DAYTON — A longtime special education for over 20 years at Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School passed away peacefully Tuesday, the school announced.
Judi Macleod passed away following a cardiac incident she experienced last week, the school said. She was with her husband and fellow CJ teacher, Don MacLeod.
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“While we are heartbroken that she left our lives sooner than we would have preferred, we are comforted by our faith in Jesus Christ and the promise of the resurrection,” Chaminade Julienne said in a statement.
Funeral services for MacLeod are pending.
MacLeod was featured in 2019 on News Center 7′s ‘Making A Difference’ series for her dedication to students at the downtown Dayton Catholic high school.
>> WATCH: Ms. J ‘Making A Difference’
MacLeod, a C-J graduate, started the Catholic high school’s special education program 20 years ago.
More than 100 students, one-sixth of C-J’s population, leaned on Miss J for everything from math to everyday skills that will help these students get through life.
“What can they do next?” MacLeod told News Center 7′s James Brown in 2019. “You want lives fulfilled.”
She was more than just a teacher.
“She’s like a team captain. And part drill sergeant,” student Dylan Shoemaker said in 2019.
“She’s terrifying,” William Brodnick said.
But they love her.
“She’s always there when you need her,” Mia Whistler said.
For every one of her students, she was like their mom.
“At the end of the day, you’re gonna have 20 kids that hate you. Ten years from now one of them will come back and say, ‘if it wasn’t for you, I would not have done this,’” MacLeod said.
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