HEBRON — The Sandy Hill Elementary School community is mourning the loss of one of its own this week.
On her way to work on May 15, Sandy Hill teacher Elizabeth “Lizzi” Cockey, 23, was killed in a car crash.
According to a letter sent to Sandy Hill families from Sandy Hill Principal Deborah Gibson, Cockey taught special education for kindergarteners and first graders. She was in her second year of teaching.
“Her loss leaves a big hole in the heart of Sandy Hill Elementary School,” the letter says.
Cockey — who also coached the school’s cheer team — was high-energy, friendly and lively, Gibson writes in the letter.
“Even if you’re child was not a student of Miss Cockey, they will probably know her as she was very engaged with the life of the school,” Gibbson said.
Before coming to Sandy Hill to teach, Cockey interned at Vienna Elementary School during the 2021 to 2022 school year, Dorchester County Public Schools communications and community outreach specialist Valerie Goff said.
According to an email from Maryland State Police, a preliminary investigation found that Cockey — who was traveling westbound on U.S. Route 50 near Maryland Route 347 in Hebron — drifted left for unknown reasons and partially entered a left turn lane, striking the rear of a box truck. MSP said Cockey continued to travel through the center median, going west across the eastbound Route 50 lanes and sideswiping a Mazda CX-4 before coming to a stop in a field.
Cockey was pronounced dead on the scene. No other deaths or injuries were reported in the ongoing investigation.
Goff said that along with notifying the school community of Cockey’s death via a letter, Gibson called and spoke with each of the families of Cockey’s students.
On Thursday morning, students and staff began the day in small classroom circle discussions to share their feelings and offer support.
Goff said education psychologists, social workers and counselors from other schools were brought to the school, as well as external partners like Mid Shore Mediation, Life’s Energy Wellness Center and Mobile Crisis.
Goff said these extra supports would be available to students and staff on Friday, and from there, the school would “play it by ear.”
“People are on call, so they’ll be coming in on an as-needed basis,” she said.
In the classroom circles, the extra counselors, social workers, psychologists and partners were great in supporting teachers, Goff said. She said some teachers were still in shock about the loss of their colleague.
“It was great having that extra support there at the school, both from other schools and from, as I said, our external partners,” she said.
Teachers were given resources about grief to use with their students.
Goff said that students — particularly fourth and fifth graders — have started conversations about how the school community can memorialize Cockey.
“There are going to be plans about that,” she said.
Most Popular
Comments / 0