PR School Board to Honor Retirees

The Pine-Richland School Board is honoring Teacher Billie Hollenbaugh, who is retiring from Pine-Richland after 17 years. She began her career when Pine-Richland was known as the Babcock School District. She has taught at Washington Elementary, Hance Elementary, the middle school and most recently at Wexford Elementary.

She will be honored at the board meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. along with cafeteria employee Donna Owen.

During her time here, Billie was able to complete a masters of music education at Duquesne University. Billie earned a PROF grant to begin a recorder program district wide for third through fifth graders and a guitar program at Wexford.

Billie says some highlights of her career include: having students help celebrate at the upper elementary school groundbreaking ceremony with original song and directing the district wide “Music Makers Finale”.

Recently, Wexford Principal Dr. Yvonne Hawkins, the PTO, the staff and students honored Billie at their Holiday Sing-Along.

Billie was nominated in 2005 and 2006 for a Teacher Excellence Center Award. Her nominator writes...“Billie Hollenbaugh is a dedicated and innovative educator. She is deeply passionate about what she does and her students just adore her.”

Billie reminds us that “Music lasts a lifetime and that you should never tell your child he or she cannot sing.  Everyone can sing if they only listen to themselves!" 

We will miss Billie as she retires to enjoy time with her family!

The board is also honoring Donna Owen, who also is retiring from her position as a cafeteria employee after 17 years with Pine-Richland.

Most recently, she took great care in preparing and caring for the salad bar daily. Food Services Director Cherry Cerminara says she will be greatly missed.

She took pride in making sure things were just right for students at lunch time each day.

Donna will be quite busy in retirement, for she will be caring for her new grandson.