A Grand Ledge Public Schools teacher has died, leading the district to close its elementary schools and early childhood programs.
Chong Bedard, a Begindergarten teacher at Willow Ridge Elementary School, died. Bedard worked in Grand Ledge Public Schools for many years and had a positive impact on many students, families, colleagues, and friends throughout the school community.
Elementary schools, Little Comets, GSRP, Head Start, and ECSE closed due to the loss. District leadership made the decision so elementary teachers and staff who worked directly with Bedard could hear the news face-to-face from their leadership and have time to process their grief before returning to the classroom…