Harbor Light Academy faculty

 Harbor Light Academy is proud to announce the addition of Lina Edwards to its teaching faculty, bringing with her nearly two decades of experience in both public and private school education.
Throughout her career, Lina has demonstrated a deep commitment to educating the whole child, academically, socially, and emotionally. Guided by the belief that “educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all,” she strives to cultivate not only knowledge, but also character, confidence, and compassion in every student she teaches. Lina has worked with diverse learners across a wide range of educational settings. She began her teaching career in Fairfax County before continuing her work in Virginia Beach City Schools and Isle of Wight County. Her experience also includes teaching GED programs for young adult learners in Suffolk and Isle of Wight County, reflecting her passion for supporting students at all stages of life.

Lina is a graduate of Virginia Tech, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education. For the past decade, she has served at Trinity Lutheran School, where she taught fourth grade students before transitioning to her role as a middle school educator, teaching grades 6 through 8. Guided by her faith, she believes that by nurturing curiosity and wonder in learners of all ages, students can discover their own strengths and passions. Lina strives to create an engaging classroom environment rooted in trust, allowing each learner to take risks, explore ideas, and realize their full potential.

Lina has been a longtime resident of Smithfield, where she has lived for 40 years with her husband, Mark. Together, they raised their three children, Carly, Tyler, and Will and she is now a proud grandmother (“Mimi”) to Marshall, Annie, and Austin. She also enjoys spending time with her two dogs, Maggie and Frankie.

Harbor Light Academy is excited to welcome Lina and we look forward to the positive impact she will bring to our school community.