Denver high school closes after two teachers die within a day

A Denver high school was temporarily closed after two teachers — including a 24-year-old, who was experiencing symptoms of meningitis — died within a day of each other.

Teacher Madelaine Schmidt, 24, of Denver, and paraprofessional Judie Geoffroy, 63, of Aurora, died of unknown causes earlier this week.

Geoffroy also had symptoms of meningitis — a deadly infection that causes swelling of the brain and spinal cord — according to the local health department. Symptoms may include a high fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, or a purple rash.

Autopsies have been performed on both Schmidt and Geoffroy, but they are awaiting further tests to determine whether the women had meningitis.

Eaglecrest High School briefly closed Wednesday to conduct contact tracing to determine which students and faculty may have had close contact with the two professionals. It has since reopened, but the Integrated Learning Center – where both teachers worked – will remain closed until Monday.

Paraprofessional Judie Geoffroy, 63, of Aurora, also died this week. The two teachers – who both worked in the same department – died within 24 hours of each other. She also had symptoms

The Arapahoe County Corner office said anyone in close contact with any of the educators “will receive preventive antibiotics.”

Meningitis can be spread through close contact, as well as saliva and saliva, but it is not as contagious as the flu.

No student or teacher has reported symptoms of meningitis since the closure, said school spokesman Lauren Snell USA today.

Another teacher, Scott Nash – who works at another school in the district – also died recently, but Snell said his “death is an unrelated case and not related to bacterial meningitis.”

The school said it was “deeply saddened” to hear of the loss of the two teachers and said mental health services will be available to students.

Eaglecrest High School briefly closed Wednesday to conduct contact tracing to determine which students and faculty may have had close contact with the two professionals. It has since reopened, but the Integrated Learning Center – where both worked – will remain closed until Monday

Schmidt’s brother John posted a touching tribute on Facebook, writing: “Madelaine Schmidt you always posted us on Siblings Day so I’m going to post you thank you for being the best sister ever I will always love you .’

Among the series of more than 30 photos, John posted several childhood photos of his sister, from family photos featuring a man dressed as a gorilla to his sister making funny faces as they race to eat a Fruit by the Foot the fastest.

John and her other brother Will shared on their Facebook pages that Schmidt’s celebration of life would be at One Life Church on April 21 at 6:30 p.m.

“As she would say, be there or be square,” John captioned a photo of the two fooling around.

Schmidt’s celebration of life would be April 21 at 6:30 p.m. at One Life Church

Schmidt’s brother John (pictured together) posted a touching tribute on Facebook, writing, “Madelaine Schmidt you always posted us on Siblings Day so I’m going to post you thank you for being the best sister ever, I will always love you You.’

Madelaine was a graduate of Northern Arizona University and, according to her Facebook page, worked as a former dance instructor for the City of Westminster, her hometown.

Geoffroy graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a teaching degree and had previously worked on an electronics assembly line for Lockheed Martin, according to her LinkedIn

Madelaine was a graduate of Northern Arizona University and, according to her Facebook page, worked as a former dance instructor for the City of Westminster, her hometown.

Geoffroy graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell as a lecturer and had previously worked on an electronics assembly line for Lockheed Martin, according to her LinkedIn.

DailyMail.com has reached out to family for comment.