On Tuesday afternoon, Manhattan Beach Unified School District Superintendent Beverly Rohrer’s face shone as she pushed her grandson through the twists and turns of the playground in Polliwog Park.
Kids ran, played and screamed around her, while several feet away roughly 40 people gathered to dedicate a park bench near the playground in honor of the South Bay’s beloved educator, two days before her retirement from a lifelong career in education.
“What makes me so excited is I see my students, colleagues, parents, teachers, board members, council members — people from our community,” said a teary-eyed Rohrer. “It really is Manhattan Beach.”
Rohrer began her 56-year career in education as a teacher with Mira Costa High School and ultimately moved on to become the superintendent of both Manhattan and Redondo Beach’s school districts and interim superintendent of Hermosa’s school district. Among her accomplishments are creating progressive academic programs, locally implementing Title IX — the federal law passed in 1972 requiring equal opportunities for girls and boys in public schools — and helping form the Greater South Bay Education Coalition.
“On a personal level, Bev stands for everything that makes Manhattan Beach what it is,” Councilmember Richard Montgomery said. “A Manhattan Beach native, who attended our schools, never left and devoted 50 years to education and community service.”
Rohrer is known to frequent the special needs-friendly playground at Polliwog with her third grade grandson, Casey Rohrer, who has cerebral palsy. Now when they come to play, the Rohrers will be greeted by a white concrete bench with a plaque that reads, “Ain’t these kids great? Bev Rohrer.”
“Wherever kids perform or do anything, she uses that expression,” said Manhattan Beach Unified School Board Member Penny Bordokas, who, along with city recreation services manager Idris Al-Oboudi, arranged the surprise.
“We knew how much time she spent in this park,” she added. “It’s part of the community, part of the school. It’s the perfect place to put a bench in her honor.”
Rohrer immediately sat down comfortably on her bench, while Mayor Mitch Ward knelt over her to present the gift.
“It is such an honor to present such a wonderful monument to a person who has stood the test of time,” Ward said. “You are a shining, shining star in our town. With all the lives and souls you’ve touched, we want this bench to say ‘Dr. Bev Rohrer was here and don’t you ever forget it.’”
The dedication of the bench was announced at a surprise retirement party for Rohrer two weeks ago.
Tuesday’s ceremony was also attended by Councilmembers Portia Cohen and Wayne Powell, Manhattan Beach Education Foundation executive director Susan Warshaw and Richard Gill, director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.
“You are the love of this community,” Cohen said. “What impresses me most is your amazing heart. You’re not permitted to go anywhere. We need you and continue to need you.”
The Manhattan Beach Education Foundation is accepting $20 donations to cover the $1,400 cost of the bench. So far, MBEF has received $1,000 in donations toward the bench.
Rohrer’s last official day with MBUSD will be June 30. On July 1, Dr. Michael Matthews, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources of Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District will take over as MBUSD’s new superintendent.
“This is not the effort of one person, two, or three, but the effort of a community,” Rohrer humbly said of her accomplishments.
“We are unique in Manhattan Beach. I don’t plant to go anywhere except right here,” she added, pointing to the bench.
To make a donation toward Bev Rohrer’s bench, contact Susan Warshaw at (310) 303-3342 or susan@mbef.org. ER
