Grief counselors dispatched to Lexington high school after death of athletic director
Grief counselors were on campus Tuesday afternoon to support coaches, athletic teams and others following the death of Jason Howell, a teacher and the athletic director at Lexington’s Paul Laurence Dunbar High School.
“It is with a heavy heart that I write this afternoon to let you know that one of our beloved staff members, Jason Howell, passed away unexpectedly,” Principal Marlon Ball said in a letter to families Tuesday. “Mr. Howell served as our Athletic Director and as a SAFE teacher. He could always be found on campus supporting our students, our staff, and school no matter what was needed.”
SAFE is a program designed to eliminate suspensions and failures.
Ball’s letter did not say how Howell died. It happened Tuesday. On Wednesday, Fayette Coroner Gary Ginn said the cause of death is being investigated as a suicide.
“His dedication to our program and school was unmatched and he has been a valued member of the FCPS and Dunbar family for over 27 years,” the letter said.
After school Tuesday, grief counselors met with coaches and athletic teams that were scheduled to practice, Ball said.
“We will have a team of grief counselors on campus throughout the week to work with students and staff who need help processing this difficult loss. Additional counselors from the district will continue to be available for as long as our PLD family needs extra support,” Ball’s letter said.
Howell coached Paul Laurence Dunbar’s football team in 2008 and 2009 in which he compiled a 3-19 record in his two seasons. He told the Herald-Leader at the time he resigned as head coach for personal reasons.
He stayed on as an assistant baseball coach for a time and later became the school’s athletic director. Previously, he had been an assistant football coach at Tates Creek.
Howell played on Pikeville’s powerhouse football teams in the late 1980s. He was an offensive lineman for Coach Hillard Howard’s Class A state champs in 1988 and ‘89. He returned to Pikeville and became an assistant in 1996. He was there nine years before coming to Lexington to join Tates Creek’s staff in 2005.
Fellow teacher Sharessa Bentley-Crovo said “Jason was the heart and soul of Bulldog nation. “
“We want him to be remembered for his acts of service for student athletes,” she said. “He procured facilities and accommodations on a public school budget that allowed the second largest school in the state to remain competitive and provide state championships under his care and supervision. This took years to nurture. He was an exceptional teacher and mentor. “
KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett said in a statement Wednesday that “Jason, as the athletic director and an educator at Paul Laurence Dunbar, emulated what our office hopes for from leaders in his role.”
“We are saddened by his sudden and unexpected passing,” Tackett said.
This story was originally published November 1, 2022 at 8:30 PM.
