When Doug Short was forced to spend less time on the road selling insurance during COVID, and more time helping his community, he didn’t expect it would lead him into a classroom, working as a 1:1 aide for special needs students at Harrisburg Middle School. His son, Tyler, was already a fixture at the school as a 6th-grade math teacher, but the idea of working alongside his son wasn’t on Doug’s radar. Yet here they are—a father and son team, teaching, guiding, and making a difference in young lives every day.

For Doug, life on the road had lost its appeal. As a traveling insurance agent, he had crisscrossed the state for years, covering schools and state offices, providing supplemental life insurance. Then, when COVID-19 grounded him, Doug realized he needed a new challenge. “I got stir crazy,” Doug admits. “I wanted to do something meaningful.”

Through conversations with a few friends on the Harrisburg School Board, Doug found his way back into the community as an EOC (Extraordinary Care) aide. The fit was natural. With his characteristic warmth and steady demeanor, Doug found joy in working with a young boy with Down syndrome, and other boys in the class. “I’m assigned to one student, but I help them all,” Doug says, his pride evident. “It’s about making sure they’re getting what they need to succeed, each one of them.”

For Tyler, education had always been the path. After growing up in Harrisburg, attending the very same school where he now teaches, Tyler knew early on he wanted to give back to his community. “I started out teaching swim lessons at 15,” Tyler reflects. “There’s something so fulfilling about helping kids— watching them grow, learn, and overcome challenges.”

While Doug had lived a different life, working in insurance for decades, Tyler’s path to education had been more direct. But the connection between father and son, despite their divergent career paths, has always been strong. Now, they’re working in tandem, each contributing to the school community in ways that speak to their unique strengths.

The real magic of this father-son duo lies in their shared values. “We’re both on the same team,” Tyler says, a grin breaking across his face. “It’s like family here. Everyone pitches in.” Doug echoes the sentiment, adding, “That’s what makes Harrisburg special—everyone is willing to help.”

Doug and Tyler have embraced the serendipity of their circumstances, finding joy in working in the same building. “I wasn’t sure at first,” Tyler admits, “but it’s been great having Dad here. It’s like we’re part of something bigger, contributing in our own ways.”

Their dynamic is special, but it also highlights what makes Harrisburg such a tight-knit community. Doug and Tyler aren’t just father and son—they’re symbols of the town’s values: hard work, dedication, and a commitment to giving back. Whether in the classroom or on the playground, this duo leads by example, making a difference in the lives of the next generation.

As Doug continues to guide his student, and Tyler shapes young minds in the classroom, Harrisburg’s future is in good hands. And in our community, as in family, the lessons of one generation pass down seamlessly to the next.