Freeman High School community mourning death of teacher

The Freeman High School community is in mourning, following the unexpected death of social studies teacher Lara Curry.

Curry died Oct. 8. Principal John Marshall announced the news to the school community Monday morning, calling her death “devastating” for everyone, especially the students enrolled in her classes this fall.

In a Facebook post, colleague Ben Fabian, who also teaches in the social studies department at Freeman, called Curry “one of the finest, most gifted educators I have ever known.

“The world is now a less warm, bright and positive space,” Fabian wrote. “I have no words this morning for the grief that I feel, or that my colleagues feel. Lara was one of the best of us. She was one of the finest examples of a dedicated professional educator one could ever hope to meet.”

Curry was herself a former Freeman student and was named the school’s teacher of the year several years ago.

In his email to the Freeman community, Marshall wrote that he would be in each of Curry’s classes today and Tuesday and that school officials would ensure that students had the resources they need to help them deal with the tragedy.

“I’ve asked our teachers to continue with instruction today for students who might welcome a distraction, but also to show extreme flexibility for those who are having trouble engaging,” he wrote.

Counselors are available to students in the library, Marshall said.

In light of the news, the school canceled Monday's scheduled open house for its Center for Leadership, Government and Global Economics. The event will be rescheduled for another date.