Jordan Halane, teacher who committed suicide
Houston, TX — Jordan Halane, a Fine Arts teacher at Wessendorf Middle School in the Houston suburb of Rosenberg, died from an apparent suicide inside his classroom. He was found alone and unconscious by another staff member and was rushed to Oak Bend Medical Center where he later died.
The school’s principal, Sonya Sanzo, wrote an e-mail sent to parents explaining what happened. Sanzo said students were placed on a hold and were told to remain inside their classrooms without them knowing the incident.
The principal also confirmed that no weapons were found on the campus and the students weren’t in any danger. She noted that Halane’s classroom is located in a part that is not easily accessible to the students.
“Unfortunately, we believe it was the teacher’s intent to harm himself,” Sanzo wrote in the e-mail.
The class schedule was slightly modified for the students but was dismissed at the end of the day, as usual.
“Our focus is always on the safety and well-being of our students. We felt that you should be aware of the situation in case your child comes home with questions or concerns,” Sanzo added.
Halane, who was married since 2016, was remembered by his friends on social media and where they described him as a good man.
Celeste M. Barretto, his friend, wrote on Facebook that Halane was a “great listener” and “a kind soul.” He believed that he “must have carried pain we knew nothing about. He is deeply missed.”
“I learned so much from you about what it looks like to lead with humility, perseverance & joy,” Annie Kessler, Halane’s colleague, shared on Facebook. “I am so sad today and so grateful for the love & friendship you brought to this world in such a short time.”
Another friend with a username @Panadoara took to Twitter her thoughts and said, “It’s hard to accept. Jordan was one of the most public-spirited people I have known. His impact on youth and families cannot be measured.”
It wasn’t clear until now what the reason is for Halane to take his life.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched in behalf of Halane’s wife to help for the funeral expenses. So far, it has raised over $13,600 and support is still rising.
Meanwhile, school officials informed that counseling is also available for the students and staff when deemed necessary.