Life doesn’t ask before it reshuffles your cards. For Ms. Elizabeth Reinhardt, her deck was flipped at the hands of a diagnosis that shifted her reality: stage 3 breast cancer.
But even amidst this challenge, Reinhardt, the assistant principal here at Centennial, has continued to be an anchor in our community.
Since joining Centennial midway through last year, Reinhardt quickly became known for her warmth and dedication in supporting the community. Having moved to the U.S. at just 9 months old, Reinhardt grew up in Howard County and enjoyed playing the cello and sharpening her lyrical skills. She went on to study music education and worked at Hammond High School for 16 years, where her ambition to support more students in a wider context led her to transition to administration. Now, she brings her passion and experience here at Centennial.
From the early hours of the school day, greeting students in the hall, to the end of the day as they navigate the bus loop, Reinhardt’s lively spirit shines in every encounter she has. But behind her smile, Reinhardt grapples with her diagnosis.
On June 7, 2025, she discovered a lump in her breast. Though her doctor was initially dismissive, a mammogram, an X-ray picture of the breast, was scheduled. Three weeks later, on June 30, the results came back: she had triple-negative invasive ductal carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer.
“The overwhelming emotion is just shock. Like bewilderment,” Reinhardt explains. “Everything happened so fast…I can’t believe this is happening to me. I think every day, I think that to myself, like, how is this possible?”
Reinhardt maintained a healthy life; ate well, lifted weights, and enjoyed running. She had hardly been sick a day in her life, not even the flu. A cancer diagnosis was the last thing she expected. Additionally, Reinhardt had hardly ever come in contact with cancer—her closest relation being her sister in law, a survivor.
As she began navigating her own journey, Reinhardt wrestled with how she should handle her diagnosis. “I went back and forth for a long time about whether I wanted to share publicly, and to be honest, I was still processing the information because everything happened so fast.” But ultimately, she decided that her story could encourage others to be proactive about their health and shed light on cancer awareness.
In late August, Reinhardt broke the news on social media, courageously sharing her experience.
“I think it’s important that people know and are aware that breast cancer, and just cancer in general, can happen to anybody…And if somebody’s reading that post and they’re like, ‘yeah, I have never gotten a mammogram’ or ‘I’ve never done a self-breast exam.’ I want them to know that they should. Being proactive about your health and being aware of your body and advocating for yourself is so important.”
Her message lies in her own experiences as she navigates this difficult time. It hasn’t been easy, but as she receives treatment—16 treatments over 20 weeks— Reinhardt leans on her family and community. “I have an amazing support system. My husband is amazing, my parents live right down the street… they’re very supportive.” In regards to the community here at Centennial, Reinhardt mentions the difference it makes knowing that people care. “The teachers here have been so amazing. The compassion and kindness that they’ve shown me is, really overwhelming. It’s been great.” She fondly recalls the day when she walked into her office to find it decorated by our Centennial staff members, Rona Li, Erin Parisi, and Katie Carr. A symbol of support, she states, “keeps me going.”
These acts of compassion are proof of the power the community holds, even in light of difficult news. In Reinhardt’s case, she is embraced by the arms of Centennial, the students and staff who have all rallied behind her. On October 1, in honor of the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, staff wore their “Reinhardt Race Team” shirts for the Zaching Against Cancer (ZAC) race on November 22nd, held at Turf Valley Resort. The ZAC foundation is an organization dedicated to cancer awareness and fundraising for cancer patients, which was brought to Centennial for Zach Lederer, a former Centennial student who passed away from cancer. Reinhardt, who loves to run, is honored through this fundraiser, with half of the revenue from the shirt being donated to cancer research. Carr, who organized the event, recognizes the importance of sharing stories and fostering connection.
“We’re really emotional about her, and I have experienced the healing power of support and love. And we wanted to show that to Ms. Reinhardt…no one should have to fight alone.”
This sentiment, the impact illness has on a community, is also what drives Reinhardt’s desire to serve as a pillar of support for others, fearlessly sharing her story and openly talking about cancer.
“When my sister in law was going through it, I was like, ‘Oh, it must be so hard.’ But I had no idea the emotion that goes into it…So now that I’m going through it, I’m like, yeah, if somebody else were going through it, I feel much better equipped to understand what they need and empathize with how they feel.”
By sharing her journey online, Reinhardt has access to a network of survivors. “Another thing that I got from posting online is all these people I had no idea about are reaching out and saying, ‘Yeah, I had that.’ And I’m like, yes—I can make it too. Because if you made it, I can make it too.”
Her admirable strength is prominent in her position as assistant principal. Despite her diagnosis, Reinhardt remains committed to not allowing her cancer to interfere with how accessible she is to students. Even during her illness, Reinhardt’s instinct to support others remains, a testament to her dedication and graceful courage.
“Despite being sick, I want to still be there for everybody I’m supposed to be there for.” She explains. This core mindset is credited to her drive to move forward, alongside her deep passion for life itself.
“I love my job, I love my family, I love my friends. I really just pretty much love everything I do. I never think, ‘Oh, I really hate this.’”
Although her cancer holds a reputation for recurrence, Reinhardt stays optimistic. She will undergo surgery in January, and additionally, she has been responding well to treatment. Reinhardt is determined that cancer will just be a “blip in my life, and that by this time next year, I’ll be looking at this entire experience in the rear view mirror.”
Her resilience does not go unnoticed. Dr. Joelle Miller, Principal of Centennial High School, speaks admirably of working alongside her.
“I’m very specific about the qualities of an assistant principal that I want to work with,” Miller said. “The job is not easy…and they gave me her in January, and I was thrilled.
Miller praises Reinhardt’s unwavering work ethic, acknowledging how even in the midst of her demanding treatments, Reinhardt has “been here, every day, except for her seven-and-a-half-hour treatments on Wednesday…I’m a lot older than her, but I learn a lot from watching her.”
Reinhardt’s own silent battles are harder to see, but once it is known, her perseverance is undeniable. Her spirit radiates throughout the community, with students and staff alike seeing her as a role model of resilience and strength. No matter what, even in the battle for her life against cancer, Ms. Reinhardt’s ever-lasting smile speaks volumes: a look that represents not just kindness, but of strength, courage, and grit as she navigates this challenging chapter.
Her cards may have experienced an unprecedented shuffle, but one thing is for certain: cancer does not chip away at Elizabeth Reinhardt’s spirit, nor does it challenge the community behind her.
Her message is strong, one that should be taken away by every reader: “You know how when you get on an airplane and during the emergency briefing, they tell you to make sure you put on your mask before helping others? This holds true for us in life also. You need to take care of yourself first. You can’t show up for others if you can’t show up for yourself. And your health is the greatest asset you have–protect it.”
