Beloved Fairfield High School teacher dies

Credit: Submitted photo

Credit: Submitted photo

For the second time this week, a Butler County school teacher has died.

Fairfield Schools officials on Friday announced the death of high school chemistry teacher Bryan Walters, who passed Wednesday during a planned surgery.

A Fairfield teacher since 2017, the 50-year-old Walters was beloved by students and fellow staffers, said school officials.

Hamilton Schools also saw the death of a teacher this week in the passing of Wilson Middle School science teacher Jennifer Williams.

“Bryan was an incredible teacher who connected well with his chemistry students. He was extremely intelligent and worked hard to pass on his knowledge to his students and those he helped coach on the high school academic team,” said Fairfield Schools Spokeswoman Gina Gentry-Fletcher.

Walters, who was married, was a former U.S. Department of Defense employee, said school officials and teaching had become his second career.

Grief counselors are at the high school for both students and staffers, she said.

Bill Rice, principal of Fairfield High School, described Walters as bright and “good with kids.”

Rice said Walters had a “quiet sense of humor” and was witty.

“His calling was most certainly working with students. In his time working at Fairfield he was a chemistry teacher, Assistant Academic Team Coach, ACT-SO Coach and mentor and friend to many colleagues at the high school,” said Rice.

“Bryan was probably always the smartest person in the room, but never let that be known. He had way of dissecting programs and planning for solutions that was contagious in his department. And he had a wonderful wit to him with his dry sense of humor.”

Funeral arrangements are pending but school officials said a visitation will be held at the high school next week.

School officials said visitation for staff, students, and community members will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16, in the Fairfield Senior High School Arena, 8800 Holden Blvd. in Fairfield.

A special program will follow at that location at 11 a.m.

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