Darlington’s Hassler: A cadence of service all her own
One of the most obvious characteristics of Darlington County School District’s Board Chair Wanda Hassler is how impeccably she presents herself. Always polished and dress-right-dress, she embodies a quiet confidence not born of pomp and circumstance but more a walking, talking presence of grace and discipline.
The discipline traces back to her five years of active-duty service as a captain in the U.S. Air Force after graduating from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill’s School of Nursing. Hassler’s military job or Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) was 9756 (clinical nurse), serving in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Wilford Hall Medical Center on Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
“Active-duty and retired personnel from all over the world could be AeroVac’ed there for treatment, which exposed me to a wide range of complex medical cases,” said Hassler. “I was also trained as a flight registered nurse (RN). My civilian nursing education directly influenced my military role and gave me opportunities for leadership and specialized training that I would not have experienced otherwise.”
Hassler said her passion for service was modeled by her parents and grandparents who deemed it as more a commandment than a suggestion.
“(Service) and sharing our blessings was not optional. It was a civic responsibility,” Hassler said. “One of the verses that has guided my life is Luke 12:48: ‘To whom much is given, much will be required.’ That sense of responsibility has shaped my approach to every role I have held, and I hope that example will continue through my children and future generations of our family.”
When Hassler’s husband, Terry, completed his military service following a tour with Operation Desert Storm, the couple decided to settle close to her hometown of Rockingham, N.C. They settled in Hartsville, S.C., approximately one hour away.
“Hartsville was the first place we visited together, and it immediately felt right,” she said. “It offered proximity to my parents, a growing medical community and the kind of environment where we believed we could raise a family.”
While Terry built his medical practice, Hartsville Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Hassler worked to master her work as a stay-at-home mom.
“As they entered school, my role naturally evolved into volunteer service,” said Hassler.
She was Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) president, helped establish the Carolina Elementary School Education Foundation, and co-chaired the successful 2003 Darlington County School District bond referendum. She also helped guide the district through major capital improvements in the 2016 bond referendum. She attributes the success of both to trust being built within the community.
“Every project was centered on optimizing student achievement and providing safe, effective learning environments,” she said.
And, some 35 years later, as grounded as the roots of a tree planted by the river, the Hasslers remain convinced they made the right decision to make Hartsville their home. Their four children are all products of Darlington County School District and now live and work in Washington, D.C., Iceland, Atlanta and Montana.
Education and service were deeply rooted in Hassler’s upbringing. Her father served as a principal for more than 30 years, instilling in her an appreciation for the transformative power of public education.
“My father dropped out of school in seventh grade to help out on the family farm after the death of his father,” Hassler said. “Through determination and with encouragement of mentors who recognized his potential, he ultimately earned his Ph.D. from Duke University.”
History showed her firsthand how education can transform a life, she said. Just as others had invested in her father’s success, he was able to create opportunities for them which would not have been possible otherwise. That’s why when the opportunity arose to serve on the school board, Hassler said her family fully supported her decision. Along with her family, Hassler said Dr. Allen McCutchen who once held the seat she now holds, was a wonderful inspiration, calling him a pioneering educator.
“He was a fair, thoughtful and measured leader who never sought the spotlight,” said Hassler. “He simply focused on fulfilling his responsibilities with integrity.”
As for the immediate future, Hassler is preparing for yet another referendum to be held November.
“We were transparent about facility needs and used a regularly updated facilities study to prioritize projects (in the first two),” she said. “We have continued that same approach through community listening sessions, taking public feedback seriously and have modified plans based on what we heard.”
It is Hassler’s belief people are far more willing to support a plan when they feel included in the process and when leaders are honest about both the needs and the costs.
“Even as board chair, I remain one of eight members and my vote carries no more or less weight than anyone else’s,” she said concerning collaboration.
More than any building project though, Hassler said she hopes her legacy will be she genuinely cared about the students of Darlington County and about the future they built for themselves while they were in Darlington County schools.
