A Denver high school has been temporarily closed after two teachers — including a 24-year-old, who showed symptoms of meningitis — died within a day of each other.
Teacher Madelaine Schmidt, 24, of Denver, and paraprofessional Judie Geoffroy, 63, of Aurora, died of unknown causes earlier this week.
Geoffroy was also showing symptoms of meningitis – a deadly infection that causes swelling of the brain and spinal cord – according to the local health department. Symptoms may include high fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, or a purple rash.
Autopsies have been performed on Schmidt and Geoffroy, but they are awaiting further tests to determine if the women had meningitis.
Eaglecrest High School briefly closed Wednesday to conduct contact tracing to determine which students and faculty may have had close contact with the two professionals. It has since reopened, but the integrated learning center – where the two teachers worked – will remain closed until Monday.
Teacher Madelaine Schmidt, 24, of Denver, died earlier this week after experiencing symptoms of meningitis – a deadly infection that causes swelling of the brain and spinal cord. Her autopsy awaits results to see if she had the deadly infection
Aurora paraprofessional Judie Geoffroy, 63, also died this week. The two teachers – who both worked in the same department – died 24 hours apart. She also had symptoms
The Arapahoe Corner County office said anyone in close contact with any of the educators “will be given preventative antibiotics.”
Meningitis can be transmitted by close contact, as well as through saliva and saliva, but it is not as contagious as the flu.
No student or teacher has reported symptoms of meningitis since the closure, school spokeswoman Lauren Snell USA said today.
Another teacher, Scott Nash – who works at another school in the district – also died recently, but Snell said “his death is an unrelated case and not related to bacterial meningitis”.
The school said it was “deeply saddened” to learn of the loss of the two teachers and said mental health services will be available for students.
Eaglecrest High School briefly closed Wednesday to conduct contact tracing to determine which students and faculty may have had close contact with the two professionals. It has since reopened, but the integrated learning center – where the two worked – will remain closed until Monday
Schmidt’s brother John posted a moving tribute on Facebook, writing: “Madelaine Schmidt you always posted us on Siblings Day so I’ll post you thank you for being the best sister ever , I will always love you.”
Among the series of more than 30 photos, John posted several childhood photos of his sister, family photos featuring a man dressed as a gorilla to his sister making funny faces as they run to eat a fruit at their feet the fastest.
John and his other brother Will shared on their Facebook pages that Schmidt’s celebration of life will take place at One Life Church on April 21 at 6:30 p.m.
“As she would say, be there or be square,” John captioned a photo of the two having fun.
The celebration of Schmidt’s life would take place on April 21 at 6:30 p.m. at One Life Church
Schmidt’s brother John (pictured together) posted a moving tribute on Facebook, writing: ‘Madelaine Schmidt you always posted us on Siblings Day so I’ll post you thanks for being the best sister to all the time, I will always love you. ‘
Madelaine was a graduate of Northern Arizona University and, according to her Facebook page, worked as a former dance instructor for the City of Westminster, her hometown.
Geoffroy graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a teaching degree and previously worked on an electronics assembly line for Lockheed Martin, according to his LinkedIn.
Madelaine was a graduate of Northern Arizona University and, according to her Facebook page, worked as a former dance instructor for the City of Westminster, her hometown.
Geoffroy graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell as a lecturer and previously worked on an electronics assembly line for Lockheed Martin, according to his LinkedIn.
DailyMail.com has contacted the family for comment.
Denver high school closes after two teachers die in one day