Alumni Spotlight – Sue (Bortner) Barnhart ‘85

Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to.

It’s a “coming of age” quote that usually draws a knowing smile from the many that have experienced those feelings. And it’s a sentiment expressed by many alumni who graduate anxious to make their way in a bigger, more complex world, but find themselves always thinking of Southern York County and Susquehannock as “home.”

But for Sue Bortner ’85, there was never a doubt about leaving. Inspired by her experience as a senior aide in Kathy Lauer’s classroom at Southern Elementary School, she knew exactly what she wanted to do – teach elementary school in the Southern York County School District.

While at Susquehannock, Sue was an active and successful athlete, having played and lettered in varsity field hockey, basketball, and volleyball. She was also a JV cheerleader. Her favorite sport was field hockey coached by Ms. Stauffer. Sue observes that until Dee Stauffer retired in 2009, all of her former coaches were current district employees. In fact, her daughter will be coached by Mark McCusker, who was Sue’s coach in 1984.

Outside sports, Sue was a student council officer, a class officer, part of homecoming court, sang in the chorus, and was a member of the National Honor Society.

After graduation in 1985, she attended Millersville University, majoring in Elementary Education and continuing her field hockey career. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in 1989 and began employment at Southern Elementary School as a 5th grade teacher. Sue continued her education at Western Maryland College, earning a Masters Degree in 1996. She worked at Southern Elementary School for 12 years, and then moved to Friendship – where she attended elementary school – in 2002.

Sue recalls some awkwardness in her first days at her old school, working with her former teachers – Phyllis Hildebrand, Janet Heathcote, and Linda Perry – but quickly felt welcome in this final leg of her homecoming.

She has coached the school’s Envirothon team, is the faculty PTO representative, a member of the Susquehannock Alumni Council, and serves on the Southern York County School District Foundation Board of Directors. She has also served as the Junior High Field Hockey Coach at SHS.

Looking back, Sue recalls the strong influence of the elementary staff on her career and life journey, particularly her first grade teacher, Deanna Wagner. While student teaching at Dallastown, Sue’s class had a pen pal relationship with Mrs. Wagner’s class. She also mentions Susquehannock English teacher, Roberta Thoman, as having a strong affect on her teaching style, particularly in the area of writing. Sue remembers sports as her favorite student activity, ranks hall and float decorating high on the list, and cherishes the strong friendships of her classmates, many of whom remain her closest friends.

Sue lives in Glen Rock with her husband Kevin and children Abbey, Mathew, and Jacob. The children are all students in Southern schools. Her husband Kevin, a Spring Grove graduate, now proudly wears the red and white of a Warrior fan and youth coach.

Thanks to Sue Bortner Barnhart for making us Warrior proud.