Teacher Killed In Crash Won't Be Forgotten In Menifee

MENIFEE, CA — The newest elementary school in the Menifee Union School District is under construction, and the campus has a special namesake.

The Sally Buselt Elementary School at the corner of Briggs and Wickerd roads on the city's southside is named after a beloved MUSD teacher who was killed Jan. 10, 2001, in a crash with a Riverside County Sheriff's Department vehicle. The fatal wreck was not far from the site of the new campus. Buselt was 46 years old.

On Wednesday — the 23rd anniversary of Buselt's death — her family toured the new school site. Buselt's husband, John Buselt, and her children, Sara and Andy, were on hand.

The visit included a stop at the former Menifee Elementary School, where a tree was planted as a memorial to honor Buselt. Named The Giving Tree after the well-known children's book, the memorial stands as a tribute to Buselt's legacy and spirit, according to MUSD officials.

Sally Buselt is remembered as a cherished teacher who dedicated her life to education and fostering a love of learning in countless young minds. At the time of her death, she was teaching first grade and had been with the district for 15 years.

Garry Winn was the principal of Menifee Elementary School in 2001. It was his job to share the tragic news of Buselt's passing with colleagues and MUSD families.

“She was one of our most-loved teachers and was a mentor to all of us. She was extremely dedicated to her students and they always came first. She just touched so many lives and did whatever it took to help them succeed," Winn was quoted in the San Diego Union-Tribune on Jan. 12, 2001.

The day before her death, Buselt was honored at a school board meeting with a certificate of appreciation for her service.

During Wednesday's tour, MUSD Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Root, along with the new school's inaugural principal, Stephanie Acosta, accompanied the Buselt family.

Acosta expressed gratitude for Buselt's impact on the teaching community, acknowledging the profound honor of leading a school named after an inspirational figure.

Root said, "It was a privilege to have the Buselt family join us today on this significant occasion. We look forward to collaborating with the family to ensure that Mrs. Buselt’s character is reflected in the school’s culture and environment."

In November, the MUSD governing board voted 3-2 to name the new school after Buselt. Board members Jackie Johansen and Morgan Singleton were the two dissenters. They voted to name the school after Dr. Mae Jemison, an engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut who was the first African-American woman to travel into space.