Remembering Mrs. P: Northbrook School Raising Funds To Build Memorial

NORTHBROOK, IL — It's fitting that any tribute to Mary Porcaro would revolve around nature. Known to her students as "Mrs. P.," the popular Northbrook School District 28 teacher retired from Greenbriar School in 2021. Sadly, she was killed in a traffic accident in March.

Now, according to district officials, an outdoor classroom in her name is being planned and fundraising to build it is underway. The campaign has set a goal of raising $33,000 and was at nearly $10,000 Thursday afternoon.

"Mary was truly a treasured part of the Greenbriar and Northbrook community," Greenbriar Principal Ginny Hiltz said. "Her absence has been deeply felt by all. We hope to honor her legacy with a beautiful learning space that will positively impact students for years to come."

Porcaro, who "personified kindness," also taught at Meadowbrook School during her career in District 28.

According to the district, Porcaro taught her students the responsibility of taking care of their pet mealworms until they turned into beetles each spring, and she did the same with butterflies. She would give her students sunflower seeds to grow, and often received photos of children standing next to sunflowers measuring between 3 and 6 feet by the end of the summer.

Officials believe the proposed outdoor classroom will showcase "Mary’s essence of seeing the beauty in children and nature will be present for years to come."

Greenbriar has partnered with Green City Gardens to design the space. To donate and learn more, visit vancoevents.com/us/donate/maryporcaro.