Mrs. Hardy retires after 48 years of service
ANSELMO - Sandra Hardy has resided in Anselmo her entire life. She attended kindergarten through ninth grade at Anselmo Public School where she was taught by her mother, Lucile Smets, in seventh and eighth grade. Sandra’s mother taught for fifty years between Anselmo and Merna Public Schools. That is what peaked Sandra’s interest in making teaching her career.
Sandra graduated from Merna Public School before the Anselmo-Merna merger occurred and then attended and graduated from Kearney State College. Upon graduating, Anselmo-Merna had an opening for a high school math teacher. She applied and was hired on in 1967.
After 48 years of teaching at Anselmo-Merna Public School, Sandra, or Mrs. Hardy as most of you probably know her, has decided to retire. “I am old enough, it’s time,” said Sandra. If you are wondering why the math does not add up, Sandra took one year off of teaching when her first child was born and another four years when her second child was born. If she would have taught straight through, Sandra would be retiring with 53 years under her belt instead.
Sandra stated that she would have never thought her last year of teaching would end during a pandemic where she had to learn a lot of different things like zoom and teaching the kids while at home.
Sandra had the privilege of teaching her two children when they were in eighth and ninth grade just like she was taught by her mother for two years. She said that teaching her own children went well. They always called her mom instead of Mrs. Hardy.
Sandra’s son, HJ Hardy, teaches school in Omaha and her daughter, Allie Smith, is a city clerk in Brady. Sandra has two grandchildren that live in Gretna and one that lives in Gothenburg. She will continue to enjoy going to all the school activities even though she is retired now. She will also have the opportunity to attend more of her grandchildren’s activities in Gretna and Gothenburg.
During her teaching career, Sandra stated that some of her most memorable moments and what she probably enjoyed the most over the years was sponsoring the Quiz Bowl team and Chadron Scholastic team. One of her most rewarding aspects of being a teacher over the years has been seeing the students being able to achieve what they are capable of.
Over the years Sandra has had the opportunity to teach three generations to many of the families in the Anselmo and Merna area. I am sure Sandra’s 48 years of service in the Anselmo-Merna Public School system has been greatly appreciated and will definitely be missed when the bell rings this fall.