PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Egremont Elementary School community was devastated in December when 11-year-old student Gabrielle Corbett died unexpectedly.

 

Principal Jared Materas saw himself as being a rock for the students and staff and he tried to hold the community together through the difficult period of grief. And it was tough for him, too. She never left his mind. 

 

When Materas isn't in school, and what many don't know about him, is that he races cars. His hobby is to head down to Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park in Connecticut for asphalt track racing. He was driving back from the races one day and an idea came to him - an idea to honor Corbett in his own way.

 

"I wanted to put something on the car for her and it just sort of evolved," Materas said.

 

This past weekend he placed a decal on the vehicle reading "In Loving Memory of Gabby Corbett," and with the tagline, which the Egremont community has embraced for Corbett, "Make a Friend, Be a Friend."

 

"It's on a place of the car that doesn't get damaged. If it does, I can still keep it with me. I'd hang it up in my office so it stays here or offer it to the family," Materas said.

 

It isn't just the decal that makes it special though. On Wednesday, Materas brought the car to the school and all of the students in Corbett's class signed it. The fifth-graders are in their final days with Egremont School, moving on to middle school next.

 

"It turned out a lot better than expected. It means a lot to me," Materas said.

 

Not only did the class get to sign the decal, but they also got to see another side of Materas. Throughout the day students from all grade levels had an opportunity to see the car up close and learn what Materas does off school grounds. And it showed a softer side of Materas, a side he hadn't really shown when he was trying to be the rock for the community. 

 

"It was good for them to see another side of their principal," Materas said.

 

The next time Materas gets behind the wheel and heads out onto the track, he'll be driving with Gabby and the Egremont School community right there with him.

 

"I think about her every day. This is a nice reminder and memorial to her," Materas said.