Bethanie (Hiebel) Fink - Class of 1989
Bethanie (Hiebel) Fink, class of 1989, has always seen mathematics as a unique way to understand the order and beauty of God's creation. Today, she is back in the classroom, serving as a Mathematics Teacher at Bishop Ludden-Grimes Jr/Sr High School, where she teaches Math for 7th and 8th grade, Algebra 1 Honors, and Financial Algebra.
Returning to a Catholic school where her journey began, Bethanie’s career has come full circle since graduating from Newark Catholic in 1989. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Secondary Mathematics Education from Miami University and began her career teaching Algebra and Geometry and coaching softball at Newark High School. In 1998, she and her husband, Thad (‘90), moved to central Florida, where she continued teaching mathematics in both public high school and a homeschool co-op. Her journey eventually brought her to Central New York, where she taught mathematics and guided students through Science Olympiad competitions. In 2020, she earned her Master’s in Adolescent Mathematics Education from SUNY Brockport. Her current favorite topic to teach, Financial Algebra, explores the real-world applications of math for her students through a financial lens, where students learn to become stewards of the treasures God has provided.
In her classroom, she views teaching at a Catholic school as an opportunity to cultivate both the mind and the soul. "Math teaches us how to solve complex problems and think logically," Bethanie says, "But doing so in a Catholic environment allows us to remember that our intellectual gifts are meant to serve others." She strives to help students see mathematics not only as a subject to master, but as a tool for understanding the world, solving problems, and using their gifts to make a positive difference.
Beyond her daily math lessons, Bethanie moderates the school’s Ski Club, assists with the math league team, volunteers as liaison to a parent group, and coordinates “sunshine” for the faculty and staff at Bishop Luden-Grimes. In her home parish she serves as a lector for mass. She and her husband have 4 children; one in the military, one in the workforce (both college graduates), and two currently in college.
