Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 23, 1993 TAG: 9311230096
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
Pagenhardt began her teaching career juggling grades one through seven in a Russell County one-room schoolhouse, with only a two-year certificate as training.
"She was just 18 or 19 years old, and she had students older than she was who carried shotguns larger than she was," said her daughter, Leonita Pharr of Waynesboro.
Later, she moved to Roanoke, worked at a drug store and, in 1939, married. It wasn't until 1952 that she tried teaching again, beginning as a substitute teacher at Jamison Elementary.
"She thought she didn't have enough certification to teach, but once she started again, there was no stopping her," Pharr said.
Pagenhardt taught full time while she commuted to Radford College to earn her bachelor's degree and then to Virginia Tech to earn her master's in education.
She was principal for Riverdale, Tinker Creek and Washington Heights elementary schools while each school was in the process of closing down.
"The schools were cutting back during these times, so she was having to do it all - be a principal, and often teach at the same time," Pharr said.
After retirement, Pagenhardt became the volunteer Senior Programs director for Virginia Western Community College.
by CNB