Monrovia Unified Renames Wellness Center In Memory Of Educator

MONROVIA, CA — A longtime educator will now have her name immortalized on the Monrovia High School campus after spending more than 30 years dedicating her career to students.

While Susan Hirsch passed away in December, her legacy will live on after the Monrovia Unified School District dedicated the high school’s wellness center in her memory last Thursday.

“Susan Hirsch’s compassion and understanding of what the needs of our students were, to creating partnerships with organizations to support our students, is why naming the Wellness Center after Susan Hirsch is not only the right thing to do, but also ensures that generations to come will know about Susan’s legacy and will have access to the resources they need,” MUSD President Maritza Travanti said in a statement.

The dedication ceremony was attended by the district community as well as Hirsch's daughter, Samara Hirsch, who works as a counselor at Monrovia high.

During her time at Monrovia Unified, Hirsch worked as a special education teacher before serving as an administrator where she created intervention programs for at-risk students, according to a district statement. She also worked to ensure Monrovia High's wellness center was able to provide the necessary tools and resources for students including counseling, tutoring and family support.

“It is only fitting that we dedicate the Wellness Center in name of Susan Hirsch, with hope that all who enter, leave with their hearts filled and their minds cleared,” Superintendent Katherine Thorossian said in a statement. “That was Susan’s vision when she introduced the concept five years ago. That will be her legacy.”