Senior Averee Kyle was a hard worker, Spanish teacher Heather Martens said. Martens had Averee in class both her junior and senior year and said she was an outstanding student who always wanted to improve.
Averee’s death was announced to students Thursday with a statement read by teachers to their first class of the day: I have some difficult news to share with you that some of you may already know. We were deeply saddened to learn last night about the death of senior Averee Kyle. We have support available in the library if you would like to talk with someone. We know this is a sad time for the family, friends and classmates of Averee.
Parents were notified the night before in an email from Principal Leah Vomhof.
“[Averee] worked hard in the class. She participated well. You could just see the passion she got into things, but at the same time, she was such a kind student to everyone around her,” Martens said. “You couldn’t ask for a better student.”
Martens said one of the most defining aspects of Averee’s character was her kindness. She said Averee would help classmates in a respectful manner and was honest and trustworthy.
“You could just see the tenderness in her eyes when someone might have been struggling,” Martens said. “If there was a passionate moment in a discussion, she was very enthusiastic about a position, but she wasn’t like, ‘I’m gonna hurt your feelings to make my point.’ She was very conscientious of her partners.”
Martens said Averee impacted those around her through her compassion.
“They’re going to miss that person, that friend,” Martens said. “She was there for them.”
In the future, Martens said she will remember Averee with a smile.
“She’d always get a little twinkle in her eye, a little side smile,” Martens said. “She wasn’t someone who was a jokester in the class, so when it was something funny, she’d just get that little twinkle.”
Martens said Averee was a quieter student, but it was clear she wanted to better herself. She said Averee was a special person and she is proud to have known her.
“It was an honor to be her teacher,” Martens said.
A Celebration of Life for Averee will be held Jan. 27 at 9:30 a.m. at Life Church, 9800 W. 135th St., Overland Park, KS 66221. In lieu of flowers, the Kyle family has requested donations to SOAR Special Needs, an organization close to Averee’s heart.
Counselors are available at school for students and faculty.
The National Suicide Prevention (988) Lifeline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988.
We will continue to add to this story as more information becomes available.