Pregnant upstate NY teacher, 29, dies after collapsing in her classroom just one month before she was due to give birth to her first baby

A 29-year-old pregnant teacher tragically died after collapsing in her classroom just one month before she was due to give birth to her first baby. 

Courtney Fannon, a special education teacher at Kendal Central School in upstate New York, was wrapping up her day last Friday. 

Shortly after she texted her husband Kurtis Fannon, Courtney was found unconscious in a school building, according to Kurtis' close friend Matt Smith. 

She was rushed to hospital, where life-saving measures were performed to save both her and her unborn baby girl Hadley Jaye. Unfortunately, they were both pronounced dead by 6.30pm that evening. 

The cause of the death is not immediately known, but Smith said it's 'tragic and unexpected'. 

Courtney Fannon, 29, a pregnant teacher tragically died after collapsing in her classroom just one month before she was due to give birth to her first baby

Shortly after she texted her husband Kurtis Fannon (right), Courtney(left) was found unconscious in a school building

Courtney had taught special education at Kendal Central School (pictured), a public school in upstate New York, since 2018 

Superintendent Nicholas Picardo at Kendal Central School, the district where Courtney had taught since 2018, confirmed her death in a message to students and faculty. 

'Courtney was a special education teacher who served her students with passion and joy each day,' the message reads. 

'When she wasn't in her classroom sharing her love and gift for teaching with her students, she could be found walking our halls with a smile and a friendly hello.' 

All Kendall public schools were closed to students on Monday, Picardo wrote, adding that counselors were on campus the next day for students and staff who needed support.

“We ask that you please respect the family's privacy at this time. We have shared information via ParentSquare for caregivers who might need a resource for helping children handle feelings of grief,' Picardo said. 

Smith, who helped set up a GoFundMe page on the family's behalf, said Courtney was 'loving, genuine and organized in a way that always placed her students ahead of herself'. 

 He wrote in the fundraiser page: 'For those who did not have the wonderful opportunity to meet or get to know Courtney, there is an endless amount of positive and good things that can only be said about her.' 

Courtney exchanged vows with her partner of 10 years, Kurtis, in 2022, and the couple were eagerly expecting the birth of their first daughter in just four weeks

More than $60,000 has been raised as of Thursday afternoon to help assist in Courtney’s final expenses and additional medical costs

'Courtney was always prepared for any and all possibilities, and just when you had something you never thought would happen occurred, she was there with all the things you could imagine to fix the problem.' 

'She was selfless and my heart breaks for those that knew her best, as I only had the chance to know her for the last 10 years through Kurtis.' 

Courtney exchanged vows with her partner of 10 years, Kurtis, in 2022, and the couple were eagerly expecting the birth of their first daughter in just four weeks. 

Addressing the unborn baby in his message, Smith wrote: 'Hadley, although we never had the opportunity to meet you, see you grow up, and make great things out of yourself, I know that you will live on in all that your family does to ensure that the few breaths that you were able to take were not in vain and will not be forgotten.' 

'I know that you will be prepared to send messages and signals that you are there watching, just as your mom would be prepared for everything.' 

More than $60,000 has been raised as of Thursday afternoon to help assist in Courtney and Hadley’s final expenses and additional medical costs.