School Principal Dies Of Coronavirus 2 Days After He Was At Work

AUSTIN, TX — Jeremy LeJeune felt fine when he was at work as principal of Burnet Middle School in Austin on Friday. But before school returned for the following week Monday morning, LeJeune had already died of the coronavirus.

Burnet Consolidated ISD Superintendent of Schools Keith McBurnett said in a letter to parents LeJeune had battled a rare blood vessel disorder that was likely made worse by contracting the coronavirus.

"Our hearts go out to Mr. LeJeune’s family, to the Burnet Middle School staff and students, and the larger educational community in which Mr. LeJeune was an active participant," McBurnett said in the letter.

LeJeune was asymptomatic and did not know he had the virus while at school on Friday. He found out, McBurnett said, when his condition worsened over the weekend, and he was tested when going to the hospital.

"Although he was feeling well at the beginning of the weekend, he recognized that he needed to go to the hospital," McBurnett said in the letter.

"As part of the routine admission process, he tested positive for COVID-19. Although he was asymptomatic, it is likely that the virus exacerbated his condition. He passed away in the hospital on Sunday evening."

Students at the school will now go to fully remote learning, at least for now, after LeJeune's death. McBurnett said contact tracing is in the works, and anyone deemed a close contact will be notified immediately.

Before his time at Burnet, LeJeune was principal at Dessau Middle School in Austin for four years. He was president-elect of the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Executive board and the time of his death, and in 2018-2019 was named the association's Region 13 middle school principal of the year.

His leadership and contributions at Burnet will be felt "for years to come," McBurnett said.

LeJeune is one of more than 23,000 people from Texas who have died from the coronavirus, according to data from The New York Times. Thirteen students and 25 staff members in Burnet CISD have tested positive since the beginning of the school year, according to KVAN.