Teacher Dies After Falling At School: Coroner

KANE COUNTY, IL -- A local teacher died after she sustained head injuries after she fell while at Hampshire Middle School last week. The Kane County Coroner's Office has identified the teacher as Barbara Taylor, 57, of Hampshire. The coroner has determined Taylor's preliminary cause of death was cranio-cerebral injuries due to a fall, according to a news release.

The coroner's office was called to Advocate Sherman Hospital on the morning of Sept. 21. After Taylor suffered a fall at the school, she was taken to the hospital. She was pronounced dead at 9:29 a.m., according to the coroner's report.

The longtime educator graduated from Hampshire High School in 1979 and went on to receive her teaching degree from Northern Illinois University, according to her obituary. she worked for 35 years as a teacher, including the past 21 years with District 300. (Get News Alerts and Newsletters from Patch).

She was most recently a physical education teacher at Hampshire Middle School, where she has worked for the past 11 years, and was also the girls volleyball coach and 7th grade girls basketball coach. Prior to coming to Hampshire Middle School, she worked at Eastview Elementary School and Golfview Elementary School as a physical education teacher.

She also spent time as a physical education teacher for St. Charles Borromeo School and as the director of the Hampshire Park District, according to her obituary.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 30, in the Hampshire Middle School gymnasium, 560 State Street in Hampshire while a visitation will be held in the gym from 3 to 7 p.m. on Saturday. A burial will be held in the Hampshire Center Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Barb’s name may be directed to St. Jude Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to the Hampshire Park District Foundation (to support youth athletic programs) PO Box 953, Hampshire, IL 60140.

The cause of Taylor's death is under investigation by the Kane County Coroner's Office and the Hampshire Police Department.

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