An entire school community is coming to grips with the loss of their friend, Nicole Mathewson.
Mathewson was found dead inside her home, by police Monday morning. She was a sixth grade teacher at Brownstown Elementary School in Lancaster County.
“We’re all trying to be strong for the kids, that’s our initial focus, so our staff is working through this. It took them by surprise. It’s a difficult, tragic shock to deal with,” said Superintendent Gerald Huesken with the Conestoga Valley School District.
Mathewson worked for the district for nearly 8 years in a variety of roles. For the last several years, she taught math to at least 70 students. Teaching math is what she loved most.
“It was one of her passions and she was good at it; incorporating technology into her instruction and was very active, hands on. So she’ll be missed,” he added.
Mathewson, he says, was loved by her colleagues and students. 12 psychologists and counselors were on hand Tuesday. “They were all there this morning to help students and to help staff and to work through this together,” added Huesken.
Students also created sympathy cards for her family.
