Jared Beck

Community Liaison | Community Leadership Team Lead

"I met Baretta as a recess coach—young, unsure, and simply looking for my place. She saw something in me that I hadn’t yet seen in myself: leadership, purpose, and a capacity to build something bigger than I could imagine.

During the height of COVID, when the world was uncertain and I was out of work, she told me to hold on—to trust her—and I did. Despite pressure to interview other candidates, she never wavered. She chose me. Not because of what I had on paper, but because she saw my potential, and more importantly, she believed in it when I needed it most.

Since that day, she has coached me daily—not just as a professional, but as a leader, a Black man, and a community-builder. Today, I lead the Community Leadership Team at our school and stand out in my role as a Community Liaison, setting the bar for what authentic, purpose-driven partnership with families and neighborhoods can look like. The vision she cast years ago continues to guide my steps, and I am proud to walk it with her.

Working with Distinguished has changed the course of my life. She saw my greatness before I could name it, and now I carry it with pride every day. That’s what real leadership does—it calls you forward."