School honors namesake
Barbara Bush school in Mesa promotes literacy
Former first lady Barbara Bush’s death is felt deeply at one Mesa school, Barbara Bush Elementary, where she is remembered for promoting literacy.
Barbara Bush took the new honor with a pleasant mix of humor and humility.
“This new experience of having people want to name things after us is really quite flattering until you realize they usually do it for people who are very, very old or dead,” the former first lady said, in a statement she issued upon learning that the Mesa Unified School District’s 49th elementary school would bear her name.
A Nov. 16, 1995, account of her reaction in The Arizona Republic then went on to explain how Bush hoped her name would inspire the school’s mission.
“But in all seriousness, it means a great deal to me that this new elementary school will be named for me because literacy, and education in general, is my No. 1 cause,” Bush said. “I’m grateful to the people of Mesa for thinking of me and hope one day I can visit my namesake.”
As it turned out, she did visit Barbara Bush Elementary School, which opened in 1996 near McKellips and Higley roads, on several occasions, even posing in pictures with the staff several times.
Like many others across the nation, the school family mourned the death of Barbara Bush on Tuesday at the age of 92.
“Our community is saddened by the loss of our school’s namesake, Barbara Bush. She was a wonderful proponent of child literacy, and we look forward to carrying on her legacy,” said Principal Tracy Olson, in a statement released by Mesa Public Schools.
Bush attended the school’s dedication and in subsequent visits read to students, said Heidi Hurst, a district spokeswoman. Hurst said the Mesa school is the only one outside of Texas named after Barbara Bush. The school lobby has a display featuring her portrait and other items prominently featured.
Students at the school will put together a book with one page from each classroom, sharing their appreciation of Bush, that they plan to send to her family early next week, Hurst said.
In addition, the school will look into future ways to honor her legacy, Hurst said.
“Our community is saddened by the loss of our school’s namesake, Barbara Bush. She was a wonderful proponent of child literacy, and we look forward to carrying on her legacy.” Tracy Olson principal, Barbara Bush Elementary School in Mesa