Meads retiring; Jennifer Mead hopes to substitute teach

SIDNEY -- David and Jennifer Mead have announced their retirement from music education.

They have been teaching a total of 33 years.

"We started in Hyannis, Neb., in 1992, and then we came to Sidney in 1996, so we've been here for 29 years," he said.

Following their career as a couple is almost like a storybook.

"Well, we met in college. We were both music majors; got married and got our first job in Hyannis, stayed there for four years," Jennifer Mead said.

David's story is a little more about following the road as a young man, but never losing his passion for music.

"I kind of traveled around after high school, but I've always had a love for, especially vocal music. I graduated from Gering in 1981, and then, like I said, I just traveled around, went to different parts of the United States and lived until I ran out of money and then I would move somewhere else," he said.

They met in college when Jennifer was a sophomore. They were married in four months.

"Music was the vehicle I used to teach. Teaching was always one of those things I wanted to do," she said.

He said music has been a passion since his early years.

"I had a terrific middle school music director when I lived in Minnesota, and my dad had a wonderful baritone voice. So, he was always singing around the house and singing in church. So I just grew up with a love of music. That was fostered in education through my middle school choir director. It was just kind of something that I knew that I wanted to do," he said.

He said he wanted to be involved in music, and education presented an opportunity that lasted more than three decades. 

They have a history of high scores at music contests, an history that encourages excellence. They see their successes as a combination of passionate students and encouraging a passion for music.

He said retirement will include more time with family and enjoying the role of grandparents. She hopes to continue teaching as a substitute.