{"id":57207,"date":"2020-09-18T15:41:32","date_gmt":"2020-09-18T15:41:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/09\/18\/dod-school-officials-identify-first-dodea-employee-to-die-from-covid-19\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T10:10:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T10:10:25","slug":"dod-school-officials-identify-first-dodea-employee-to-die-from-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/management\/pay-benefits\/2020\/09\/18\/dod-school-officials-identify-first-dodea-employee-to-die-from-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"DoD school officials identify first DoDEA employee to die from COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Defense school officials have identified the Fort Knox Middle\/High School counselor who died from COVID on Sept. 15 as Pamela Harris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harris had tested positive for COVID and had been receiving medical treatment at a local hospital, said Will Griffin, a spokesman for the Department of Defense Education Activity<\/a>. It is the only death from COVID among DoDEA employees to date, he said. There have been no COVID deaths among students, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harris has worked for DoDEA<\/a> since 2001 as a teacher and a counselor, Griffin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur deepest sympathy goes out to her family, friends and co-workers and we thank the medical professionals who worked to save her life in the face of this virus,\u201d he said, in a statement. \u201cShe was a beloved and valuable member of our community, and she will be deeply missed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Harris’ obituary, she was 60, lived in Radcliff, Ky., and was retired from the Army. She is survived by three sons, five grandchildren and four sisters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the tribute wall of the Chism Family Funeral Home website, messages were pouring in from family, friends, students, parents, co-workers, workout and gym class friends and others, describing her compassion, love of her work, her inspiring nature and encouragement as a mentor. \u201cMs. Harris touched the lives of children, friends and parents at Ft. Knox with care and compassion. She loved helping children in DoDEA and she will be missed by many,\u201d wrote Christy Huddleston, DoDEA Southeast District Superintendent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, a union representing teachers and other staff members of schools worldwide operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity is calling for officials to immediately move all schools to remote learning operations, citing Harris\u2019 death from COVID.<\/p>\n\n\n\t