Volusia County mourns loss of Port Orange teacher and a local paramedic

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Volusia County Schools has announced the death of an employee.

Shyla Pennington worked as a teacher’s assistant at Sugar Mill Elementary School in Port Orange.

Family and friends are mourning the loss of a brother and sister who died from COVID-19 just one day apart.

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On Saturday, Volusia County Schools announced the death of an employee.

Shyla Pennington worked as a teacher’s assistant at Sugar Mill Elementary School in Port Orange.

In a statement released Saturday, district officials said, “She was a dedicated employee who loved children and also was a devoted mother, daughter, sister, and friend to many.”

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Channel 9 has confirmation from Pennington’s parent that she died from COVID-19.

On Sunday night, WFTV has learned that Shyla’s brother, Gerald Jones, a Volusia County paramedic, has also died due to COVID-19.

School officials said they’ve notified Sugar Mill teachers and staff of Pennington’s death and plan to have a crisis team at the school on Monday to provide grief counseling.

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WFTV has learned that Jones leaves behind a wife and child, and Pennington was a single mother who leaves behind a son.

Cox Media Group