Nelson County High Spanish teacher dies after falling ill at school

Monday, Nov. 14, 2011, UPDATED 2 p.m. — NCHS Spanish teacher Laura Sanchez, 57, died at Flaget Memorial Hospital Monday morning after a suspected cardiac episode at school.

According to a district press release, Sanchez was in the teacher’s lounge after tellng co-workers she felt ill. Nelson County EMS was called at 9:53 a.m. after Sanchez was found unresponsive and not breathing. Co-workers at the school began CPR. She was taken to Flaget Memorial Hospital while EMTs continued CPR.

NCHS Principal Eric Gilpin announced to the school at 11:15 a.m. that Sanchez had passed away and asked for a moment of silence to remember her.

The District Crisis Team was immediately activated and counselors were made available to assist students and staff in dealing with the death.

“As always, in a time of great tragedy, people are available to help. We remain a family and will deal with this as a family,” Mr. Gilpin said in his announcement.

Sanchez had been teaching in the Nelson County Schools for 27 years.

-30-