A Legend Retires: Thank You Ms. Grover!

For the last few years, room C223 has been more than just a library – it has been a sanctuary for students seeking knowledge, guidance, and a quiet moment to breathe in between the busy and sometimes overwhelming hours of the school day. At the heart of it all has been Ms. Grover, who is now preparing to close this chapter of her incredible career and enter a well-deserved retirement. 

Ms. Grover has worked at Leonia High School for 20 years, since September 2004, and has been a steadfast figure and friend to a multitude of students and teachers. Cyrille Arias, a current Junior, says that Ms. Grover is “the type of teacher that makes anybody and everybody feel welcome. She always carries around snacks for anybody to have; which demonstrates how she is so caring, even for students who aren’t in her class. She is just awesome!”

Mrs. Jordan, a dedicated Algebra teacher who has worked alongside Ms. Grover for many years, shared her thoughts, saying “My fondest memories of Ms. Grover are from the old library.  She was really in her element when she helped students conduct research, dress as the grim reaper and showed kindness to those who were in need of her help and support.” Although everyone has kind words to share, non can fully encapsulate how impactful and incredible Ms. Grover has been in our school district. 

After getting to know Ms. Grover’s incredible impact on our school, it’s clear that her journey to this point is just as inspiring. 

After graduating from high school, Ms. Grover became a German bilingual secretary who worked in the accounting, finance, and legal department for Siemen, a German furniture brand. There, she was able to further exercise her German language skills, especially in a business and technical context, for 10 years. After gaining valuable experience at Siemens, she opened and owned a sandwich shop in Palisades Park alongside her brother. Although Ms. Grover had pursued multiple careers, the whole time, her true passion was to become a teacher. 

“When I graduated high school, I actually desperately wanted to be a teacher. But at that time in 1975, there was a glut of teachers on the market and no teachers were getting jobs, and I knew that my parents had worked so hard to send me to college, so I wanted to make sure I had a job after college. Hence, the German bilingual secretary.” 

Once Ms. Grover became a librarian and special education teacher at Leonia High School, she was immediately in her element. She would often play around with kids and connect with them, giving students of all abilities a friendly face and a safe space. Twelve years ago, she went viral on Reddit when a photo of her dressed up as the “Book Reaper” to collect overdue books made the rounds. The humorous yet effective stunt not only brought attention to her playful spirit but also garnered admiration for her unique way of engaging with students, highlighting just how much she cared about making learning and responsibility fun. 

When asked why Ms. Grover decided to retire at this time she responded, “Well I’m 68. My father is 96. So I wanted to retire with my father and go down to Florida.” Even in her final days at the school, Ms. Grover goes out of her way to talk and make students feel comfortable in the library. Often bringing in baked goods to share with students in the library, and the classes she teaches. Ms. Grover’s absence will undoubtedly be felt by everyone who had the privilege of knowing her. Her warmth, humor, and unwavering support made her an unforgettable presence in the lives of both students and staff at Leonia High School. While her next chapter promises relaxation and quality time with family down in Florida, she leaves behind a legacy of kindness and dedication that will be deeply missed.