School mourns teacher's death ... body found in bushes

It will not be business as usual today at the Charlemont High School in St Catherine, following the untimely passing of one of its teachers, Tanijah Howell.

The 49-year-old mathematics teacher of Linstead in the parish, had gone missing last Friday, and was found dead in bushes in Barrett Hall, St Ann, at about 8:30 Saturday morning.

He leaves behind a wife and two children, ages eight and six years old.

Vice-principal of Charlemont, Maurice Sullivan, told THE STAR that Howell's death has shaken the school and the wider community.

Howell served the school for nearly 20 years, where she said he was loved by all and left an indelible mark.

Hard-working

"I am still in disbelief," Sullivan said. "He is a very quiet but hard-working person. His students love him. He was kind-hearted. He had this way about him, so humble and you could talk to him about anything."

In addition to his duties as a form teacher and sports house leader at the school, Howell also ran a private mathematics class in Linstead.

"Just walking through the town of Linstead yesterday, you heard people talking about him. He was so known by parents and persons around because anybody have problem with math went to him. Even adults have been to his classes. He was not a very outspoken person, but he got the job done," Sullivan shared.

Former principal of Charlemont, Garth Gayle, told THE STAR that he is saddened at the passing of Howell whom he had known for some six years.

He described him as a "wonderful, hard-working individual, who was student success oriented."

A counselling team from the Ministry of Education will be visiting the school to provide support to students and staff today.

Up to press time last night, the police said they were yet to make a breakthrough in determining the cause of Howell's death.