Covid-19 claims life of South Carolina teacher Demi Bannister

Covid-19 claims the life of another beloved educator: Elementary school teacher Demi Bannister of Columbia, South Carolina. Photo credit: Richland Two School District

With great sadness, we report that Covid-19 has claimed the life of another beloved educator. Demi Bannister, a third grade teacher from Columbia, South Carolina, passed away from the affliction on September 7, 2020. She was only 28 years old.

Demi had just started her fifth year of teaching at Windsor Elementary School. She was at the school on Aug. 28, during a week of teacher inservice days before the school year began. She started teaching the following week from home, school district officials said, and passed away about two weeks later.

As a teacher, Demi had a reputation for creativity, and attention to detail to connect with her students. “She was known for having her classroom upbeat and setting her expectations high,” recalled colleague Rebecca Twitty. “Even if she knew a particular student would struggle with a lesson, she wouldn’t let them look down on themselves,” Twitty continued.

Known for her beautiful singing voice and her love of music, Demi was in charge of the school choir. Last year, she even wrote a song about the importance of school to the tune of the popular song “Old Town Road,” remembered Denise Quickel, Principal of Windsor Elementary. The song was composed by rapper Lil Nas X.

To read more about this amazing educator, follow this link to a story published by The State. To read more about how Covid-19 is affecting professional educators all over the country, see this article published by US News and World Report.