It was a packed house Monday night for the Bellefontaine City Schools Board of Education meeting.
The large gallery was there to honor an educator who has been with Bellefontaine City Schools for 50 years.
That man is Phil Forsythe.
The board acknowledged Forsythe for his five decades of service to the school district and presented him with a clock.
Debbie Ellis then spoke of Phil’s career and introduced two students who were in Forsythe’s first class, Renee Price and Scott Abraham.
They spoke about a fresh-out-of-college enthusiastic teacher who they would never forget.
Price was impacted by Phil not only as a teacher but later as a colleague.
Abraham remembered Forsythe for meeting with him at the end of his sixth-grade year (three years after having him in 3rd grade). Forsythe told them as they went to a new school that if they ever needed anything he would be there for them.
Abraham was also amazed at how Forsythe constantly remembered students’ and former students’ birthdays.
The board meeting portion was wrapped up by announcing that the Phil Forsythe scholarship has been established and Phil will be presenting the first recipient next week a check for $2,000. The winner is someone who will be going into elementary education. The Phil Forsythe scholarship fund is through the Logan County Education Foundation and has already raised over $18,000.
The festivities moved out to the atrium where a reception was held for Forsythe while the board continued with regular business.
Phil’s path to being a teacher was interesting. After high school, he enrolled at Ohio State. He lasted five days as he didn’t like the big campus and came home.
He went to Clancy’s where he became the youngest manager in the region while going to Urbana University.
He graduated at 21 and was hired immediately as a third-grade teacher at Bellefontaine City Schools.
He retired several years ago from his third-grade teaching but came back as a substitute teacher. He moves around to different classrooms, but he still works nearly a full-time schedule.
It’s hard to find a graduate of Bellefontaine City Schools who doesn’t remember Mr. Forsythe.
Phil Forsythe expresses his gratitude for being honored at the Bellefontaine City Schools Board of Education meeting:
Phil has always stayed busy in his life. While being a school teacher he has held several part-time jobs including owning a business with his wife, working at Campbell Place in Bellefontaine, and he’s currently at the Homestead at Logan Acres.
He’s been with the Huntsville Presbyterian Church for over 70 years and dresses up as Santa Claus every holiday season to spread cheer.
With him throughout his career has been his wife Jean. This August they will celebrate their 48th anniversary.
Their daughter Lisa was also in attendance.
Forsythe said he’ll be back teaching in the fall.
