Sept. 29--A Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 principal and veteran teacher died early Tuesday morning, district officials said in a statement.
Sarah Bankhead, who was named principal at Clearview Elementary School in 2014 and worked for the district for nearly 30 years, had been on medical leave since last month and passed away "following a brief illness," according to district officials.
"Ms. Bankhead was a consummate professional who could always be counted upon for her strong student advocacy ideology. She was an outstanding teacher and a dedicated and compassionate leader. Our district is saddened by her untimely passing, and she will be missed immeasurably," Superintendent Donaldo Batiste said in a statement.
Bankhead joined the district in 1986, teaching fourth grade at Abbott Middle School, then known as West Elementary School. She also taught at Greenwood , Glen Flora and Clark elementary schools before she was named assistant principal at Lyon Magnet School in 2008, the position she held until she became Clearview's principal last year.
In February, the National Association of University Women's North Shore Illinois Branch named her one of their Outstanding African American Educator award winners for 2015, the district announced at the time.
District officials said support and grief counseling services from the district's Crisis Team will be available to students and staff today.
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