RCS students, staff in mourning after accident

Richmond Community Schools aims to comfort students and employees as they cope with the sudden loss of one of their teachers and colleagues.

Anthony A. Armstrong, 29, of West Alexandria, Ohio, was struck and killed while changing a flat tire Saturday along westbound I-70 near New Castle.

RELATED: Services, memorial fund announced for late RCS teacher

Armstrong was a special education teacher who worked at Test Intermediate School. It was his first year teaching. He had previously worked at Centerstone and Dennis Intermediate.

District administrators and staff met Sunday with Test employees to talk about grief counseling and plan to honor Armstrong, said Bridget Hazelbaker, RCS communications coordinator. Information about memorials will be announced when arrangements are finalized.

She said RCS will work with Centerstone, which already has a contract with RCS to provide mental health services, as well as with other community partners, to help those throughout the district who want to talk about Armstrong's death.

"Everyone is just shocked," Hazelbaker said.

Many employees are extremely upset about Armstrong's death, Hazelbaker said, and she noted a large outpouring of support already with many phone calls and social media posts to comfort those who knew him.

She said area residents have begun asking how they can help Armstrong's family. RCS officials are talking with his family to determine their needs.

Family was important to Armstrong, said Sally Barton, a fifth-grade teacher at Test. Barton ate lunch with Armstrong and said he often talked about his wife and three young children and involvement at his church.

Barton said Armstrong was well-respected by his students.

"I've seen such a transformation in the kids he'd worked with," Barton said.  "He was a great role model."

She said Armstrong was a behavior specialist who helped youth improve their compliance with school rules and respect, and addressed their emotional concerns.

"He was one of those good guys you hoped would make it because he could make a difference," Barton said.

She praised the positive impression Armstrong made on students and staff.

"He was a breath of fresh air to the school," Barton said.

In addition to his daytime role at Test, Armstrong coached seventh-grade boys basketball at the school. After the season concluded, he recently began coaching a club team unaffiliated with RCS that included students from across the district.

Around noon Saturday, Armstrong was traveling in a caravan of families to a basketball tournament when he stopped to change a tire. Henry County Patrol Sgt. Josh Smith said Armstrong was struck and killed by a semitrailer near mile marker 126. Indiana State Police and the Henry County Sheriff's Office are continuing to investigate the accident.

A group of Richmond sixth-graders playing in a basketball tournament Saturday in Greenfield wore black bands on their left shoulders in Armstrong's memory.

Millicent Martin Emery covers education and arts and entertainment for the Palladium-Item. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.