By Sharon LeBeau Francis
“It was the greatest honor of my life to serve.”
These words, attributed to my grandmother Marcella LeBeau, feel like the essence of who she was. Whether spoken aloud or simply lived through her actions, they reflect the heart of a woman who dedicated much of her life to her community, her country, and her people.
This fall, the Sioux Falls School District in South Dakota opened its 24th elementary school: Marcella LeBeau Elementary. It is a rare and powerful moment. Across the country, very few public schools are named after individuals, and even fewer honor Indigenous people. For our family and for Indigenous communities across Turtle Island (a term many Indigenous peoples use to refer to North America), this is more than a name on a building. It is a recognition of a life devoted to healing, leadership, and quiet strength.
Marcella LeBeau, a proud member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, attending an Indian boarding school as a child. She later served as a nurse in World War II, worked for decades in Indian Health Services, and held office as a tribal council member. She was also a founding member of the North American Indian Women’s Association, one of the first national organizations dedicated to empowering Indigenous women. Her life bridged tradition and progress, history and hope.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, more than forty members of our family stood together. My cousin, Ryman LeBeau, now Chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, spoke of the values she passed down: humility, strength, and service. Seeing her name etched into the foundation of a school was surreal. It was a moment of visibility, of affirmation, of history being rewritten.
Though my grandmother did not live in the community I have always called home, her teachings and those of my mother, a proud member of the Seneca Nation, continue to guide me here in the heart of the Seneca Nation. Living on Haudenosaunee land, I try to carry forward the values they instilled in me. I support our girls’ lacrosse teams, contribute to the Title IV Parent Committee to advocate for our children and families at the school level, and participate in our local Turtle Island chapter of NAIWA. I also advocate for families at the community level, working to ensure that our voices are heard and our needs are met. These roles are more than responsibilities. They are rooted in love, tradition, and the belief that healing and service can ripple forward for seven generations.
My grandmother taught us that education is sacred. That healing comes through kindness, courage, and connection. My mother showed me how those teachings live in everyday choices in how we care for our families, show up for our communities, and honor those who came before us.
Marcella LeBeau Elementary is more than a school. It is a promise. To be part of a school that carries an Indigenous name is not just symbolic it’s a living act of remembrance. In a country where more than 500 Indian boarding schools once operated, many designed to erase Indigenous identity, this school offers something rare: a place where our heritage is not only acknowledged, but honored. For those of us who work to uplift the message of Every Child Matters, this moment is deeply connected. It affirms that our children deserve spaces where they are seen, valued, and protected. A place where they will learn not just math and reading, but the power of compassion and the strength of their heritage. For Indigenous families like mine, it is a reminder that our stories matter. That our ancestors’ sacrifices are not forgotten. That the spirit of service can ripple forward for seven generations.
Service does not have to be loud to be powerful. It lives in quiet moments in listening, in showing up, in choosing care. My grandmother’s example continues to guide me. I hope to continue their work and pass that spirit of service along.
“It was the greatest honor of my life to serve.”
