ATLANTA — Jennifer Rogers-Givens says it was very hard to break the news. Her two children are in the 5th and 6th grades.
A week ago, their friend and teacher Hassan Kariem died in a roller coaster accident at Six Flags Over Georgia.
“I did tell them the day I found out. My son was very somber,” Jennifer said.
The same can be said for the entire school community at Wesley International Academy in Downtown Atlanta.
The school was on fall break last week. Monday was the first day back.
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“We have grief counselors here, our charter partners with APS, and our own school counselors. They have been doing an amazing job. The kids are being cared for, and the teachers are being cared for,” Academy Executive Director Jason Marshall said.
Marshall said Kariem was a beloved lifelong educator with 12 years at the Academy. He was the school’s IT manager, technology teacher, and robotics coach.
Rogers-Givens’ children have attended the school since kindergarten. They’ve known Mr. Kariem since day one.
Now it’s day one without him here.
“I chose Wesley because it is a family, and right now our family’s grieving. So, we come together to support each other, encourage each other, and remember the great impact Mr. Kariem had on everyone,” Rogers-Givens said.
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