Hi! I’m Anna Hazzard and I am the Media Assistant at Liberty Elementary. My family and I have lived in Big Lake for 16 years and my two boys attend our Big Lake schools. I was very surprised to be named a Face of Big Lake! We have so many fantastic people in our community and I was honored to be selected. I love being a part of this community and love my role working with our youth in the schools. Each day I am able to work with fantastic kids, teachers, and school staff plus I get to use my creative talents in our library to make reading and learning exciting for our students. You may see me and our dog, Fritz, out walking so please stop and say hello!
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My husband, Mark, and I have been together 18 years. Mark is an airline pilot. We have 2 boys – Gavin is 15 years old and in 10th grade and Weston is 13 years old and in 7th grade. We have a great Wired Hair German Pointer. I also have one brother, Joe, and my parents.
Q: How long have you lived and/or worked in Big Lake?
We moved to Big Lake in 2006. I lived in and graduated from Elk River High School and Mark grew up all over.
Q: Tell us about your current, past, or future career.
After high school I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. I ended up taking a job as a flight attendant and it was one of the best experiences of my life! It was fun, fast-paced, always different, crazy at times, and I met a lot of interesting people including my love, Mark! From there life took over! Mark and I started our family and I was a stay-at-home while the boys were little. Once both boys were in school I started a position at Liberty Elementary in the office. I also worked briefly in the Big Lake Middle School office before taking the Media Assistant position at Liberty. This is my fourth year in the Liberty Elementary library and I absolutely LOVE it! I have a unique position in that I get to see every student in our school! Every classroom at Liberty visits the library weekly to select and check out books to bring home! Aside from checking out books we also do monthly activities that go along with our current library theme! Our amazing principal, Caryl Gordy, has given me full creative reign to transform our library into various different themes every month or two. Some examples of themes we have done are The Polar Express, Back to School with the Characters We Love – dance party, Gingerbread, I Love to Read, Camp Out, and Rev Up with a Good Book – race car. When I started this my ultimate goal was to shake things up and to help foster the love of reading /imagination for our youngest learners…and to have FUN of course! It has been such a success! I really have the best gig EVER. I get to work closely with our amazing students and staff AND get to be creative! It checks all of the boxes for me!
Q: Have you ever had a nickname? What is it and why were you given it?
My students call me Miss Anna.
Q: What is your favorite TV Show, Movie, Book? (Please list as many as you’d like!)
TV shows – Yellowstone/Shameless/Standup comedy specials/Shark Tank, Movies – A League of Their Own/Nothing to Lose/Cry Baby, Books -Amelia Bedelia books by Peggy Parish,
Q: If you could only eat one food/meal and have one beverage for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Pizza and Chips n Queso and Witching Hour red wine
Q: What are some of your favorite hobbies or pastimes?
I love boating on Big Lake, gardening, decorating, and walking with Fritz. We also love watching our boys in their various sports – wrestling, baseball, and football.
Q: What is one thing on your bucket list?
I have always wanted to decorate the White House during the holidays. And I would love to take a tropical vacation.
Q: What would you buy/do if you won the lottery?
A new fancy wakeboard boat and travel. I’d love to be able to help/ treat my family and friends!
Q: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Not to overthink everything/be more confident and… to have curly hair .
Q: Who has been a hero in your life?
I have had a lot of amazing teachers in my life! Mr. Giles -5th and 6th grade, Mr. Loso – art, Mrs. Sonja Weiler – business/DECA, and Mrs. Barb Larson – drama/Lip Syncs. These teachers helped pull out the best in me and helped me to create memories I talk about to this day!
Q: What is something even your family and friends may not know about you?
I have always had a dream to be on SNL -Saturday Night Live – as a cast member! When I was younger, maybe 5th or 6th grade, my good friend and I would create characters/ skits. We even performed one of our skits live at the Elk River County Fair. We were dressed as old, retired Broadway performers from Brooklyn, NY – accents and all. Our names were Bevy n’ Rosy – after my grandma and great-grandma!
Q: What is your proudest accomplishment?
Being a mom. I have two great boys!
Q: What are a few of your favorite businesses / restaurants in Big Lake?
P.S. I Love You Occasionally, Cocoa Maas, Lupulin Brewing, Wing Night at Trails, and McPete’s. I’m also looking forward to summer at Willy’s on the Water.
Q: What is one of your favorite things about Big Lake?
I love the lakes and the parks.
Q: What advice would you give to people living in Big Lake?
Get involved. If you can be involved in the schools, do it. You will meet great people and will be able to support our youth.
Q: Who is an interesting person in our community that you’ve met and deserves to be included in The Faces of Big Lake project?
Nicole Spangler and Gwen Toppe
