My Family 2025
All About Mrs. Southard
Family: Married to Keith, mother of Ryan, age 24, Rachel, age 22, and Derek, age 18 (Picture: Family Reunion Picnic 2025)
Education:
Council Rock graduate of 1990
Undergraduate - Millersville University 1994, Elementary and Special Ed.
Graduate - Arcadia University 2000, Computers and Technology for Ed.
Graduate – Delaware Valley University 2017, Special Education Supervisor Certification Program
Experience:
1995 to 2000 - Rolling Hills (3rd, 4th, and 5th grade learning support)
2000 to present - Maureen M. Welch (4th, 5th, & 6th grade learning support)
Hobbies: computers, reading, photography, and cleaning/organizing my home, running & cruising
My summer 2025: Our family had our annual trip to Albany, NY, for my maternal family reunion. Then we spent a week in Ocean City, MD, at my in-laws home on the bay.
I planned a special vacation with my 3 children. We cruised on Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas. It was so wonderful to spend time with my 18, 22, & 24 year old children. I love staying on the ship and doing all that's included: zip lining, slides, the shows, rock wall climbing, & EATING!
My husband and I reached our 25th anniversary mark this summer. We plan to celebrate by taking a cruise on the Oasis of the Seas next summer (without the kids).
Derek has been working towards his 1st degree blackbelt & Rachel has been attending Autism Cares Day Program this summer. Ryan has decided to switch careers and is going to be working for Vanguard. He loves the world of finance.
My summer 2024: My oldest son, Ryan, graduated with his masters from West Chester University. He is very happy to be the Speech and Language Pathologist at New Garden Elementary School in Kennett Consolidated School District. He enjoys working with elementary aged students. Rachel, who is 21, attended ESY, and is happy that she gets one more year at CB East High School. Derek has been studying for his Learner's Permit test and working on the number of push ups he can do in a row.
We went on our typical summer vacation in Maryland. We will be returning to Maryland in August to celebrate my in-laws 80th birthdays. We will be getting a big family picture.
Rachel, Derek, and I have season passes to Dorney Park this summer. We try to go once a week. We have been on ALL the roller coasters and we all like the new roller coaster, Iron Menace.
My summer 2022: This summer was busy from beginning to end. My oldest son, Ryan graduated from West Chester University (going back to WCU in the FALL for Masters in Speech and Language Pathology) and then Rachel "graduated" from CB East. I put quotes around it because while she was a "Senior" and graduated with the students of her same grade, however she will go back to CB East in the Fall and continue until she is 21 due to her significant special needs (austism & intellectual disability).
We went on our typical summer vacation to Ocean City, Maryland, since my in-laws have a home on the bay with a boat and lots of "toys." Additionally, we went to Albany, New York, for my annual Family Reunion. At the beginning of August, Ryan moved into his first apartment in West Chester and I am getting as many dental and doctors' appointments out of the way for Derek, Rachel, and myself. (I have my first root canal scheduled for this summer.)
Rachel and I have season passes to Six Flags Great Adventure because we love roller coasters. (I have not tried the Joker yet though.) Derek goes to karate several times a week, Junior Black Belt, has a goal to rewatch many of the Star Wars and Avenger movies this summer, and is working on his "six pack." Keith keeps busy with his regular work schedule, yard work, and growing vegetables in the garden. I go running EVERY DAY, and have been rewatching Little House on the Prarie along with several different reality shows, Big Brother & The Bachelorette to name two. If I include my oldest that "moved out," Ryan has been happily setting up his apartment and is looking forward to taking a road trip up north (Maine & Massachusetts) for a week.
My summer 2019: This summer was busy from beginning to end. My oldest son, Ryan graduated from Central Bucks East High School, we went on a 10 day Royal Caribbean Cruise in the beginning of July (to celebrate my husband's 50th birthday and my parents' 50th Anniversary), my daughter, Rachel, had bunion surgery, and finally I moved my son into his college dorm.
My oldest son, Ryan, is 18 years old and is beginning his college career at West Chester University as a Communication Disorders Major (undergraduate degree towards speech and language pathology). He has a passion for singing and composing choral music. He just auditioned for the University Choirs and made the Mastersingers Choir. He would like to minor in music composition.
My daughter Rachel just turned 16 over the summer and will be starting at Central Bucks East High School in their Autistic Support Program. She had spinal fusion surgery last summer (with a great recovery) and this summer had her first of two bunion surgeries. We have been to Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia for both procedures and are very happy with that hospital.
My youngest son, Derek, is going into 6th grade and we have been working on improving his reading and math skills this summer. His favorite thing to do is watch YouTube videos and play on his Switch, but of course we still make him help with the yard work and pick vegetables (and weeds) in our garden. He takes karate at the East West Karate dojo in Jamison.
My husband, Keith, has been selling cars for the past 30 years. He worked at Davis Pontiac in Richboro until they closed several years ago, and since then he has been at O’Neil Buick GMC in Warminster. Next summer we look forward to having a summer off from surgeries and will possibly get season passes to Dorney Park because Rachel and I love roller coasters and the rest of my family likes water rides.