Barrington High mourns death of special ed teacher
The Barrington Unit District 220 community is reeling from the weekend death of a Barrington High School special education teacher who had been expected back from her 12-week maternity leave Monday.
Rachel Wright, 34, of Mundelein, had taught at the district's Barrington Middle School - Station Campus for nine years before moving to the high school last fall.
The shock and sadness of her death was compounded by the Cook County Medical Examiner's determination of suicide, nearly a year into the community's stepped-up efforts toward suicide prevention.
The organization HERE in Barrington was created last year after Barrington High School experienced four unrelated student suicides within two academic years.
The group's name stands for "Help, Encouragement, Resources, Education" and is aimed at highlighting the ready availability of all these things to those who are suffering from suicidal thoughts.
While the exact circumstances of Wright's death may differ from those often experienced by high school students, what is similar is the existence of people and resources that could have helped, said Barrington High School Principal Steve McWilliams.
McWilliams, a prominent member of HERE in Barrington, said this is the message that so much work has been done to get across.
His hope is that those working for the group won't forget the successes they've known and have a knee-jerk reaction that their efforts accomplished nothing.
"This issue that we're dealing with - suicide - isn't something that will ever go away," McWilliams said. "There will always be some segment of our community, of every community, struggling with mental health issues," he said. "There will be times when you deal with hard times. There will be times when you don't feel so good."
But McWilliams and other faculty members stressed their great concern for the family, students and colleagues of the fine woman that had been lost.
"She was a lovely lady and a great teacher, and that's why this is even more shocking," McWilliams said.
"Rachel was a very dedicated special education teacher," said Craig Winkelman, principal of Barrington Middle School - Station Campus. "She truly cared about her students and worked hard to meet their unique learning needs. Rachel also had a wonderful sense of humor that she shared with everyone."
"Rachel was a wonderful addition to our special education department at Barrington High School," said Marni Johnson, special services department head at the high school. "As a teacher, Rachel was highly respected and demonstrated a warm, supportive nature with students. She has touched the lives of many people in the Barrington community and she will be missed."
Though Wright was on maternity leave for nearly three months after the birth of her daughter, she had stayed in contact with her colleagues during that time, McWilliams said.
"She was excited to come back and we were excited to have her back," he said.
Wright's parents have requested memorial donations to an education fund in support of her infant daughter, Lily. They should include a name and address and be sent to the Lily Kate Wright Marino Education Fund, c/o Bill Wright, 1600 East Lawn Drive, Savanna, IL 61074.
Visitation for Wright is scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 14, at Law-Jones Funeral Home, 309 Chicago Ave., Savanna. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church at 2100 Chicago Avenue (Highway 64) in Savanna.
Wright's family members couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday.