At least six teachers have died from COVID-19 since schools around the country started to open for the new academic year.

According to The Washington Post, 34-year-old AshLee DeMarinis in Potosi, Missouri, is among those who died. DeMarinis, who was teaching at John Evans Middle School, was at high risk of facing complications from COVID-19 because of her asthma.

The teacher's sister, Jennifer Heissenbuttel, said DeMarinis had been worried about the schools reopening. But she went back to work and prepared her classroom for her incoming students.

“She was scared,” Heissenbuttel told The Post.

When she became sick on Aug. 14, DeMarinis thought she had an ear infection. But her condition worsened and she tested positive for coronavirus less than a week later. The special education teacher died after spending three weeks on a ventilator.

“She taught special education, and it was just her calling,” Heissenbuttel said. “Her students loved her and her colleagues loved her.”

Four teachers have died from COVID since the start of the school year.

Schools should be closed not to just protect the kids, but also the teachers, the administrators and the staff.

Tom Slade
Nacoma James
AshLee DeMarinis
Demetria 'Demi' Bannister

Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/wdjCoeXWXB

— Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) September 11, 2020

In Columbia, South Carolina, a 28-year-old third-grade teacher named Demetria “Demi” Bannister also died from complications of the coronavirus, the State reported.

“With heavy hearts, (Richland Two) administrators share this information with permission from Ms. Bannister’s parents who wish to remind others about the seriousness of this disease caused by the coronavirus,” said Libby Roof, spokeswoman for Richland County School District Two.

Roof said Bannister was teaching virtually when the school year began. But the third-grade teacher made her last visit to the campus on Aug. 28. That was the last workday for teachers before the school year began. Bannister tested positive for COVID-19 on Sept. 4.

“Ms. Bannister loved her students and never missed an opportunity to advocate for students and public education,” Windsor Elementary Principal Denise Quickel said in a statement.

In Oxford, Mississippi, a football coach named Nacoma James died during the first week back on campus for students. According to Mississippi Today, the 42-year-old man coached at football practices during the summer. He then self-quarantined after developing coronavirus-like symptoms.

Teresa Horn faced a similar fate after students returned to school in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The 62-year-old died from a heart attack after testing positive for COVID-19, KTUL reported.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of one of our teachers,” Tahlequah Public Schools said in a statement. “Losing a member of your family is never easy and in the current climate, it makes the situation even worse.”

According to the district, at least eight students and staff members tested positive following Horn’s death. The students were sent home for virtual learning after the tragedy.

In Vancleave, Mississippi, 53-year-old high school teacher Tom Slade tested positive on Aug. 24 and died on Sunday, the Sun Herald reported. Slade’s sister, LaGina Landstreet, said her brother told her that he had been exposed to COVID-19 at a gathering outside of school.

A special education teacher in Des Moines also died from COVID-19 a week before virtual classes were scheduled to start, according to the Des Moines Register.

The coronavirus has disrupted the start of the new year for other schools around the country. In Georgia, 260 district employees from Gwinnett County Public Schools were sent home after just one day of school prep on campus. Many of the employees tested positive or had been directly exposed to someone who had COVID-19, The Post reported.

Another district in Georgia also forced 900 students and employees to go home during the first week of school after they were exposed to the coronavirus.

Teresa Horn

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