ADENA — Buckeye West Elementary math teacher Lou O’Bradovich counts his blessings, having spent the past 25 years working in the district. After a quarter century in the classroom, he officially retired May 31, expressing he was grateful for the opportunity to teach.

“There’s always a highlight,” he began. “A certain student and the things they did, a certain staff member. There are so many memories.”

A graduate of Buckeye West High School in 1977, he earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Ohio University in 1982. He served the district as a substitute and full-time teacher at Buckeye South before returning to West.

O’Bradovich said he initially taught fifth-grade math and reading. He continued teaching math and then science to hundreds of pupils throughout the years.

“I subbed in the district and had kids whose parents I taught in school, he commented. “I had a chance to work with great staff and really good principals.” He noted former students moved on and became teachers — most notably, Julie Packer, who was principal at South Elementary and now is district administrator. She will be the district’s assistant superintendent in the fall.

O’Bradovich said he’s worked with a half-dozen principals during his tenure, and may not stray too far, perhaps returning as a sub. He and his wife, Leslie, raise Heresford cows and Belgian horses on their farm and he would like to be with family, including two sons, a daughter and four grandchildren.

He looks back with fondness at his time in the district.

“I was blessed to work with really good people,” he concluded.