NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla – A Pasco County elementary school is accepting book donations after the death of a beloved teacher this week.

Kayleena Lounsbury died on Sunday from complications related to childbirth. Her baby daughter Macie died less than 36 hours later.

“She was bubbly, energetic, full of life… when she cared about you she loved a lot, especially her students,” said Summer Garlic, a former colleague.

Lounsbury has spent the last two years as a teacher at Cypress Primary School in New Port Richey. She also taught at Calusa Elementary School in Pasco County.

Her former manager and former West Virginia colleagues spoke remotely to ABC Action News.

Lounsbury began her teaching career at Iaeger Elementary School in West Virginia.

“We just saw her about three weeks ago at her baby shower,” said Heather Honosky, one of the parents.

Heather Honosky said her child had Lounsbury as a teacher.

“She was really passionate about reading and writing. My daughter loves reading and writing now,” Honosky said.

The former headmistress of Lounsbury said she was a great employee and loved her students.

“She gave more than most. She worked very hard. She made school exciting for the students, so the students wanted to come, the students wanted to be in her class, ”said Sheena Ashby, Principal of Iaeger Elementary School. “The first few years that a teacher is in the classroom, you have to give a lot of support. You don’t need to support Kayleena, she just knew what she was doing and did it right.

Kayleena recently got married in 2020. Her husband Cooper asks people to honor his wife by donating books to the class.

“Her husband Cooper wanted to donate books in her honor because she was so excited about reading and her goal was to help students become better readers,” said Ashby.

A spokesperson for the Pasco County School District said the books could be sent to Cypress Elementary School. People can also make checks payable to Cypress Elementary School c / o Loundsbury Library.

People can also donate books to Iaeger Elementary School in West Virginia.

For more information, visit the GoFundMe page.

More information can be found by clicking on each obituary.