Teacher, 75, Found Dead Inside Baltimore School Where She Is Believed to Have Been for Days

Deborah Tolson had spent more than two decades teaching children in Baltimore's public schools. On Monday morning, colleagues made a devastating discovery inside the very building where she had helped hundreds of young students learn to count and solve equations.

Tolson, a 75-year-old maths interventionist at Arundel Elementary School in Baltimore's Cherry Hill neighbourhood, was found dead inside the school before classes began on 9 March. Officials believe she may have been inside the building since the weekend, meaning she could have gone undiscovered for days.

Tolson had worked in that role at Arundel for seven years and was beloved by all. Her role focused on helping the youngest pupils, from pre-kindergarten through second grade, who were struggling to keep pace with numeracy while their classmates progressed.

No Foul Play Suspected

The school dismissed all pupils by 10:15 am after the body's discovery. Baltimore Police spokesman Vernon Davis confirmed the death and said Tolson's body showed no signs of trauma or foul play. The medical examiner's office received her body and will determine the official cause of death.

School system spokesperson Sherry Christian confirmed that no students were in the building at the time of the discovery.

That detail offered administrators some relief during an otherwise difficult morning. However, questions remain about how a 75-year-old staff member could have spent what may have been an entire weekend inside a school building without a welfare check being conducted.

It is also unclear who was responsible for knowing she was there or whether the district has protocols for monitoring staff members who remain in school buildings during off-hours.

Tolson had more than two decades of service in the district and, at 75, was among its older working staff members at the time of her death. A dedicated educator, she was known for showing up even on days when she was not required to be at school.

A School Left Grieving

Principal Kerry-Ann Malcolm wrote to families the same morning. Her message acknowledged that many young students would struggle to understand the news.

'Please expect our students to be affected in some way with this news,' Malcolm wrote. 'I encourage you to talk about what happened and to allow your child to discuss her or his feelings and thoughts.'

She also described what Tolson meant to the school community.

'A pillar of the school community, she was beloved by both students and staff.'

Baltimore City Public Schools deployed a crisis team to Arundel Elementary. Counsellors and mental health professionals were made available to support students and staff on the day of the discovery and in the days that followed.

'Our hearts and thoughts remain with Ms Tolson's family and friends, as well as our entire school community, in this difficult time,' Malcolm wrote to families.

For many parents, the letter meant difficult conversations at home. Some had to explain to children as young as five why the school day ended early and why Ms Tolson would not be there when they returned.

Originally published on IBTimes UK