Little and his wife, Patricia. It was through the lab that she met her husband, Thomas Hartley, Jr. He received bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering at MSU and was a member of the MSU baseball team from 1995-1999.
After graduation, she worked for Chrysler in Auburn Hills, Michigan, from 1999-2008, focusing on automotive safety. Hartley released restraint systems and conducted vehicle crash testing. From 1999-2001, she attended Oakland University and earned a master's degree in mechanical engineering.
From 2000-2002, Hartley was the cheerleading coach at Troy High School. It was during this time she realized her passion for working with high school students. In 2004, she earned a teaching certification in physics and mathematics from Oakland University as part of a post-bachelor's program. She completed a master's degree in education in 2009 from Oakland University.
Hartley started teaching physics and math at Walled Lake Central High School in 2008. In 2016, her mentor, Judy Davis retired. Since that time, Hartley has solely taught physics, including calculus-based AP Physics.
Hartley's engineering background has allowed her to introduce real world application into the classroom and encourage students to look beyond the curriculum to see value in what they are learning.
She subscribes to "modeling" teaching methods, encouraging students to be scientists. In her honors physics class, students develop physics equations through observation and experimentation. Her goal is for students to be critical thinkers who can break down and work through difficult problems.
"I have often said that being able to struggle through a difficult problem is proof of learning ability. We all fail at times, by my goal for my students is to get back up, persevere, and learn from mistakes that were made. This is true in both academics and in life.
"It is this philosophy that has gotten me through the past year of teaching during a pandemic. This has been a year that none of us will ever forget. My colleagues and I have had to think outside the box and try new things. Some things have worked, and some haven't. But through this process, we have found ways to move forward. Reaching beyond one's comfort zone and taking risks is where real growth stems from. I am thankful for what I have gained throughout this process. I have been introduced to new technology, new teaching methods, and most importantly I have found new ways to connect and reach students."
She and her husband, Tom, are avid Spartan fans. They have been married 20 years and have three children and a recently adopted kitten. Her oldest daughter, Cara, is a junior at West Bloomfield High School. She enjoys art, volleyball, and softball. Their son, Craig, is an 8th grader at West Bloomfield Middle School, who enjoys hockey, snowboarding, skateboarding, and gaming. Their youngest daughter, Kelsey is a 7th grader at West Bloomfield Middle School. She enjoys music, dance, and volleyball.