Crisis Team to Help with Administrator's Death

A crisis team will be on hand today at for any students or staff needing help coping with Monday’s death of Assistant Principal Jeffrey Henderson.

Henderson, 32, died from respiratory distress, followed by cardiac arrest, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The assistant principal was at school when he began to have trouble breathing, Douglas County Coroner Randy Daniel told the Douglas County Sentinel. He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead about 11:15 a.m., Daniel told the newspaper.

In a message on the school’s website, Principal Fred Ervin called Henderson “a dedicated administrator, staff member, father and husband.”

“Condolences go out to his family and friends, as well as our school family and community,” Ervin said.

Final arrangements have not yet been announced. Parents concerned about their child’s reaction to the loss are asked to call the school at 770-651-6700.

Henderson, the assistant principal over curriculum and instruction, started at Lithia Springs on July 1, according to the Douglas County School District’s website.

He taught at Chapel Hill High from 2002 to 2007. There, he served as the graduation coach from 2007 until coming to Lithia Springs.

Henderson had specialist and master’s degrees in education leadership from the University of West Georgia, and a bachelor’s from Northern Kentucky University.

Soon before transferring to Lithia Springs High, Henderson wrote on the district’s website: “I am very happy to have the opportunity to be an assistant principal, while staying in the county that I love to work for. I look forward to starting work very soon as a Lion."