Ms. Beck, known to much of the Summerville students and staff as Maggie, has been on disability leave for roughly three weeks as of Nov. 15 due to a knee injury and plans to be back following Dec. 1 of this year if she is cleared by her doctor to return to work. 

While Ms. Beck has been away from her job, Ms. Murry has been covering her work in the attendance office. Ms. Beck has not only been a valuable member of the Summerville staff, but also a friend to many in the school’s community. 

“Until she needs to speak with me, I’m just letting her recoup and I get updates from Jamie and Jen because they’re really good friends with Maggie,” stated Ms. Murry. 

Mrs. Caldera further emphasized the positive impact that Ms. Beck has had on Summerville as a whole. 

“It definitely is different not having her here, not just as a coworker, but as a friend. She’s someone who brings a lot of enthusiasm to our campus and a lot of spirit to our campus, and not having her here has really been a struggle in many ways,” Mrs. Caldera stated in an interview. 

While scootering with her significant other on a trail alongside the American River in Folsom, Ms. Beck made a sharp left turn and reached out her right leg to slow herself, causing her to overextend the joints in her knee. 

“Instantly–instantly–I knew I had messed up my knee real bad. It was the second worst pain I’ve ever felt in my entire life, the first being my natural childbirth with my son,” said Ms. Beck. 

This led to her tearing her medial collateral ligament (MCL), rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and tearing her lateral meniscus from the bone. 

“I did a trifecta…I work really hard—I put a hundred percent into work—I put a hundred percent into love—and I guess I put a hundred percent into injuries,” stated Ms. Beck. 

Ultimately, these injuries led to Ms. Beck needing surgery on her knee, and she has been out of work during the recovery process. She received the surgery three weeks ago and is hoping to return to work as soon as possible. 

“That was the hardest bit for me to wrap my head around, that I wasn’t going see all my fun coworkers and I wasn’t gonna see all the kids. You know, you guys have a big impact on my life and it just…you know, it sucked,” said Ms. Beck. 

Before Ms. Beck can return to Summerville, she has to go through the recovery process and be cleared to return. However, this recovery has been quite slow. Ms. Beck has been attending physical therapy and keeping her knee elevated to help with her recovery. 

“She’s mending, but it’s a slow process,” explained Mrs. Caldera. 

While she has been out of work, Ms. Beck has had the chance to start new hobbies, watch shows, hang out with her cats and spend time with her 19-year-old son. 

“I’ve just been knitting, a coworker of mine got me some coloring books with fun little cuss word phrases in them and that’s been kind of fun. You know, coloring and knitting. And then I don’t know, watching some Netflix shows,” shared Ms. Beck. 

Ever since she got her first job, Ms. Beck has been working. 

“I can’t wait to get back. I’ve never not worked since I got a work permit when I was like 14 and a half. I’ve always had a job, and so it’s been a huge adjustment,” shared Ms. Beck. 

On Dec. 1, Ms. Beck has an appointment with her doctor to determine whether she is ready to return to work. She is hopeful that she will be able to return after that date. 

Ms. Beck has been out with a knee injury and hopes to be back to work as soon as she is cleared to do so. She is a friend to many at Summerville and wants to be able to see her coworkers and the students again when she can. Many at Summerville wish her a speedy and safe recovery.