Southeast students provided with support as they mourn the recent loss of Coach Calvin Hampton

Many students and staff members at Southeast Middle School and Southeast High School are mourning the recent loss of Coach Calvin Hampton, who was killed in a car accident on Oct. 21.

All four of the Lauderdale County School District’s behavior specialists are working to ensure that students at Southeast Middle School and Southeast Highs School are receiving support as they grieve over the recent loss of Coach Calvin Hampton.

Coach Hampton taught physical education at Southeast Middle School and was head football coach at Southeast High School, and left a lasting impression on many students on both campuses.

Southeast Middle and High School students have signed banners in honor of Coach Hampton, and made a memorial for him, which can be found under a breezeway at Southeast High School.

One of the districts behavior specialist Dr. Lasicillie Johnson stated that at this time they are utilizing many resources in the Southeast community, to provide students with support at this time.

“In supporting students during this time, the school has been active in dealing with the needs of the students. We have had counselors, all the behavior specialists, all of the school counselors has been active in making sure that the students are okay having someone that they can talk to if needed,” said Dr. Lasicillie Johnson.

Dr. Johnson also shared that they have seen many students express their grief and communicate their emotions.

“The students, they have been great in dealing with this. All of them have been verbal because we know Coach Hamp was a great asset to the community and to the school. So, these kids that he really impacted have been seeking help from whether it’s the school counselor, the behavior specialist, their teachers, their pastors. So those students, they have been great in talking about what’s going on and not holding it in, because we want them to talk about it and process it, to be able to cope as much as they can at this time,” said Dr. Johnson.

The Lauderdale County School District’s behavior specialists will continue to guide teachers on how to look for signs of grief amongst students as they continue to mourn the loss of Coach Hampton.