San Jose middle school mourns teacher killed in Monterey crash
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Martin Murphy Middle School is grieving the death of a popular teacher.
Waymark Code: WM140W4
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 03/24/2021
Views: 0
"The Martin Murphy Middle School community is mourning the sudden loss of a beloved science teacher who was killed in a car crash near her Monterey home Friday morning.
Mary Francis, 61, of Monterey, a veteran science teacher at Martin Murphy Middle School in South San Jose, died the morning of Jan. 20, 2017 when her car hit a fallen tree near her Monterey home.
Mary Francis, 61, was reportedly starting her commute to the South San Jose school when at around 6:05 a.m. her car hit a tree that had fallen across the roadway near Skyline Drive and Wyndemere Way in Monterey.
Monterey police officers responded to the crash and found Francis inside her vehicle, and she was pronounced dead at the scene, Lt. Ethan Andrews said. He added that recent storms likely contributed to the tree falling.
“The investigation is underway but it appears to be a natural disaster from the weather,” Andrews said.
Francis taught seventh-grade science at Martin Murphy at the time of her death, and was remembered for her passion for the subject. The teaching veteran of over two decades was also lauded as a “strong and steady advocate for student achievement” as the school’s science department chairwoman.
“Mary Francis truly cared for her students, and worked tirelessly to help ensure them the best possible school experience.” Principal Alex Aasen said in a statement. “Our school is far better for her having taught here. We will miss her tremendously.”
The school is making grief counselors available on campus next week. A temporary memorial has been set up in the school’s Innovative Learning Center, where students are being encouraged to write notes remembering Francis.
Francis is survived by her son and daughter-in-law." (
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