Colleen Ritzer, slain Danvers High School teacher, remembered as passionate, inspirational
As police investigate the killing of a 24-year-old math teacher, her family and students remembered her as passionate about her job, CBS Boston station WBZ-TV reports.
The
body of Colleen Ritzer was found in the woods after investigators said
they found blood in a second-floor bathroom at Danvers High School.
Philip Chism, 14, stands during his arraignment in Salem District Court in Salem, Mass., Oct. 23, 2013.
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AP Photo/Boston Herald - Patrick Whittemore
Philip Chism, 14, was charged with her murder and ordered held without bail at his arraignment in Salem District Court Wednesday afternoon.
Ritzer's family released a statement Wednesday afternoon asking for privacy.
"At
this time we are mourning the tragic death of our amazing, beautiful
daughter and sister," the statement read. "Everyone that knew and loved
Colleen knew of her passion for teaching and how she mentored each and
every one of her students."
Riley Doyle, 14 and a
freshman in Ritzer's geometry class, told CBSNews.com that her teacher
"was always really upbeat and positive and excited about math."
"She made every lesson like you wanted to learn it," Riley said. "For the first time, math became one of my favorite classes."
Riley said Ritzer's students thought highly of her.
"She
was always very courteous to her students, and she would never talk
down to them," Riley said. "She treated them like people."
Riley's
sister Regan Doyle, 17 and a senior at the high school, told
CBSNews.com that she didn't have Ritzer as a teacher, but she had "never
heard one bad thing about her."
"My sister would always come home from school saying how she was her favorite teacher," Regan said.
Regan said Ritzer's death came as a shock to the school.
"It's
just a tragedy, and it's so bad because she's so young," Regan said,
"and you could tell that she really loved her job and the kids, and it's
sad that this had to happen."
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