Two more Kentucky school district employees have died of COVID-19, raising to 35 the number of school employees to die of the virus in the commonwealth.
Rhonda Estes, an elementary school counselor in Lee County died on Monday. Estes marks the third Lee County Schools employee to die from the virus.
“Our elementary guidance counselor, Ms. Rhonda Estes, was a special part of the Lee County (Schools) family for over 31 years. We send our deepest condolences to her family. Our staff and community are heartbroken and we ask for your prayers as well as some space and time to grieve in this most difficult situation,” Lee County Superintendent Sarah Wasson told the Lexington Herald-Leader.
Previously, Heath Antle, an instructional assistant at Lee County Elementary School, and Lee County Elementary School custodian Bill Bailey died from COVID.
On Sunday, Collins High School teacher and coach Matt Cockrell, 41, also died of COVID, according to Kentucky Department of Education spokeswoman Toni K. Tatman.
“We have lost another Kentucky educator to COVID-19,” Tatman said in a social media post. “Matt was not only a top notch art teacher, he was a coach and club sponsor.”
Cockrell was an art teacher and golf coach. He was married in June.
“My husband went to be with the Lord this morning at 7:58 am.,” Cockrell’s wife and fellow educator, Carly Cockrell, wrote in a social media post on Sunday. “He fought so hard. I was told 5 different times that he wasn’t going to make it and he kept pushing and kept fighting until the very end. He was surrounded by his family when his spirit was lifted up.”
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
