News
Texoma School District Mourns Loss of Principal in Morning Car Wreck
WHITESBORO, TX-- A Texoma school district is mourning the loss of a well-loved principal who died earlier this morning in a car wreck.
School officials said the death of Principal Patty Mitchell comes as a shock, and the district is trying cope with her loss.
Whitesboro families woke up Tuesday morning to a message saying their middle school principal had been killed in a head-on collision.
"She was vivacious, she was spunky, she was funny. She was one of those people, people wanted to be around cause she's always having a good time," Whitesboro Superintendent Ryan Harper said.
The Texas Department of Public Safety said it happened around 7 in the morning, when Patty Mitchell was traveling North on U.S. hwy 377.
They said she was hit head-on by a car coming from the opposite direction, while the driver was trying to pass other traffic. Troopers said that driver, 60-year-old Nathan Riney, was transported to TMC in critical condition.
"We've been punched in the gut...this is part of our family," Superintendent Harper said.
Harper said grief counselors are on each campus for the students.
And the community said they will stand together through this tragedy and will move forward one step at a time.
17-year-old, Dixie Ramirez, said she remembers having Mitchell as her principal and said her death really impacts her.
"She was a great lady, super sweet. Always had a smile on her face. Every morning she would greet you and be all happy, Ramirez said.
Parents and grandparents said they know Mitchell had a great impression on the students.
"I know my grandson, he loves her. He says she's cool," Grandmother of a seventh grader Sandra Beldem said.
"Worried about the whole community. My daughter graduated from here, so I know it's going to hit home pretty good when I get home and tell her the information," parent Kimberly Metker said.
Superintendent Harper said they will keep on teaching their students because that is what Mitchell would have wanted.