Jan 25, 2015 2 min read

My mother passed away in 2013, and she was a role model for what a strong, smart woman should be. My mother worked in business most of her life and gave much to her community. She believed in making the world a better place.

I have been lucky enough to work with two such exceptional women.

Roberta DiLorenzo, who is the superintendent of the Washington School District, helped save the district in 1999, and has made many important improvements to the district, including two renovation projects. Known for her great smile, she has made an impact on the district that is truly amazing. Her love of children and passion for education is inspiring. I have spent 11 years on the Washington School Board and DiLorenzo is the type of person who is not afraid of the tough jobs, and she sees all sides of the issues. Without her guidance, the district would have collapsed many years ago.

Citizens Library in Washington is also lucky to have Diane Ambrose as a strong director who helped save the library from financial ruin. As a library board member, I saw how Ambrose restructured the staff and then began to renovate the library to highlight the genealogy section and make the building brighter and more user-friendly.

To top it off, Ambrose helped the library board complete the heating, ventilating and air conditioning project that gave the library a much-needed overhaul.

These two women are great examples of how strong women make a positive difference in the lives of our community, and I think they are great role models.

Troy G. Breese

Washington

Troy G. Breese serves on the boards of the Washington School District and Citizens Library.