"She pioneered Northern’s successful teacher mentoring program … magnanimous people skills … excellent professional and unselfish service … cheerleader of teachers … they owe their career survival to Betty’s coaching and personal encouragement.”

These comments, taken from the nomination letter Northern California Conference Superintendent of Education David Escobar wrote describing just a few of the personal and professional attributes of his associate superintendent, Betty Juarros. Juarros is retiring after 35 years of exemplary service to the Adventist Church and a break to mother her two children, Jennifer and Daniel.

Born to Forrest and Margaret (Adams) Miller in Palmyra, Pa., Juarros received a bachelor’s degree from Columbia Union College. She taught one year during college at a church school in York, Pa., and after graduation, began teaching at J.N. Andrews Elementary School in Maryland.

After moving to California, she accepted a position teaching junior high students at Sacramento Elementary School, but, because of her obvious leadership skills, she was soon drafted as principal. She completed her master’s degree in school leadership at Loma Linda University in 1984 while working full-time.

In 1988, Betty assumed her present position as associate superintendent of education for the Northern California Conference. Pioneering the conference teacher mentoring program, supervising teachers in classrooms, arranging exemplary professional growth programs, helping prepare for the NAD teacher’s convention in 2000, and supervising the expansion of child development centers throughout the conference are just a few of Juarros’ major accomplishments.

At the recent Pacific Union Conference Education Council meetings, Gerald Kovalski, vice president of the North American Division, presented Juarros with the “Award of Excellence.” This prestigious award, the second highest conferred by the General Conference Office of Education, recognizes exemplary service in at least two union conferences and follows specific evidence that the candidate has made an enduring contribution to Adventist education.

Juarros plans an active retirement, including an assignment to coordinate the development of the North American Division K-8 reading program, providing liaison between the denomination and the publishers.