Hilary Sperber is ready to retire after serving as a band and orchestra teacher in the Hicksville School District for 35 years.
She made her mark in the music department at Dutch Lane, East Street and Fork Lane Elementary School, her longest tenure. She got her start as a music teacher in 1977, where she began as a side teacher per-diem. In September 1983, Sperber officially joined the full-time ranks. She ran the band and orchestra programs, starting in 1993.
Sperber has had many fond memories of her time as the band director. She recalls her eighth-grade class in 1988 at Hicksville Middle School as the most interesting.
Sperber will miss the joy of teaching children who want to learn about playing an instrument. She believes there is a lot involved with learning the ropes of being a great musician and takes this as a “look at what I can do” approach towards helping kids hone their skills as they continue to grow and become better musicians.
“I will miss the glory of watching them have success while playing the instrument” said Sperber. “It is about the success of finding the right instrument.”
Sperber has plenty to look forward to in the next stage of life. She plans to continue with her outside musical program, the Atlantic Wind Symphony, and as the program director for the Long Island Brass Guild. Sperber would like to go to Europe—particularly London and Italy.
Although she is done teaching full-time, she plans to be involved in the school music area. She wants to go back to teaching at per diem as a substitute teacher at Dutch Lane. “I want to go back to where I started” said Sperber. “I want to be able to give back to my colleagues.”
Her words of wisdom are to never to give up.
“If it is in your heart, you do it” she stated. “If this is what you desire, you pursue it.”
