red bank 4th grade teacher dies in class

[cadillacdude1975]

www.wrcbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11866161

my gf's 2nd cousin goes to red bank elementary, and this was his teacher. from what he said when he got home was that Mrs. Close, 4th grade, was reported to have been sitting in class teaching math then went in to a seizure of some sort and collapsed. a student ran out to get another teacher, they cleared the room and waited on the paramedics. by the time the teachers cleared the class, she was reported to have been in the floor shaking violently and foaming at the mouth. apparently she died right there in the floor of her class. he also said she was a diabetic, so there is no telling what happened. it sounds like a low sugar seizure to me. i guess it was bad enough to cause cardiac arrest.

after the kids were moved to another room, they told her students she had passed. i wont post a picture of her here, but it is on the hamilton country education departments website that redirects to the red bank elementary site where you can see the staff pictures.

[Scarlet&Gray]

Prayers go out to her family and the children of her class. As well as the entire Red Bank school very sad and tragic.

[TNBear]

Mine as well, but why is this thread in the debate section?

[cadillacdude1975]

i wasnt paying attention when i posted. thanks PM for moving it to the correct section.

[Police Moderator]

i wasnt paying attention when i posted. thanks PM for moving it to the correct section.

No problemo, I do it all the time. This is a sad case for all involved. 4^th Grade is too young to have to learn about sudden death.

[Babs]

I heard about this somewhere yesterday.

[ScarlettP]

That's dreadful. It's bad enough that the poor woman died, but all those kids are going to be so traumatized.

[cadillacdude1975]

even though death awaits us all, you are correct about having to witness sudden death. its tragic, and Devin was still crying about it last night. he we talked to her cousin last night and he was just crying saying he didnt want to talk about that ever again.

[tina72us]

My daughter is a 5th grader there. How traumatizing for the class, and for all kids who knew her. My heart goes out to them, and to her family.

[Police Moderator]

Kathy Phifer Close
Former Hamilton County Teacher Of The Year
posted January 23, 2010

Kathy Phifer Close, of Signal Mountain, died Friday, January 22, 2010.

Kathy was born in McMinnville, Tn., where she graduated from City High School and was a 1974 graduate of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She was a Senior Cadet with the Girl Scouts in McMinnville and was a member ZTA Sorority. Kathy was a school teacher in the Hamilton County School System having taught at Birchwood Elementary before moving to Red Bank Elementary for the past 35 years. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2007 for the Hamilton County School System and served as secretary for the Alpha Delta Kappa Teacher’s Sorority. She was a member of Signal Mountain Baptist Church but was attending First Christian Church. Kathy lovingly taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School at both churches.

Kathy is survived by her loving husband of 32 years, Paul Mathes Close; two daughters, Dr. Elizabeth D. “Betsy” Close and her fiancée Timothy Jackson, and Virginia M. “Ginny” Close and her fiancée Josh Whitt; her parents, Harold and Mary G. Phifer of McMinnville and a brother, Steve Phifer; several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday and 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday at the North Chapel.

Kathy Phifer Close

[Isis]

She was my kindergarten teacher and my aunt's kindergarten and 2nd grade teacher. She was truly a gem. She'd taught at the school for 35 years and that says alot about a teacher. Even up through high school I would go back and visit her sometimes b/c even at such a young age, she really had an impact on me. She will be very missed thats for sure.

[Jay]

Pretty scary.. You just never know when your time will be up...

[Babs]

Live each day as though it were your last. Someday it will be!

[Deleted]

> Live each day as though it were your last. Someday it will be!

Odd. Those lines seem vaguely familiar.

[Jay]