Beth was known to many as the principal of Burton Elementary in Huntington Woods. For years, she was the heart and soul of the school, the steady presence who made Burton feel like family. To me, she was not only a principal, but a mama bear and a dear friend.

Beth had a gift for caring deeply. She was a mama bear not just to me, but to her students, staff, and the parents in our community. I remember listening to her spend half an hour on the phone with an incoming kindergarten parent, patiently offering advice on how to potty train their little one so they’d be ready for the first day of school. She was always willing to give her time, her wisdom, and her heart to help others.

Some of my favorite memories are of Beth leading the annual Halloween parade, her favorite event of the year. Each fall, she would find the perfect costume, whether it was a giant piñata, SpongeBob SquarePants, or a garden gnome. Whatever she chose, it was always a hit and brought smiles to everyone around her.

Working with Beth also meant hearing stories about her daughter, Eryn, and her dogs, whom she loved almost as much as Eryn. There were stories of Beth throwing an adult-sized Eryn over her shoulder and carrying her into the house because there was a rodent in the backyard, or of her feeding her dog with a silver spoon because that was the only way he would eat. Those stories always made us smile and reminded us of her humor and warmth.

On behalf of myself and so many others, I want to say how truly blessed we were to have Beth in our lives for loving us fiercely, guiding us, and showing us what it means to lead with heart.

She will forever be our mama bear, always watching over us.