Tulsa Public Schools Says Support Professional, Bus Driver Die

Tulsa Public Schools said it is mourning the loss of two of its employees. 

The district said both employees tested positive for COVID-19 but emphasized it does not have confirmation of the official causes of death for either person.  

Tulsa Public Schools said a support professional at Nathan Hale High School was one of the employees who died. The district said that person developed symptoms over the Thanksgiving break and was not in the school building during the infectious period. 

Another loss the district is grieving is a bus driver who died. The district said there was no close contact exposure with any staff or students. 

In an email to district leaders, Deputy Superintendent Paula Shannon said, "It is painful to lose any member of our team, but I know that it is also scary to think about the possibility that COVID-19 could have played a role." 

She goes on to say, "We have a responsibility to do all that we can to keep each other and our community healthy. Take care of yourself too," and points to wellness resources and the district's employee assistance program.  

TPS did not release the names or ages of the two employees who died. In the district's latest data released Friday, it reports a total of 49 confirmed COVID-19 cases, which are a reflection from the past week.