By HEIDI KNAKE
UNK Online
MULLEN – Sarah Hardin knows firsthand that there’s more than one path to becoming an exceptional teacher.
A nontraditional educator who once envisioned a career far from the classroom, the Mullen Public Schools science teacher was recently recognized as the 2026 Teacher of the Year by the Nebraska Department of Education – proving that alternative routes to teaching can lead to extraordinary impact.
Hardin is the second completer of the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s Transitional Certification Program to earn the state’s highest teaching honor – an achievement she never imagined when she first graduated from UNK with a bachelor’s degree in biology in 2003.
“I never thought I would teach,” she said. “In fact, that was probably the farthest thing from what I thought I would do.”
When Opportunity Knocks
At the time, her goal was to become a park ranger. But after she and her husband, also a UNK biology graduate, moved to western Nebraska, opportunities in the science field were limited. Hardin took a job at a local bank, where she eventually worked her way up to an officer position.
Despite her professional success, something was missing. Then, one Sunday afternoon, opportunity quite literally came knocking.
The superintendent of Mullen Public Schools, who lived across the street, stopped by to talk about an opening to teach science. He had heard Hardin’s husband had a biology degree from UNK. When her husband declined, he suggested his wife.
After meeting with the superintendent and the outgoing science teacher, Hardin learned about UNK’s Transitional Certification Program, which would allow her to begin teaching immediately while earning her certification fully online.
“I was doing very well at the bank, but it wasn’t fulfilling,” Hardin said. “I’ve always loved science and working with kids. I finally realized maybe this is my fit.”
She stepped into her first classroom in 2007 with a goal of making science engaging and fun for students of all ages.
Along with her colleagues, she helped create an after-school STEM club for elementary students that draws 20 to 30 participants each month. Every spring, the group hosts a family science night, transforming the school gym into a hands-on learning space with activity stations that often attract nearly 50 students and their families.
For her high school students, learning extends far beyond the classroom walls. Hardin has led multiple summer science trips to Florida, where students explore aquatic ecosystems through snorkeling, kayaking and dolphin observation. This summer, she’s taking 11 students to Alaska.
“There are a lot of kids who go with me who have never flown. They’ve hardly been out of Nebraska,” she said. “The cultural experience is just as important as the science experience.”
Sharing Her Story
Nearly two decades after she began teaching, Hardin was named Nebraska Teacher of the Year – a moment that still feels surreal.
“That’s wild,” she said. “How did that happen?”
She credits her success to a love of learning, strong mentors and the nontraditional path that brought her to the classroom.
“Because I wasn’t a traditional teacher, I always thought, ‘I could take another class, I could learn more,’” she explained.
That mindset led her back to UNK, where she earned a master’s degree in biology. While many Transitional Certification Program completers pursue a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, Hardin chose to deepen her science expertise so she could offer dual-credit courses to her students.
“I wouldn’t be the teacher I am today without that leap of faith, or the opportunity UNK gave me to make it happen,” she said.
As Nebraska Teacher of the Year, Hardin plans to use her platform to advocate for alternative pathways into the profession. Throughout the year, she’ll travel across the state leading professional development workshops, including one titled “Nontraditional Paths to Teaching,” where she hopes her story will encourage others to consider options like UNK’s Transitional Certification Program.
Within her own district, Hardin has already seen paraprofessionals complete alternative certification programs and become full-time teachers – a trend she believes contributes to the district’s low turnover rates.
Her experience in Mullen offers a glimpse at how alternative pathways could help address a growing statewide shortage. During the 2024-25 school year, Nebraska reported more than 650 unfilled teaching positions.
With her new role and a passion for helping people find their place in education, Hardin believes alternative certification programs can help fill classrooms with qualified, committed educators – and ensure students don’t miss out on meaningful learning opportunities.
“There’s a misconception that nontraditional teachers can’t be as good in the classroom,” Hardin said. “That’s completely false.”
She’s proof of that.