John Jones loved teaching.
He enjoyed it so much that he was working as a long-term substitute for the Heritage School District teaching Spanish even though he was retired.
“He was like a walking education history book,” Heritage Superintendent Tom Davis said. “He was passionate about Spanish and teaching and he was an excellent administrator.”
John, 75, his wife Shirley, 77, and their friend Kristine Trudeau, 66, were involved in a car accident on Friday afternoon. John and Trudeau died. Shirley is in the hospital.
Their vehicle ran into the back of a skid-steer that was cleaning debris off the highway. The accident happened at 4:45 p.m. on County Road 1450.
The accident has left the Heritage community reeling.
John became the district’s long-term sub after the original teacher left for a position at a larger school up north. John had subbed for multiple schools in the area, including St. Thomas More and Bement.
“He saw our opening and I was so happy to get him,” Davis said. “He was great last year. The kids loved him.”
Davis said John was beloved by the staff as well.
“It will be rough on our staff,” he said. “They all loved him.”
Davis said one of his favorite memories of both Shirley and John came from the Heritage Prom last year. John was in a full tuxedo and Shirley was in a formal gown.
“They looked amazing,” he said. “The kids and staff loved it.”
Davis said even though the district advertised a full-time Spanish teaching job this summer, no applicants came forward.
But that was OK.
“Honestly, it was the best day when he walked in the office door at Broadlands to say he would do it again this year,” Davis said. “I was ecstatic.”
Davis said he was alerted to the accident on Friday night by Mary Kay Anderson, Heritage’s special education teacher and Shirley’s sister.
Davis said he then contacted Jennifer Armstrong at the Rural Champaign County Special Education Cooperative, who helps schools put together counseling teams for crisis situations. Heritage staff, nurse DiAnne Boyd, counselor Patti Knott, along with deans Jason Conn and Corey White, will assist the social workers or counselors from the RCCSEC.
Today, the Heritage High School family will be gathering together during a morning assembly. Davis will talk about John and what comes next for the district and his students.
“He would want kids to keep learning,” Davis said.
Today, Heritage teachers will be covering his classes so the students will have familiar faces in the classroom. If students would rather gather in the library or gym, Davis said that will be allowed.
Davis said he plans on getting to John’s classroom early today.
Davis said in some situations, educators are told to let the students lead the conversation and actions surrounding a crisis. The district will also preserve the room until the family tells them what personal items they want.
Davis said that while today may be tough, he knows the Heritage student body will overcome this tragedy.
“Kids are resilient,” Davis said.
Davis said that he has not been told about any service plans, but once he is, the district will decide how to handle teachers and students who may want to attend the service.
As for the future, Davis said the district has had people apply for the Spanish position that they have left posted since April 2018.
“If someone accepts we will fill it next semester or try to find another long term sub,” he said.
John wasn’t just beloved by the Heritage Community.
He was actively involved in Masonic Organizations.
That is how Greg Knott, a St. Joseph resident and Mason, got to know him.
“He truly lived by the principles taught,” he said.
Knott said John helped him on numerous occasions and helped him learn new things with patience.
“He was a man of the highest integrity and moral conviction,” he said. “I will miss him greatly.”
St. Joseph-Township Librarian Susan McKinney also knew John through his work with the Masons.
McKinney described John as a loving, kind man.
“You saw the love he had for his wife the minute you saw the two of them together,” she said. “His love and care for her was evident in their interactions.”
McKinney said that Jones cared deeply for his friends and family, as well as the organizations to which he and his wife gave their time.
McKinney said that her family first met John and Shirley when McKinney’s son, Michael, was young.
“They immediately took to Michael, encouraging him as he grow up to pursue his dreams and career,” she said. “Michael always considered John to be one of his mentors on how a man should behave in the world. He will be greatly missed by both Michael and myself.”
Arrangements are pending at the Joines Funeral Home in Villa Grove.
