ibly blessed to have chosen a profession I
love so much. If you love what you do, your
workday is a joy and the children feel your
devotion and excitement and reflect it right
back to you."
spur her creativity.
she says. "We went to Heinen's to buy the
food and cooked the meal together. The kids
dressed up as Indians or settlers and every-
one ate everything on their plates often to
the amazement of their parents."
notes and letters from parents and students,
marvels at all the personal connections she
has made and the lives she has touched.
catching up," she says. "Although I might not
recognize their `grown-up' faces, once they
tell me their names, I see them as unique
little boys or girls in my classroom and I'm
filled with a rush of memories of them as
kids. It's especially meaningful when these
students introduce me to their children, or
even grandchildren and I see the cycle of
life right before my eyes."
was her son Steve's kindergarten teacher.
"She could zero in on their strengths and
connect with her students in a very mean-
ingful way. And just like my dad, Al Bellin,
lucky enough to have been in her classroom.
Teaching was not just a job for Mrs. Factor; it
was and remains a true calling."
but could not stay away from the classroom.
She now substitutes at Beachwood schools
one to two days a week.
"I'm amazed at how tech savvy these young-
sters are," she says. "Last year I was in a second
grade class and was having trouble setting up
the computer. One little boy raised his hand
and said, `You know, Mrs. Factor, I think I know
what's wrong.' I told him to come right up
and guess what he fixed it in one minute.
These kids are just amazing."
their own two children and five grand-
children, Factor's love of teaching and her
beloved Beachwood community has never
waned. She still keeps a whimsical, multicol-
ored hat with a flower popping out of the top
and a stack of Dr. Seuss books in her car to
entertain children in the classroom, or simply
to bring a smile to a child's face while she's at
the pool or a Beachwood Bison game.
from her beloved Dr. Seuss aptly sums up
Factor's personal philosophy of life: "Today
was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is an-
other one."
named the new
director of the
ORT Ohio region,
succeeding Roni
Wallace, who is
retiring after 31
years of service.
Char, a native of
Chicago, has lived
to ORT a wealth of fundraising experience in
both the Jewish and general communities,
having worked for the Jewish Federation of
Cleveland, Hillel at Kent State University and
the Cleveland Institute of Music.
national leadership and has significant
potential for growth," Char said. "I look
forward to working with our dedicated
volunteers and will be focusing on
increasing major gift fundraising efforts,
expanding the number of ORT supporters
in Cleveland and other key areas of the
state, and bolstering ORT's Next Gen
program in Ohio by providing more
opportunities for leadership development
in the area."
communications research and counseling.
Her hobbies include traveling (especially with
her son, Michael, who lives in Israel), theater
and music. She is a member of Congregation
B'nai Jeshurun in Pepper Pike, and can
frequently be found at the 6 pm minyan.
She previously served on the Beachwood
Community PTO, reinvigorated BHS Senior
Search, and was the founding president of
Friends of Beachwood Orchestras.
her much success in this new role," said
Gary Desberg, president of the Northeast
Ohio Region.