Community Honors a Retiring Teacher

It’s been 30 years since a partnership between kindergartners at Roseville Elementary and the village started a program.

There’s been one teacher at the head of it this whole time. “It’s a unique situation,” Roseville Police Chief, Jeff Slack said.

The annual trip educates classes and also creates memories.

“They learn so much,” the village’s fiscal officer, Heidi Milner said. “Even though they’re kindergartners, they at least know now that we’re here to help them.”

It’s another lesson attributed to Cindy Beardsley.

“It just kind of happened,” she said. “We wanted to walk some places and learn about our community.”

She added that is has become a tradition. But it’s one that will have to continue without Mrs. Beardsley because she’s retiring.

“It’s going to be hard,” Beardsley said as she fought back tears. “It’s really going to be hard. I’m gonna miss it.”

Those aren’t hollow words. “Before kids go to kindergarten,” Slack said. “They all say they want to go to Mrs. Beardsley’s class.”

When Milner’s son was in kindergarten, he had Mrs. Beardsley and she helped the class each Monday. “She taught me more than I learned from them.,” Milner said. “Just the way she interacted with them. She thanked me at the end of the school year when actually she’s the one who needed thanked.”

She received that thanks Tuesday. Slack visited the class to give thanks to her storied career.

“Little did I know he was going to present me with a plaque,” Beardsley said.

She’s worked for 30 years, not only to teach, but also to grow her family.

“I say a prayer everyday that I will treat my kindergartners like my own kids,” she said.

It’s something the community has noticed.

“She treats them like one of her own,” Milner said. “Even when they’re out. She never runs the other way. She always goes up to them. They’re always like Mrs. Beardsley, Mrs. Beardsley because they attach to her.”

With a laugh Beardsley exclaimed, “I couldn’t believe it.”

All the same, it’s a memento she’ll always treasure. “I was shocked. I never dreamed that that would happen,” she said.