Beth McGarrigle, 50, Malvern
President
Great Valley School Board
» Books on her night stand: Ask Again Later by Jill A. Davis and Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.
» iPod artist on repeat: Billy Joel.
» Restaurant of the hour: Restaurant Alba in Malvern.
» Personal hero: My mother. She’s just a wonderful role model. She taught me to have a balanced life of family and fun. She taught me the spirit of volunteerism—and that there is an incredible need for that in this world.
» One thing she knows for sure: It’s about honesty and integrity.
» Very own vici: My family, especially my three children. I have two college grads, and one is in high school. They’re great kids, and I’m proud of the people they’ve become. I know they’re going to be wonderful contributors to society.
» Zen destination: Any beach, anywhere. I like to be near the ocean, water. It’s calming. Everything sort of gets left on the mainland when you get to the beach.
» If she had an extra hour each day, she would: Spend it with my family at the beach.
» Pet peeve: People who aren’t genuine.
» Most marked characteristics: Honesty and integrity.
» Life view: chance or fate? I believe there’s a plan for every person. It’s up to us to follow it—to follow our heart and find that purpose.
» Quality she admires most in others: Conviction.
» Mantra: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. To me, it’s about the fact that people will treat you the way you treat them. I try to be the best person I can be, and I’ll hopefully find that in others, as well.
