Ms. Roberson, affectionately known to most everyone as “Miss Sam”, served as our elementary school’s counselor for decades, and for the last seven years, as the school’s principal. Although she assumed all of the myriad administrative responsibilities, Sam never forgot her prior role in serving the school community, never lost her ability to view things with an eye, mind, heart and soul of a counselor.

Throughout her tenure, an empathic approach guided Sam’s understanding, and ours — children and parents alike — analyzing what motivates behaviors, encouraging everyone to see one another’s perspectives, validating feelings and emotions, above all, always listening.

We’re certain we’re not the only family who has benefitted from this, but we can speak from our own experience, and here it is: There are some people who we wouldn’t have survived this last, long, traumatic year without – friends, neighbors, relatives, and members of our town and school communities – Sam is one of them. There was never an instance that I didn’t pick up the telephone to apprise her of things that affected our grandson, and his family, as they unfolded. And there was never an instance when she didn’t respond. If the situation warranted immediate attention, she immediately enacted a plan that involved as many staff as necessary, or the whole school. She might not have been able to discuss the situation thoroughly at the time — as principal of a small school where delegating responsibilities is not an option — but she always let me know immediately when we could talk.

And she always took the time to listen. I never felt rushed. Sam always made me feel as though she had all the time in the world – though I knew, as an educator, how far from the truth that was. She always ascertained that I was comfortable with where we left off. Validating, consoling, comforting, with a vast wealth of knowledge — from the aftermath of trauma to the agency we were coping with — offering empathy and pragmatism alike.

School was a safe place in a very precarious world last year. We knew no harm would come to our grandson there. We knew he would encounter warmth and understanding , respect and patience. And that’s attributed to the entire staff at large, for which Sam was the leader, and to Sam in particular. We feel forever blessed, and grateful. Miss Sam – you will be remembered and missed.

Dayna McDermott