Amy Beverland principal focused on relationships, put children first

Susan Jordan knew everyone's name.

Alumni would return for basketball games and get a hug from Jordan. Every student received a card and pencil on their birthdays. She took a lap around the school each morning to greet the custodians, cooks and teachers.

Her personal connections helped her become a legend in Lawrence Township Schools, say friends, family and colleagues. She focused on relationships -- and the children.

And her love of children, friends said, shone through in her death when she pushed students to safety Tuesday as a school bus jumped the curb and struck her and two students.

"It didn't surprise any of us Susan would sacrifice herself," said Denna Renbarger, Lawrence Township district administrator.

Roger Chase, a father of a sixth-grader at Amy Beverland Elementary School, marveled at her ability to instantly remember everyone she talked to.

"She had that ability to memorize your name right away," Chase said.

Friends and colleagues said the 69-year-old principal welcomed each classroom every morning. She was at every dismissal to make sure students left safely.

Jordan died, but the two 10-year-old students sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department detectives are still investigating the crash but found no mechanical issues with the bus and found no signs that the bus driver was impaired.

Driver of bus that killed principal considered a 'model employee'

Jordan led the school for an unprecedented 22 years. Only one principal served before her when the school was established in 1988. Undaunted by politics, ISTEP pressures and turbulent public education debates, Jordan stayed centered with a focus on students, colleagues said.

"To be in the same school for (22) years, she learned how to persevere under lots of different economic, regional and political changes, and she did it with such grace and dignity," said Susan Brash Hintz, a longtime friend who preceded Jordan as principal there.

Jordan's death stunned the community at  Beverland and resonated throughout the city. About 1,000 mourners attended a vigil Wednesday morning at St. Simon the Apostle Catholic Church. The Lawrence Township school district canceled classes. Gov. Mike Pence ordered flags at state facilities in Marion County to be flown at half staff.

"My daughter is devastated," said Scott Genrich, whose child is in second grade. Genrich said his daughter told him Jordan was nice, and gave her a birthday card.

Colleagues credited Jordan's indefatigable energy for the school's academic growth. The school has received an "A" in accountability from the Department of Education for the school years of 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14, improving from a "C" in 2010. The education department also has named  Beverland as a four-star school.

"She was smart and very intuitive, and was very good at understanding what people really needed and what they meant by what they said," said Hintz, who served as elementary education director for the Lawrence school district while Jordan was principal. "She was very accepting of people for the way they are, and celebrated differences among staff, students and families.

"Because of that, she collectively created a place where every single solitary child could succeed, and did."

The school is a magnet  that focuses on communication. Along with traditional curricula, students learn about print and online modes of communication, developing multimedia skills.

Chase, a Beverland parent and member of its Dads Club, said Jordan was committed to updating technology at the school to further its focus on communication.

"The school of communications is kind of unique. She said, 'It's the 21st century. These kids better know how to work computers,'" Chase said. "She was on the forefront of that."

Jordan grew up in Evansville and attended the University of Evansville. She started her career as a physical education teacher in Evansville before moving to Indianapolis. She has two daughters, Amy and Lisa, and four grandchildren.

Before serving as principal of  Beverland, she was principal at Brook Park Elementary School. She also worked as a guidance counselor and home school adviser.

Jordan wasn't ready to retire, said Robert Kelley, her brother. He last saw her on New Year's Day when she traveled to his Evansville home for dinner.

"I talked to her about retiring, but she said she enjoyed what she was doing so much, she didn't want to retire," Kelley said. "She had some gas left in the tank."

Grief counselors will be on school buses when Lawrence Township classes resume Thursday. Counselors also will be in the schools. Classes at  Beverland, including the early learning center there, will resume Monday.

Jordan's services will be held at St. Luke's United Methodist Church at 100 W. 86th St. with a viewing Friday from 2  to 8 p.m. and a funeral Saturday at 3 p.m.

Star reporter Vic Ryckaert contributed to this story. Call Star reporter Madeline Buckley at (317) 444-6083. Follow her on Twitter: @Mabuckley88.