Retired Franklin Park Preschool Teacher Honored with Tree Planting

Bellwood preschool in Franklin Park recently honored one of its retired teachers at a tree planting ceremony to celebrate both Earth Day and Arbor Day.

Jan Ridenour retired from Bellwood Preschool at the end of last year, after 45 years of service.  

"Jan instilled a love of the natural world in her students, which is why we've chosen to celebrate her service with a tree planting ceremony," said Bellwood School Board member Rachel Handel. "In addition to her work at Bellwood Preschool, Jan is an active member of the North Area Environmental Council and the Pine Creek Land Conservation Trust."

Ridenour holds a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Education from Penn State University. She worked in the Recreation Department at Oakland's VA Hospital and at Beaumont Army Hospital in Texas.

Later, she ran a small preschool on an Army base in Germany. She began to teach at Bellwood Preschool in 1969.

She is also a grandmother of six.

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