Columbus High School is saying its goodbyes to a few teachers this year including the beloved Mrs. Sharon Hartman. 

Hartman has been teaching longer than any high school student has been alive - a whopping 28 years. After teaching across the country in towns such as Cook, NE, Spring Branch outside of Houston, TX and a Junior High in a suburb of Indianapolis, Hartman has spent the last 22 years at Columbus Public Schools. 

As surprising as it may seem, being a full-time English teacher was not the original plan. Hartman started out subbing for the district. When the high school had a part-time English teaching position for just one year, Hartman took the job under the impression she would go back to subbing when the year was through. However, that one year turned into a decade moving from class to class each period as there was no full-time classroom available. Eventually, Hartman found a home in room 2214 at what is now Columbus Middle School, only moving once more to her present digs H201 when the high school moved to its current location.

When you’ve been teaching for as long as Hartman has, you’re bound to have some fun. Hartman boasts two particular memories she found especially enjoyable during her career.  

“My first year of teaching was at a very small district.  In addition to English and German classes, I ‘got’ to teach a 9-week art course (4 times) for 7th and 8th grade.  I had had no art in high school and just 1 year of an art class -intro to art- in college.  Since I needed the job, I accepted - and then had a ‘Help me!’ visit with my high school English teacher who also taught art.  She mapped out a 9-week course that even a dummy like me could teach.”

Hartman’s other crazy memory actually found her in a less-than-normal student’s chair. “Mrs. Kwapnioski talked me into getting a master’s degree in a then new-fangled learning community format Wayne State was offering.  It was not a sit-down-listen-take-notes structure, and I knew it would be way out of my comfort zone.  She, Mrs. Wallin, Mrs. Smith, and 5 others from Columbus Public Schools spent a weekend each month for two years at class.  The carpool discussions were the best part.”

When asked her favorite thing about teaching and the highlight of her career she responded, “I’ve had the blessing of working with master teachers and the privilege of teaching a wonderful variety of students.”

Hartman adds, “I don't go to ‘work;’ I go to school. Other than the hours I spend grading essays, it’s a job I love. I will miss it--and my dear colleagues-- but I will also enjoy getting to see my grandchildren more.” 

All in all, this journalist is especially going to miss Mrs. Hartman’s absolute love of English, vocabulary, and her enjoyable attitude towards what can be an extremely difficult subject for some students.  This school is not only going to miss its go-to authority for grammar usage and mechanics, but it will miss a caring and compassionate educator.  

We at Anchor News salute Mrs. Hartman on all her career accomplishments and wish her a long and happy retirement.

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