Centerville elementary teacher retires after 4 decades

One school district’s loss was another district’s gain for 40-plus years.

Beth (Short) Reagan initially was a student teacher at Centerville-Abington Community Schools. She graduated from Ball State University after winter quarter in 1982.

After substitute teaching for a semester, she was offered a sixth-grade classroom at Western Wayne Schools. Although she recalls loving the time she spent with her first class, Reagan was laid off at the end of the 1982-83 school year.

Centerville-Abington Community Schools offered her a position that summer, and she’s stayed with the district until her recent retirement.

Board members recognized Reagan for her contributions to Centerville-Abington Elementary at their June 4 meeting.

Reagan says her love of learning and school began at her own elementary building in Economy, and consolidation led to finishing her schooling in Hagerstown.

While at HHS, serving as a cadet teacher for her own first grade teacher helped determine her life’s path.

Early in her career, Reagan completed her master’s degree at Ball State. She eventually earned an endorsement in gifted education at the Muncie university as she became passionate about the needs of higher ability students.

Reagan and her partner teacher, Paula Hollenberg, were instrumental in creating the school’s first high-ability programming for fifth and sixth graders.

Reagan said she’s leaving with her love for education still intact, and she remains thankful for her time at CACS. Reagan, who’s now a grandmother of four, said she’ll miss students and colleagues but felt the timing was right to depart.

Reagan told the board she feels “very blessed to have been part of the best vocation in the world with the best staff in the world and the best school system in the world.”

She plans to pursue travel while continuing to work part-time at Willie & Red’s in Hagerstown. Some of her longtime interests include cross stitch, reading, gardening and service to her church.