Teachers retire with more than 160 years of experience

As the school year comes to an end, the graduating seniors aren't the only ones who are starting a new chapter outside of Sidney High School.

Sidney High School's Jane Holechek, Tim Smith, Brent Joyce and Burl Janzen will be retiring after their more than 160 years of teaching experience. On Tuesday afternoon, students, teachers and faculty members thanked and shared memories with the long-time teachers.

Smith, who teaches American Government and History, has been teaching in Sidney for 42 years and teaching at Sidney High for 24 years. According to Smith, his greatest memory at the school has been being able to teach his own kids and watching their successes.

Holechek has been a Sidney faculty member for 36 of her 42 years as a teacher.

"My plans are to just go where life takes me," Holechek said. "I think that will include playing more golf, attending more Denver Broncos games and doing some traveling."

She said there are too many wonderful memories to share, but one of her greatest accomplishments teaching was being able to teach dual credit courses through Nebraska Wesleyan University.

"This allowed me to challenge students and myself in ways we might not have been challenged before," she said.

After 42 years of teaching in Sidney, English and Reading teacher Joyce and his wife will be moving to Lincoln, Neb., this summer.

"We plan on traveling and spending more time with family and friends," Joyce said. "The things I will always remember (teaching at Sidney High) are the many friendships developed with the staff and administration and all of the great students I have taught and coached over the past 40 plus years."

Janzen began teaching Algebra classes at Sidney High in 2007. According to his school teaching profile, he enjoys being able to see former students that are now adults because it's satisfying to see how they have built new lives and families of their own.

Although they are parting ways with Sidney High, the memories and lasting impacts made on their former students will always remain when looking back on those four years of high school.