Beloved Halifax County principal, music teacher dies from COVID-19
Teicher Patterson, a well-loved Halifax County school principal who dedicated his life to education in poor, rural communities, has died from COVID-19, his district confirmed.
He was 50.
“Mr. Patterson was one of our soldiers in the army of righteousness,” wrote Superintendent Eric Cunningham on the Halifax schools Facebook page. “He will be missed but his memory will not be forgotten.
Born in Hoke County, Patterson became a Halifax music teacher, band director and finally principal at Enfield Middle STEAM Academy. He was recently named the county’s public school principal of the year, which he described as unexpected and humbling.
“Remember, there is a child in all of us, never forget your childhood while standing in front of your students,” he told the NC State College of Education, where he received his advanced degrees. “Always keep a child’s face in your heart and mind when constructing lesson plans and making decisions; the lessons are always for them, but they will always teach you something.
Brian Lewis, managing partner of the bipartisan lobbying firm New Frame, posted a memorial on his Facebook page, noting that Patterson grew up and worked in the counties most noted in the long-running Leandro lawsuit, which deals with inequities in school opportunity.
“Teicher explained how he actually educated children within an educational system that is built on racial and economic inequities,” he wrote. “Teicher could have taught school or served as a principal anywhere. My children in Wake County would have been fortunate to have him as their principal. But Teicher chose Halifax County ... and those children and that community are so much richer for it.”
Cunningham, the Halifax superintendent, is recommending schools open this year with online classes only.
This story was originally published July 18, 2020 at 1:40 PM.