'Beloved' Teacher's Body Found in Elementary School Before Class Starts. Officials Think She Was There for Days

Published: Mar 10, 2026 4:44 PM • Updated: Mar 11, 2026 4:01 PM • Original source

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On Monday, March 9, a 75-year-old math interventionist was found dead inside a Baltimore elementary school

Officials believe she died over the weekend

“A pillar of the school community, she was beloved by both students and staff,” said Arundel Elementary School Principal Kerry-Ann Malcolm

A longtime teacher was found dead inside a Maryland elementary school, prompting administrators to send students home early.

On the morning of Monday, March 9, Deborah Tolson, a 75-year-old math interventionist, was found dead inside Arundel Elementary School, where she worked for seven years in Baltimore, Fox affiliate WBFF, CBS affiliate WJZ and NBC affiliate WBAL reported.

Following the tragic discovery, students were dismissed at 10:15 a.m. local time, according to the reports.

Officials told WBAL that the instructor is believed to have died over the weekend, and her body was found before school started. There were no signs of foul play or trauma, and an investigation is ongoing, the outlet reported.

Baltimore City Public Schools, the Baltimore Police Department and the Maryland Department of Health Office of the Chief Medical Examiner did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.

In a letter shared with the school community, Kerry-Ann Malcolm, the principal of the school, said that Tolson worked at Baltimore City Public Schools for 23 years, WBFF reported. The educator worked at Arundel Elementary School for seven years, and she “was a very beloved member of our school community.”

“A pillar of the school community, she was beloved by both students and staff,” the principal continued, according to the outlet.

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A crisis team from the district will be available to support students and staff.

"Our hearts and thoughts remain with Ms. Tolson's family and friends, as well as our entire school community, in this difficult time," Malcolm added, according to WJZ.

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