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Teacher from Kennesaw killed in Wisconsin school shooting
Erin West, 42, graduated in 2005 with a degree in early childhood education. She was one of the people who died in a school shooting in Madison, Wisconsin.
KENNESAW, Ga. - The teacher killed during the recent mass shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, has a metro Atlanta connection.
Erin M. West, 42, graduated from Kennesaw State University. She reportedly received a degree in early childhood education in 2005. The school sent the following statement to FOX 5 Atlanta:
Abundant Life Christian School also released a statement about West:
According to the school, West worked at ALCS for three years as a substitute teacher before taking a full-time staff role as an in-house substitute and coordinator.
ERIN WEST (CREDIT: Gunderson Funeral and Cremation Care)
Before attending KSU and becoming a teacher, West graduated from Harrison High School in Kennesaw in 2000. Cobb County school officials released the following statement:
According to her obituary, she married Jack West in 2005 in Powder Springs. West was also a mother to three daughters named Emery, Laurel and Adleigh.
Pastor Rob Warren said Erin and her husband, Jack, walked into his church two-and-a-half years ago and they immediately became friends.
"Erin was a woman who lived her life for one primary mission and that was to love jesus and to love people. And honestly that's why she was in that classroom that day to love those kids as jesus loves those kids," said Pastor Rob Warren, lead pastor of DOXA Church.
Pastor Warren said Erin's husband and their three daughters are leaning on each other and their faith.
"It's just going to be a long journey of grieving and healing. I'm thankful they're surrounded by so many people who love them," said Pastor Warren.
Her funeral service is being held at her church in Madison.
West, along with 14-year-old Rubi P. Vergara, was pronounced dead at the scene after the suspected shooter, 15-year-old Natalie "Samanth" L. Rupnow, opened fire inside the school earlier this week.
Their names were released late Wednesday by the Dane County Medical Examiner.
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Six other people were also injured during the shooting, and two students with life-threatening injuries remain in the hospital.
Four others — three students and a teacher — have been released.