Florida Teacher Writes Own Obituary to Object School Reopening Amidst Covid-19 Pandemic

• A Florida teacher wrote a mock necrology for herself in an attempt to protest the reopening of schools amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
• She posted the obituary on Facebook to call out Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and other officials about their decision.
• Teachers have expressed fear of going back to in-person instructions, stating “there will be severe consequences.”

Whitney Leigh Reddick, a teacher from Jacksonville, Florida wrote a mock obituary on Facebook to oppose school reopening this August. Reddick’ s “hypothetical death” was supposedly due to the coronavirus.

The 33-year old educator wanted to point out that it is too soon to even consider in-person instructions. Evidently, teachers fear for their safety and of their students as the number of Covid-19 cases continue to rise.

“With profound sadness, I announce the passing of Whitney Leigh Reddick. A loving and devoted teacher, mother, daughter, wife, aunt, and friend to all whose lives she touched, on August 7th, 2020,” she wrote.

“She left us while alone in isolation and on a ventilator at a Duval county hospital in Jacksonville, Florida,” she continued in her post.

The Florida teacher talked about her family, husband, and son stating:

“Talon turned 14 months the month his mother passed. Being so young his memories of her will fade and he will only have those that were captured in film. He will have a hole only a few children bear”

According to NBC News, Reddick wrote the necrology after reading stories about other teachers who contracted the coronavirus. Sadly, one of them passed away.

Reddick, a special education teacher and mother, told Today that teachers are people that have families and loved ones, too. She likewise struggles with the notion of returning to school amidst the pandemic.

Florida’s education commissioner required schools to open at least five days a week in the fall.

However, the Florida Education Association blocked the executive order, emphasizing that it “violates constitutional mandates to keep public schools safe and secure.”

Despite Reddick’s reservations about in-person instructions, she vows to do her best to provide her students with the safest environment possible.

“She returned to work, did her best to handle all the roles placed on her shoulders; educator, COVID-security guard, human shield, firefighter, social worker, nurse, and caregiver but the workload weakened her, and the virus took hold. Whitney was taken from us. Yes, of course too soon, but we are the ones left with holes in our hearts, missing how big hers was.”

Reddick ended her necrology by calling out the officials whose decisions led to her “alleged death.”

“Please send your condolences to Governor Ron DeSantis, Mayor Lenny Curry, and finally the Duval County School Board and Superintendent.”

Several teachers from other states also wrote their obituaries and sent them to their governors.