Riley Elementary creates a public memorial for a beloved teacher

A Riley Elementary mural painted in memorial of former teacher Jessica Schroeder by her mother, Allison Schroeder, depicts values of curiosity and a love of learning in a bright, buoyant scene. Photo by Angie Toone

A new public mural dedicated to the memory of Jessica Schroeder, a loved and dearly missed educator at Riley Elementary School who passed away in 2021, has found its home at the school. Unveiled in November of 2022, the mural was painted by the late teacher’s mother, Allison Schroeder, as part of an outdoor learning space that features little free libraries, reading rocks, exploratory gardens, and a relaxing seating area for visitors to enjoy.

Jessica Schroeder valued curiosity and worked hard to foster a love of learning in her students, and this sentiment is captured in the imagery of the public artwork. The mural depicts her reading a book in the foreground while children explore outside in the background, surrounded by monarch butterflies, prickly pear cactuses, rainbows, and gold stars. The space is meant to help Schroeder’s students and colleagues grieve, explore their feelings, and feel peace about losing their beloved teacher. The space is also open to the public.

The memorial mural is part of an outdoor learning space, meant to provide a gathering place for mourning, contemplation, and community. Photo by Angie Toone

Created in collaboration with the Glendale Community Council, Salt Lake City Arts Council, Allison Schroeder, and the Riley Elementary school community, the space not only serves as a tribute to Schroeder, but also a reflection of what all Glendale schools mean to the community. “Schools in our neighborhood are the heart and soul of the neighborhood, and this is a beautiful spot for the community to come together,” said Turner Bitton, Glendale Community Council Chair.

This project is one of many that the Glendale Community Council and Salt Lake City Arts Council are working on to incorporate public artwork throughout the neighborhood. Public artwork is an important way to build community, and Bitton hopes that the mural and outdoor learning space will show what a deep connection Schroeder and Riley Elementary have to the larger Glendale community. “When you tie something like this to someone’s legacy of love and teaching, it becomes really impactful,” said Bitton.