McLeod community, school grieve loss of educator, family

McLeod Elementary first-grader Ava Murdock receives a hug from teacher Jessica Downs on Monday in the school hallway. Ava's teacher, Jessica Baig, was killed in a car wreck Sunday, along with her husband and daughter. The school has been flooded with support from the community, churches and area school districts as they work to find peace through the tragedy of losing a teacher and student. (Submitted photo)
McLeod Elementary first-grader Ava Murdock receives a hug from teacher Jessica Downs on Monday in the school hallway. Ava's teacher, Jessica Baig, was killed in a car wreck Sunday, along with her husband and daughter. The school has been flooded with support from the community, churches and area school districts as they work to find peace through the tragedy of losing a teacher and student. (Submitted photo)

McLEOD, Texas - Superintendent Cathy May said this week has been brutal for McLeod Independent School District faculty, staff, students, parents and the community, but that they've all come together to find peace, comfort and God's grace through their loss.

"I've been in McLeod for 25 years and I have seen this community come together so many times, including this one," she said.

On Sunday, Jessica Baig, 33, of Horatio, Arkansas, was killed in a head-on collision on Highway 41 south of De Queen, Arkansas, along with her husband, Mirza Baig, 35, and their daughter, Lillian.

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Mississippi's Tia Faleru (32) scores against Arkansas' Kelsey Brooks (15) and Arkansas' Jessica Jackson during an NCAA college basketball game in Oxford, Miss., on Friday, Jan. 2, 2015. (AP Photo/Oxford Eagle, Bruce Newman)

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Tennessee's Vic Wharton runs for the end zone after he pulled in a long pass for a touchdown during the first half of the TaxSlayer Bowl NCAA college football game against Iowa, Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/The Florida Times-Union, Bob Self)

Jessica was a first-grade teacher in the McLeod school district and Lillian was a McLeod fifth-grader.

The Baigs' daughter Roselyn, a second-grader at McLeod, survived the crash and remains at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The community of McLeod, about 15 miles southeast of Atlanta, Texas, has rallied in recent days.

"I have received so much support from this community, as we have lost a staff member and as we have lost a student. This is like a triple whammy to us. A triple whammy and I am overwhelmed with support," May said.

Members from McLeod Tabernacle, located across the street from the school, provided food for the staff Monday and anointed the parking lot entrance and exit with oil during church services the previous evening.

Pastors from area churches were on hand throughout the week to give support to both the students and staff who were grieving.

Throughout the week, cards, food and love offerings have come flooding into the school, May said, with students in the hallways giving her hugs and handing her pictures and tokens of love to bring to Rosie as she heals at the Little Rock hospital.

May said it was not easy to transform the week into a positive one following the tragedy, but that it began with a plan. Sunday, after administrators returned from Little Rock to see Rosie, staff and volunteers called first, second and fifth-grade parents to tell them what had happened and asked them to tell their children about it at home, so they would not be surprised by the Baigs' absence Monday.

When they returned to school, students were given time to simply sit with both teachers and pastors, while holding a stuffed animal they brought from home to comfort them. Many talked of God and heaven, May said, with some asking to pray with the pastors. During that time, they remembered their much-loved teacher, their classmate and friend, she added.

The school has also been filled with love and hope, May said, with first-graders carving a pumpkin Tuesday with three crosses representing the Baig family. The fifth graders also honored Lillian's memory with a rock garden and the first-graders also plan to plant a memorial tree soon.

"That way they still have something to remind them," she said. "We do not want to forget them and always welcome that for the kids and make sure both groups have their moments of closure and try to return to normal schedules and structure."

As far as healing for the staff, two trauma team members were sent from Region 8 Education Service Center to help assist with what needed to be done for both the teachers and the students. May said the staff has been very close and that they are slowly finding peace and closure.

"We met Monday morning at 7 a.m. for anyone who wanted to be together. We prayed, visited and reviewed our day and everybody had a moment where we just passed the Kleenex and cried," May said. "I said 'Everybody take a deep breath. I know you are all human and I dearly love you, but your kids need you today more than ever. Put your game face on and let's take care of our kids.'"

On Wednesday, many area schools wore McLeod's colors, maroon and gold, in support of the district. They include Bloomburg, Atlanta, Queen City, Linden-Kildare, Hughes Springs, Maud and DeKalb ISDs. Representatives from Atlanta also visited the school, bringing support, a plaque engraved with "Faith Can Move Mountains" and a poster signed by students at Atlanta Primary, which was hung in the cafeteria.

"The support from the schools, messages on Facebook, phone calls and text messages - so many prayers that are coming from all different directions - as much as I know about this place, I am still overwhelmed," she said. "The love among my my staff members is amazing. They are supporting each other and taking care of each other. When one is weak, the other is strong and vice versa."

In remembering Jessica, who had taught at McLeod since August, May said she genuinely cared for her students and that her sweet smile will be sorely missed.

"I know people always say wonderful things about people after they are gone, but if you look at her picture and her sweet smile that is exactly how she looked all the time," she said. "She was kind, honest and sweet. She just, you knew the moment she looked at you, how sweet she was and you wanted to get to know her. In the short time we knew her, we have learned from her to take better advantage of our time together. We will be thinking about carrying her kindness throughout our year and years to come."

Funeral arrangements are pending and will not be finalized until a later date, May said.

Those who wish to donate may do so in person at the school, 19395 Highway 125 South in McLeod or by mail at P.O. Box 350, McLeod, Texas 75565.

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