North Penn Staffers in Mourning After Second Elementary School Teacher Dies in Same Week

Keith Heffintrayer | North Penn Now•

North Penn School District staffers are in mourning after learning a second colleague has died over the span of five days.

In an email to school staffers sent Monday evening, North Penn Superintendent Todd Bauer announced that Sharon Sobotkin, a fifth-grade teacher at Oak Park Elementary since 2013, had died on Feb. 11 following a battle with cancer.

“This has been a very difficult week for North Penn and I am in awe by the outpouring of love and support for one another that I have witnessed,” Bauer said in the email. “I ask you once again, to keep your coworker Sharon’s family in your thoughts, as well as her work family at Oak Park.”

Sobotkin had previously worked at Bridle Path Elementary and had been placed on medical leave for nearly a year prior to her death. Her obituary can be viewed here, as well as information on funeral services and where to make donations in her memory.

In the days prior to Sobotkin’s tragic passing, North Penn staffers learned of another colleague’s death - — 58-year-old Cathleen “Cathy” Truesdell, who worked as a fifth-grade teacher at General Nash Elementary in Towamencin Township.

“It is with a heavy heart that I am sharing this information with you. Cathy Truesdell, fifth-grade teacher at General Nash Elementary School, passed away today after a brief and sudden illness,” said Bauer, in an email to district staff sent on Feb. 7. “Cathy started in North Penn at North Wales Elementary School in 1996 and has been a teacher at Nash since 1997. In those years she has touched thousands of young lives.”

Truesdell was a graduate of North Penn High School, who pursued a career in education after attending Millersville and Kutztown universities. Her obituary can be viewed here, and memorial contributions should be made in her name to the National Autism Society of America or another children’s charity.

“We grieve our loss, but Cathy would want us all to embrace life, take strength in the memories we have, be kind, positive and continue to tell your loved ones you love them,” said Cathy’s family, via her obituary.

In the email to staff, Bauer made note of the district’s Traumatic Event Response Team, including their therapy dog, Mario, is assisting those who are grieving and making the “challenging week a little easier.”

“Their work and dedication to our staff and students is truly appreciated,” Bauer said in the email.

In response to a request for comment from North Penn Now, a spokesperson for North Penn School District provided the following comment on behalf of Superintendent Bauer:

The North Penn family lost two of its own in a very short period of time. Cathay Truesdell, a fifth-grade teacher at General Nash Elementary School, passed away after a brief and sudden illness. Cathy started in North Penn at North Wales Elementary School in 1996 and has been a teacher at General Nash since 1997.
Less than a week later, Sharon Sobotkin, a fifth-grade teacher at Oak Park Elementary School since 2013, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. Prior to teaching at Oak Park, she also worked at Bridle Path Elementary School.
This has been a very difficult time for North Penn, and I am in awe by the outpouring of support that I have already witnessed regarding the tragedies we have faced. I ask the community to keep Cathy and Sharon’s families in your thoughts, as well as their work families at General Nash and Oak Park.
It is difficult for us to face death, especially for students who may not have experienced the passing of someone they know. School counselors and administrators were readily available to speak with both students and staff this week who needed to talk about this sad situation. In addition, we understand that parents may want to talk to their children about this loss because it impacts each person in different ways. Resources provided to parents can be found here.
Finally, I want to recognize our school district’s guidance department and our therapy dog Mario who have helped make this challenging time a little easier for those grieving, while also managing their own emotions. Their work and dedication to our staff and students is truly remarkable.