Like so many people in the Durand and Swartz Creek communities, I'm heartbroken by the loss of Robert Cawson, who passed away Saturday (August 1) following a head-on collision in Shiawassee County. Cawson served as principal of Bertha Neal Elementary School in the Durand Area Schools district. Heavy rain was reported in the area around the time of the crash, although investigators have not indicated that weather played a role in the crash. A Career Dedicated to Helping StudentsFor those who knew Cawson, the loss is being felt far beyond the walls of Bertha Neal Elementary School. As an elementary school principal since 2019, he often talked about making sure the administrative responsibilities of running a school never overshadowed his most important role: helping guide, support, and encourage students.