Gertrude Darkin Madison Hinton was a teacher in the Hillsborough School District from 1948-1969. During her 21 years of service, she taught at 8th grade at South School and was part of the original Crocker staff in 1959. While at Crocker she was the faculty advisor for the hospitality commission, was on the committee that brought the Family Life Education curriculum to the district, and she ran Crocker graduation ceremony. She is remembered by her students as being a tough but excellent teacher and was highly respected by all. Her former students state that she was, "unarguably one of the finest teachers in the Hillsborough School system" and "she was inspiring, very well respected, and each student did their best for her."

She began her teaching in New Jersey in 1915 where she taught 8th grade and ballroom dancing. She moved to Northern California and graduated from Stanford University. In 1948 she received her masters from Stanford, her masters thesis was titled "Postwar developments in the teaching of English usage." 

According to a San Mateo Times article from February 12, 1959, Gertrude Hinton was slated to serve as the summer school director in June of that same year. The focus of the summer school was for advancement for the rising 5th through 8th graders. Crocker opened to students in January of 1959, and the first class graduated that June.  

The summer session was deemed a success in the August 14, 1959 report from The San Mateo Times. The over 200 students took field trips for science learning, had guests speakers, and demanded more when the session was over. 

In her last year of service in HCSD, the Crocker students dedicated the yearbook in honor of Mrs. Gertrude Hinton.