Erma T. Halbert taught in Sidney Central School for thirty-eight years (1946-83) and became the model whom many school principals and supervisors emulated in their continuing search for excellent teachers. Dr. Howard Lynch commented that Erma Halbert was "...a great example of the type of professional educator that parents remember ... and would like to have teach their children:"
One of Mrs. Halbert's principals said that in evaluating her performance he could never come up with a suggestion for improvement because what she was doing -was always special.
Erma graduated from Brushton High School in 1938 and Potsdam State College in 1942. She taught in the Mohawk Valley Central School District for three years and then moved to Sidney for a long and distinguished career. During her early years teaching in Sidney she earned her Master of Science Degree from Cornell University.
She taught Science and Biology in both junior and senior high schools and became Chairman of the Science Department in the High School. In 1977 she was named Teacher of the Year by the Sidney Teacher's Association. She was an advisor" to many students and mentor to many young teachers. She was respected throughout the state and served on a committee to develop the Regents Exam in Biology."
She served for eleven years on the United Way committee-sponsored Girl Scout Day Camp, was a member of the Town Recreation Committee and of the Community Chest. One of the many accolades she has received is from a student who said, "I see myself attempting to emulate the dignity that she commanded and the respect she earned from those she worked with, both faculty and students."