Sharon Steckman is a longtime resident of Mason City. She was born in Chicago, Ill., and grew up in Arizona, Colo., and Nebraska. As an adult, before choosing to settle in Mason City, she lived in Ithaca, New York; Detroit and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Mason City has been her home since 1976, and it’s where she raised her two boys, Jon and Matthew Pete. Sharon’s involvement and support in her children’s community activities was always paramount, and she served on the board of the Mason City Swim Club and the Mason City Youth Hockey Association.

While involved in those activities, Sharon decided to finish the degree she had started at Kearney State College in Kearney, Neb., so she began a two-year, three-day a week commute to Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. She graduated with honors and was the first in the education department at ISU to student teach in Mason City. She achieved this by working out an agreement with ISU and the University of Northern Iowa.

In 1980, Sharon began working for the Mason City Community School District, teaching second grade, fourth grade and fifth grade and working as a Title I reading specialist. While teaching for the Mason City School District, she went on to earn her master’s degree in education from Morningside College.

Sharon has always enjoyed challenges. She spent a summer in Yellowstone Park working for the park service. She also accepted a teaching assignment overseas in Portugal, working with children from 19 different countries, speaking almost as many languages. She was a RAGBRAI participant for six years. Also, for 5 ½ years, she and her husband, Alan, raised their granddaughter, Rachel Steckman.

The challenges Sharon enjoys the most are bringing people together, listening and solving problems. While living in Cedar Rapids, she was a member of the Marion Planning and Zoning Commission. While a member of the Mason City Education Association, she served as president and later served six years as chief negotiator. Since retiring from the Mason City School District, Sharon is looking forward to the challenge of representing Mason City, helping it prosper and grow, and looks forward to being a part of that process.

Sharon and Alan, her husband of 14 years, have four children: Jon, Matthew, Pete and Lisa (Aaron). They have nine grandchildren. She is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and helps with the Trinity God Squad. In her spare time, Sharon enjoys golfing, gardening, hiking and traveling.