Siebert retiring after storied career as math educator

Wanda Siebert will be retiring from her position as math department chair and teacher after 35 years of passionate service to the students and community of Hope. To say her absence at Hauser will leave “big shoes to fill” would be quite the understatement.

Siebert came to Hauser as a professional educator at the beginning of the 1985-86 academic year. She will be retiring at the conclusion of this school year.

Looking back, there is very little to nothing Siebert said she would change about her experience of being at only one school for the duration of her career.

“There are not many (teachers) that get to spend their entire career at one place – that’s been a real blessing,” said Siebert – a Batesville H.S. graduate. “I’ve been offered teaching jobs at other schools but always decided to stay at Hauser. I have no regrets…I’ve always felt a strong calling to be here.”

As a former colleague of Siebert’s for 15 years, I witnessed – on a daily basis – the energy, enthusiasm, expertise and dedication to students she brought to the profession. On a recent visit back to Hauser, I had a chance to chat with five of Siebert’s current students (Seniors Leah Joyce and Chloe Kennedy; and juniors Forest Steele, Addison Jones, Tamara Essex). Following that discussion, it was rather obvious nothing has changed in the 13 years I have been gone. The many adjectives they used to describe Siebert have certainly withstood the test of time -- calm, positive, understanding, available, patient, knowledgeable. 

“Mrs. Siebert is very organized and efficient,” said one of the students. “She always has things planned out. There is a level of routine and predictability that makes it so much easier to learn.”

Another example of Siebert’s philosophy of putting the interests of kids first on her priority scale is the number of recommendations she has completed over the years and her willingness to nominate around 30 Hauser students for the Outstanding Senior Awards published by The Republic.

“Part of relationship building is recognizing the good stuff that students do…,” Siebert said. “That’s why I send so many postcards home to students, nominate them for awards and put stickers on their tests.”

Siebert’s “above-and-beyond” efforts to best serve the needs of her students over the years have not gone unnoticed. She is quite the decorated teacher. Her wide variety of acknowledgements over the years include being selected as Flat Rock – Hawcreek Teacher of the Year on three occasions, was the county’s Edna Folger Outstanding Teacher Award winner (1998), received an Indiana State University Outstanding Teacher Award (2000), was an Indy Star Academic All-Star Teacher (2005) and earned Ball State University Teachers’ College Outstanding Alumnus recognition (2010).

Siebert – who earned her master’s degree from Indiana University – has lots of favorite memories. Whether it be calculus exam study parties, traveling to Europe with students, statistics poster projects with elementary students, spending extra time with students before and after school, Academic Excellence banquets, having her two daughters (Jennifer and Michelle) and their friends as students, SADD puppet shows, Senior Banquets, graduations…all produce significant feelings of self-satisfaction for Siebert.

One of the accomplishments Siebert is most proud of includes being a dual-credit instructor. Thanks in large part to Siebert’s leadership, Hauser became one of the first schools involved with Indiana University’s Advance College Project.

As Hauser’s Math Department Chair for the past 33 years, Siebert has worked hard to make it possible for current students to earn up to 13 college math credits (for free) during high school. Siebert – along with math colleague Jeanne Gordon – has also chaired Hauser’s Academic Banquet for the last 5 years.

“I really enjoy the opportunity to be creative and to recognize some of Hauser’s hardest-working students,” stated a proud Siebert.

Siebert – who has taught every high school math class offered at Hauser except for traditional geometry – claims there are many things that kept her in Hope for her entire career. Of those things, however, she is quick to point out one stands out above the others.

“The people and relationships you build…,” Siebert said. “Because of the small size, it’s easier to build relationships with students and peers. When I interviewed with Glen Keller, Butch Jordan was the first person he introduced me to. He became a second father to me. Janeen Blomenberg and I worked on a million projects together. Mike Brock and Jim McKinney also left lasting impressions on me.”

Siebert said it is still to be determined what she will do with her “extra” time at the conclusion of this school year.  Her list of planned activities will include spending more time with her husband Dave and her family, sleeping more, reading more, crocheting more, traveling more, perhaps even watching a little more TV.

It’s also no surprise that the possibility of teaching didn’t disappear from that list.

“Perhaps I’ll teach online college courses,” Siebert responded. Here’s betting that teaching/the world of education – in some way, shape or form – makes its way to that list of retirement activities for Siebert sometime sooner than later.