Clovis West teacher Monte Prieto found dead

CLOVIS, Calif. (FOX26) — A Clovis West teacher was found dead Thursday.

The Clovis Police Department received a call from a person doing work at a home in Clovis on Thursday and reported they had found a person dead. Detectives were called to the Clovis home and searched the entire property. Crime scene tape was put up while the investigation continued. Nobody else was at the home.

Clovis Police released a short update Friday:

"The Fresno County Coroner's Office has identified the deceased person as 43-year-old Monte Prieto of Clovis. Our Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mr. Prieto’s death. At this time, there are no further updates."

The district released the following statement on Friday:

Late yesterday, we learned that Mr. Monte Prieto, a popular and respected Career Technical Education teacher at Clovis West High School since 2004, had passed away unexpectedly Thursday."

This news is heartbreaking to the community of staff, students and parents who know and love Mr. Prieto, and there have been many tears shed today.

"Staff, students, and parents have been informed of this sudden loss, and plans to cover Mr. Prieto’s classes for the remainder of the year," the statement read. "Our trained response team has already activated the school’s extensive social-emotional support system that is available to students and staff in need following this sudden and sad news."