A second-grade teacher at Elbridge Elementary School died early Thursday morning as a result of injuries received in a head-on crash in Sennett Wednesday.
Nancy Rizzieri, 57, of Depot Road, Auburn, a 29-year teacher, had most recently taught second-grade at Elbridge Elementary School.
Her death came as a shock to her colleagues and members of the community.
“It's a horrible, gray day,” said Jordan-Elbridge Central School District Superintendent Marilyn Dominick. “We've been handling it all day. She was a wonderful teacher. We've lost a shining star.”
How to relay the news of Rizzieri's death to parents and students was especially difficult, Dominick said.
“We did tell the kids this morning that Mrs. R. had been involved in an accident and was taken to the hospital,” Dominick said.
As soon as the school was informed of the news of Rizzieri's death, Dominick said a meeting was called of the parents of Rizzieri's 20 second-graders, who met in her classroom at 2 p.m. They were advised that two school psychologists and a social worker would be available to counsel the children and others who needed to deal with their grief.
Parents received packets containing resources on how to talk to their children about death and dying. Questions that parents had were answered at the meeting.
“Some parents opted to tell the kids themselves,” Dominick said. “Parents might need us when we're closed for vacation, so all of the counselors volunteered to be available.”
Rizzieri had been critically injured just after noon Wednesday after another vehicle crossed the centerline into her lane on Route 5 about one mile east of Auburn.
The other driver, Leroy Walker, 73, of Syracuse, remained in critical condition Thursday at University Hospital in Syracuse.
Rizzieri had been flown by helicopter to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, where she died of internal injuries at 4 a.m. Thursday.
The sheriff's office said in a news release that Rizzieri had been wearing a seat belt and that Walker had not.
Dominick said that a teacher has already been assigned to Rizzieri's class to finish out the school year.
“I was able to assure the parents that their children would be receiving Nancy's lessons,” Dominick said. “She had her lesson plans finished until the end of the year.”
The school will be closed for the Memorial Day holiday until Wednesday, but Dominick said someone will be available to anyone who needs to speak to a counselor.
“They just need to call me,” Dominick said, “ and I would get someone in here.”
“I am so sad over this,” she said. “We're just holding onto each other.”
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the accident to call the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office at 253-1610.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
Her death came as a shock to her colleagues and members of the community.
“It's a horrible, gray day,” said Jordan-Elbridge Central School District Superintendent Marilyn Dominick. “We've been handling it all day. She was a wonderful teacher. We've lost a shining star.”
How to relay the news of Rizzieri's death to parents and students was especially difficult, Dominick said.
“We did tell the kids this morning that Mrs. R. had been involved in an accident and was taken to the hospital,” Dominick said.
As soon as the school was informed of the news of Rizzieri's death, Dominick said a meeting was called of the parents of Rizzieri's 20 second-graders, who met in her classroom at 2 p.m. They were advised that two school psychologists and a social worker would be available to counsel the children and others who needed to deal with their grief.
Parents received packets containing resources on how to talk to their children about death and dying. Questions that parents had were answered at the meeting.
“Some parents opted to tell the kids themselves,” Dominick said. “Parents might need us when we're closed for vacation, so all of the counselors volunteered to be available.”
Rizzieri had been critically injured just after noon Wednesday after another vehicle crossed the centerline into her lane on Route 5 about one mile east of Auburn.
The other driver, Leroy Walker, 73, of Syracuse, remained in critical condition Thursday at University Hospital in Syracuse.
Rizzieri had been flown by helicopter to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, where she died of internal injuries at 4 a.m. Thursday.
The sheriff's office said in a news release that Rizzieri had been wearing a seat belt and that Walker had not.
Dominick said that a teacher has already been assigned to Rizzieri's class to finish out the school year.
“I was able to assure the parents that their children would be receiving Nancy's lessons,” Dominick said. “She had her lesson plans finished until the end of the year.”
The school will be closed for the Memorial Day holiday until Wednesday, but Dominick said someone will be available to anyone who needs to speak to a counselor.
“They just need to call me,” Dominick said, “ and I would get someone in here.”
“I am so sad over this,” she said. “We're just holding onto each other.”
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the accident to call the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office at 253-1610.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
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