We are sad to report that Covid-19 has claimed the life of Texas elementary school teacher and new mom Alexandra Chandler. Photo credit: Heritage Funeral Home

We are sad to report that Covid-19 has claimed the life of yet another beloved educator. Alexandra Chandler, a fifth grade teacher from Fort Hood, Texas, succumbed to the disease on Feb. 13, 2022. She was just 27 years old, and she was a new mom.

Alexandra taught fifth grade reading and writing at Montague Village Elementary School in the Killeen Independent School District in Fort Hood, Texas. Even though she was vaccinated, she hesitated to return to work after Winter Break, because she was just days from delivering, and Covid-19 cases were surging. Despite her reservations, Alexandra went back to the classroom.

At the time of her passing, the elementary school teacher had just given birth to her first child, a son she and her husband named Beau, born Jan. 9, 2022. While at the hospital, both Alexandra and her newborn were diagnosed with Covid-19, but the pair were discharged and sent home. Five days later, both were readmitted to the hospital for difficulties breathing. Alexandra’s health declined, and she was placed on a ventilator. She passed away a few days later.

Alexandra was born on Sept. 20, 1994, in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Her family moved to Belton, Texas, when she was 11 years old. Following her high school graduation from Belton High School in 2013, the fallen educator earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Texas A&M Central Texas, summa cum laude, in 2017. She earned her Master’s degree from the University of North Texas in 2021.

“As a little girl, Alex always wanted to be a teacher,” remembered Jenny Clay, Alexandra’s mother. “It wasn’t so much that she chose teaching as teaching chose her.”

Brittney Montgomery, an elementary school teacher from Green River, Wyoming, has been named her state’s 2022 Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: CCSSO.org

I always enjoy sharing stories about educators who have earned accolades for their work in the classroom. One of these is Brittney Montgomery, an elementary school teacher from Green River, Wyoming. She’s been named her state’s 2022 Teacher of the Year.

Brittney teaches first grade at Harrison Elementary School in Sweetwater County School District No. 2 in Green River. In addition to her work in the classroom, the honored educator serves on her school’s Leadership Committee. She also volunteers as the secretary for the Green River Education Association. She mentors new teachers and spends time helping college students as they pursue their degrees.

The Wyoming Teacher of the Year faces a significant responsibility to represent the teaching profession throughout the state. Over the course of the coming year, Brittney will act as a liaison between the teaching community, the Wyoming Legislature, the Wyoming Department of Education, school districts, and communities. In addition, the Teacher of the Year serves an education ambassador to businesses, parents, service organizations, and media, and as an education leader in teacher forums.

Brittney earned the Teacher of the Year honors for her deep commitment to students. “She’s all about kids, and she’s all about doing what’s best for kids,” asserts Harrison Elementary Principal Stephen Lake. “It’s exciting. It’s exciting for teachers to be recognized for the hard, hard job that they have,” he continued.

Here’s an example of Brittney’s commitment to her students. When schools were closed at the beginning of the pandemic, she launched an online program to read stories aloud to help children stay connected. Her work was reported by a local news source, and “Storytime with Mrs. Montgomery” was shared with thousands of children across the country.

Brittney’s career as an educator has spanned 12 years. As a fourth-generation teacher in her family, Brittney demonstrated a passion for teaching from a young age. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wyoming. She earned her Master’s degree in Education from Grand Canyon University.

To read more about Brittney Montgomery, read this article published about her in the Green River Star.

Sadly, we report the passing of Kentucky elementary school teacher Stephanie Foster, who succumbed to Covid-19 on Jan. 11, 2022. Photo credit: Commonwealth Journal

Sadly, the educational community is mourning the loss of yet another beloved teacher. Stephanie Foster, an elementary school teacher from Burnside, Kentucky, succumbed to the disease on Jan. 11, 2022. She was 40 years old.

Stephanie was born on Dec. 30, 1981 in Somerset, Kentucky. As a teenager, she attended Pulaski County High School, where she graduated in 2000. Stephanie earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and her Master’s Degree, both from Eastern Kentucky. She earned a second Master’s Degree from the University of the Cumberlands.

The fallen educator taught first grade at Burnside Elementary in the Pulaski County School System. She had been teaching at that school for 15 years. Prior to her assignment at Burnside, she taught for two years at Shopville Elementary.

The loss has been keenly felt throughout the school community. “Those lower primary grades, you do a lot of one-on-one instruction. You’re on the kids’ level,” said District Superintendent Patrick Richardson Richardson. Dr. Jeni Bolander, also a teacher, agreed that the students and their families have been hard-hit by the loss. “Teachers just have the biggest hearts,” she asserted. “They want to see the world be a better place.”

“She was a leader within our school,” recalled Burnside Principal April Mounce. “She served as a grade level representative for many years, was an instructional technology trainer for our new teachers, served as a mentor for new teachers and student teachers…..and provided professional development to other teachers on various topics and programs, Mounce continued.