Blue Valley elementary school principal, longtime educator Steve Vandemark dies
Steve Vandemark, principal of Morse Elementary School in Overland Park, died on Friday, an official with the Blue Valley school district confirmed.
District spokeswoman Kaci Brutto did not share the cause of death.
Vandemark grew up in the Kansas City area and graduated from Emporia State University in 1992, according to biographical information on the school website. He taught 6th and 2nd grade, and coached boys’ high school basketball at Shawnee Mission Northwest before becoming a building administrator in 2006.
He is survived by his wife, Stacy, and two children.
Over the weekend and on Monday, dozens of people turned to social media to offer condolences to the family, share stories and grieve the loss of the longtime educator, who many described as kindhearted and generous.
“There are no words to describe the impact of Steve Vandemark in my life and the lives of thousands of children, teachers, and families. If Steve considered you part of his flock (and that included everyone), there was absolutely nothing he wouldn’t do for you — joyfully and abundantly,”Amy Gaughan, who said she had worked with Vandemark, wrote on Facebook.
A little more than one month before his death, Vandemark wrote a message about grief to his Morse Elementary students. In the letter, written a few weeks before the school year started during the COVID-19 pandemic, Vandemark shared some of his own experiences losing loved ones, then encouraged students to reach out to friends who may be grieving a loss.
“We are called to help ease the suffering of others,” he wrote.
“My challenge to you: Don’t shy away from using your words to weep with someone who can’t stop weeping. Our spoken words of shared grief may help another soul simply make it through their day.”
