10/19/2026
Since last Thursday, our entire community has been grieving the horrific events at Silver Rail Elementary. For our Club family, this loss is deeply personal. Megan Lambert, the teacher whose life was taken, grew up as a Club member, and went on to join our staff. Many of our current and former members and staff knew and loved her. To Megan's family and loved ones, we are holding you close.
Ace Goodman, our longtime Facilities Director, remembers Megan as a kindergartner in his program at the Club:
"She was enthusiastic, kind and excited about everything that was going on at our club. As she grew older, she was a great example for other club members and she was very good at interacting with new club members and making them feel welcome.. As a staff member I remember her being so encouraging to the little ones, which just brought her back full circle of who she was when I was with her in her earlier years. I so enjoyed her being one of my most wonderful club members. I miss her already and always will see her as that little kid that loved life so much.”
Whitney Eskelson, a longtime member of our Club family and former VP of Program Strategy and Operations, shared her thoughts:
"Megan was a shining example of the impact one person can have on an entire community. Her journey with the Boys & Girls Clubs began as a young Club member, continued as a Junior Staff in high school, and eventually led her to become one of the youngest Youth Development Professionals at the East Bend Club. At every stage, Megan embodied the very heart of our mission. She brought an incredible energy, compassion, and sense of purpose to everything she did. She had a gift for connecting with people, inspiring the young people she served, uplifting her teammates, and creating a sense of belonging wherever she went. Megan didn’t just show up to work each day; she showed up to make a difference, and she did so in ways that will continue to ripple through the lives of everyone fortunate enough to know her. Her legacy lives on in the countless young people she inspired, the relationships she built, and the love she so freely gave to others.”
At the heart of everything we do is serving the young people who need us most, and that is where Megan truly shone. Paige, a former Club member Megan worked with during her time on our staff, sent us this note:
“Some people come into your life when you’re young and leave a mark on your heart that stays with you forever. Megan was one of those people. I have no doubt that she did everything in her power to protect the children at Silver Rail, just as she always did for every child lucky enough to be in her care. She was so much more than a teacher, a coach, or a mentor. She was a light in so many of our lives. She shared her love for music, taught about the world around us, and had a way of making every kid who walked through those doors feel welcomed, loved, and like they belonged. I feel so lucky to have been one of the kids whose life she touched, and I will forever be grateful for the impact she had on mine. My heart breaks for her family, her loved ones, and every child and person affected by this unimaginable tragedy. Megan, thank you for the love you gave so freely and the light you brought into this world. I hope you knew just how much you meant to all of us. You will never be forgotten.”
Fred Rogers often shared his mother's advice for frightening times: "Look for the helpers." Megan was a helper her whole life, and the children she cared for will carry her light with them.
