Teacher's Death Stuns Troy Cronin Elementary School

SHOREWOOD, IL —For the second week in a row, students and staff at the Troy Cronin Elementary School are mourning an unexpected loss. Kelly Holmes, a third grade teacher the past 14 years, died Monday.

Cronin Elementary Principal Jill Howard told Patch that she sent an email letter to parents informing them that Holmes died of a heart attack. She is survived by her husband and four children. Funeral arrangements were still pending Wednesday, Howard said.

"It was very unexpected," Howard said. "She was amazing. She was a teacher who not only got her students to do their best, but she was a mom first and foremost."

Howard said she worked with Holmes the past nine years. Holmes was regarded as one of the faculty leaders. An incredible number of past graduates would return to the elementary school to stay in touch with her, year after year, Howard said.

"She was a leader and her classroom was centered around Star Wars, and she was just an amazing teacher. She loved math and Star Wars. She had a strong relationship with her students and her colleagues. She was not the clock hours kind of person."

Howard said that teaching became a second career for Holmes, who originally worked in law enforcement.

Last week, Troy Cronin was dealt another terrible blow. An 8-year-old third grade student from a different classroom died May 11 from a congenital heart condition.

Howard emphasized neither death was attributed to the new coronavirus.

With students continuing their online learning for a third consecutive month, Howard said that Troy Cronin brought in a comfort dog for Tuesday's Zoom video call with students.

"It was sweet to see the students' innocence," their principal said. "It's a really big loss for our school. I'm sad. I'm really sad."

According to the principal, Holmes had already arranged to do a Zoom video call with her third-grade students on Wednesday night, called "Books Before Bedtime."

Earlier in the day, Howard told Patch the Books Before Bedtime was still taking place.

Also this week, dozens of students and staff have posted condolences on Holmes' Google classroom. Troy Cronin has about 620 students and 110 staff.

"It's very important everyone has a chance to grieve," Howard said.