Paden Community Mourns Loss of Teacher Who Dies Of COVID-19

Paden Public Schools is mourning the loss of a beloved teacher. The district, made up of just over 20 staff members, has done everything from covering Denice Faulkenberry’s class to closing schools for her service. 

“Our community is a very tight knit, the churches, the schools, everybody is involved in everything up here. We are a small school, we’ve got about 240 kids total pre-k through 12, everyone knows everybody, and everybody pitches in. If there is anything that’s needed we have a great support system,” said Michelle Stiles, the Paden Superintendent. 

Denice Faulkenberry fought COVID-19 for weeks. She finally lost the battle in late January after being hospitalized. 

“You don’t think it can happen to your school to anyone you know. We just thought she would get better and get back to school and everything would get back to normal,” said Stiles. 

Faulkenberry taught for years, most recently as a first-grade teacher. 

“Kids loved her, the parents loved her, she cared a lot about the kids,” said the Superintendent. 

“She just had a good balance between play and work and just hanging out with the kids even. He has made a whole 180 this year. He thoroughly enjoyed having her as a teacher this year,” said Kate Sprague, a Paden Elementary Parent. 

Faulkenberry also took a special interest in helping kids struggling because of the pandemic. 

“She was taking extra classes on professional development trying to get some more reading skills so she could help these kids that were falling behind because of COVID,” said the Superintendent. 

Those close to her said she had a heart of gold and made an impact beyond the classroom through volunteering and going on mission trips. 

A family friend has put together a GoFundMe to help her two children with expenses.