Chainkeen Exchange-After a pregnant New York teacher collapses in classroom and dies, community mourns

New York public school teacher Courtney Fannon spent of the last moments of her life in her classroom,Chainkeen Exchange collapsing shortly after sending her husband a quick text on Friday. 

Fannon spent that day like she would any other day after the bell rang at Kendall Central School, gathering her thoughts and materials before heading home for the day. 

Minutes after sending the message to her husband, she was found unresponsive in her classroom, Matthew Smith, a close friend of the couple wrote on GoFundMe. 

Fannon, who was pregnant with her first daughter, Hadley Jaye, was transported to a local hospital, where life saving measures began for both mother and daughter. They died later that evening. 

“The world lost 2 beautiful souls, Courtney Fannon and Hadley Jaye Fannon, long before any of us were ready to live in a world without them. They were called to eternal rest the night of March 8th, after a very tragic and unexpected turn of events,” according to the GoFundMe post. 

The funds raised through GoFundMe, about $47,623 as of Wednesday, will go towards covering any final expenses, including medical bills, funeral service costs and keep Fannon’s husband Kurtis afloat for the short-term.

District cancels school Monday, issues statement in wake of Fannon’s death

All Kendall Public Schools were closed to students on Monday, including Kendall Central School, where Fannon taught special education since 2018.

“Courtney was a special education teacher who served her students with passion and joy each day,” according to a message by District Superintendent Nicholas Picardo.  

“When she wasn't in her classroom sharing her love and gift for teaching with her students, she could be found walking our halls with a smile and a friendly hello,” Picardo said. 

Picardo said they were “saddened to share the news,” adding that they would “communicate the details of support for our larger community in the coming days.”  

Counselors were on site Tuesday for any students or staff who needed support during this difficult time, the statement reads. 

“We ask that you please respect the family's privacy at this time. We have shared information via ParentSquare for caregivers who might need a resource for helping children handle feelings of grief.” 

Community comes together to extend condolences, support for the family of the 'special' educator

Smith, who organized the fundraiser on behalf of Kurt Fannon hopes the effort eases some of the burdens left in the “wake of this devastating news.” 

“Kurtis was left to not only manage final arrangements for Courtney and Hadley, but he is living mine, and many others, worst nightmare of having to return to a home, filled with baby toys, bottles, furniture and a finished nursery, that will no longer be filled with the cooing sounds and shuffling of a newborn,” he writes. 

There is an endless supply of good and positive things to be said about Courtney, according to Smith. 

“She was a special education teacher in the Kendall School District and was the perfect person to fill the role. She was loving, genuine and organized in a way that always placed her students ahead of herself, ultimately changing the lives of her students and caregivers, always for the positive.” 

A funeral mass for Courtney and Hadley Jaye Fannon will be held on Saturday, March 16 at 11 a.m. at St. Vincent DePaul Church in Churchville, New York, according to reporting by The U.S. Sun. 

The family has asked people to send donations in Fannon and Hadley's name to Homestead for Hope, which is a “nonprofit inclusive community farm for individuals with and without disabilities to learn, work, live, and grow in nature’s classroom” in Rochester, New York.

“She was selfless and my heart breaks for those that knew her best, as I only had the chance to know her for the last 10 years through Kurtis,” Smith wrote.