Lee County instructional assistant dies from COVID

LEE COUNTY, Ky. (WTVQ) – A community is mourning the death of an educator at Lee County Elementary School.

According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, Heather Antle died from COVID-19 on Sunday morning after being in the hospital for 16 days.

Gov. Andy Beshear responded to Antle’s death on social media, saying “There was a time when some argued COVID did not spread in schools. That time should be over. We grieve with this family and community.”

In a Facebook post, the district offered its condolences to the family, saying: “Our staff is mourning the loss of one of our own today. Ms. Heather Antle, instructional assistant at Lee County Elementary, was a special lady who made a positive impact on our students and staff every day with her smile and energetic personality. She helped anywhere she was needed, assisted with the archery team for years, and brought great joy to the students and staff that she worked with. She loved her family, her job, the staff, and the students. We send our deepest condolences to her family.”

The Herald-Leader also reported three other employees of Lee County School District are in the hospital due to the virus; two of the three are on ventilators.

The district is currently closed to in-person learning due to COVID, and will be using non-traditional instruction days all week. Classes are scheduled to resume on September 7.