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Charleen Factor ('62)

Charleen Factor

Longtime resident Charleen Factor (née Greenberg) has dedicated her life to shaping generations in the very district that shaped her – as a student, beloved elementary teacher, and tireless community anchor. Mrs. Factor is a proud member of Beachwood High School’s second graduating class of 1962. She fondly remembers playing clarinet in the high school band,
the small class sizes, and sense of community, which she believes were crucial in her development. “Beachwood Schools gave me opportunities that made me who I am to this day,” she says.

It was here that she discovered her passion for education, a path she went on to pursue at Case Western Reserve University. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, Mrs. Factor returned to her hometown, embarking on a remarkable 39-year career as an elementary teacher at Beachwood Schools. Her teaching philosophy was simple yet powerful: Be fair, make learning enjoyable, and take a genuine interest in the students. This philosophy enabled her to create a classroom community where learning and enjoyment went hand in hand. Her favorite teaching moments included reading classics by Dr. Seuss and Marc Brown and taking students to Beachwood Place for pizza. “We were one great big happy family,” she says.

Retirement in 2005 did little to slow her down. Mrs. Factor has remained a fixture in the district, serving for 15 years as a popular substitute teacher. Today, she supports the Athletic Department by selling tickets at games and cheering on the Bison. She’s also a familiar face at the Beachwood Family Aquatic Center, where she works at the front desk greeting guests and leading storytimes for children. Mrs. Factor’s impact is felt in countless encounters with former students. Whether she’s running errands around town or vacationing on a cruise ship, these moments remind her of the lasting connections she’s made. “I meet former students wherever I go,” she says. “It’s such a good feeling to know they remember me, and I enjoy learning about their lives.”

Today, Mrs. Factor continues to inspire. Drawing parallels between her journey and one of her favorite Dr. Seuss books, Oh, the Places You’ll Go, she encourages students tostrivefortheirbestandremainopentonewpossibilities. In particular, she believes that Beachwood’s small class sizes and abundant academic and extracurricular offerings enable students to receive personalized attention and develop diverse skills. “That was a big part of my life opportunities, which I don’t think I would have had in a bigger school,” she says. “This community has been great to me. It’s just a wonderful place to live and go to school.”

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