BISD Teacher, Region V Educator Die on Trip to Mexico

A Marshall Middle School teacher and a program coordinator with the Region V Education Service Center have been killed and several other educators were injured after their van went over a cliff during an educational trip to Mexico.

BISD Superintendent Dr. Carrol Thomas says Denise Wenzel, a history teacher at Marshall, and Dr. Dorothy Gray, of the Region V Education Service Center, died in the accident Thursday.

Dr. Gray was the wife of Gary Gray, supervisor of the bilingual English as a Second Language program in BISD.

Gary Gray received injuries described as non-life-threatening. He's among several people from the Beaumont area being transferred to a hospital in Mexico City. The Gray's two children, Chris and Paul, were also on the trip and received injuries that reportedly aren't life threatening.

Another BISD educator sustained serious injuries but is expected to recover.

Three other BISD educators are on the trip and weren't hurt.

Jim Baxter, Public Relations Coordinator for the Region V ESC, says two educators from LC-M and one from Jasper also are on the trip and weren't hurt.

Baxter says the Region V ESC Silsbee office received a phone call from the American Embassy in Mexico at about 4 p.m Thursday, stating there had been an accident during an excursion through a mountainous region in Hidalgo state and the driver of a van carrying eight people lost control and went off a cliff.

The trip was scheduled from May 15 through May 25. Baxter says Dorothy and Gary Gray organized the trips to Mexico for the last five years, and each year, they include teachers, school counselors and administrators. The objective of the program, called the Title 3 Mexico Teacher Immersion Program, is to take educators to Mexico to develop a deeper understanding of the culture of the largest immigrant student population in American schools.

Baxter says Dorothy Gray served as an educator for about 25 years and was employed by Region 5 for about the last 15 years. She was the Region V ESC program coordinator for the ESL/Bilingual/Migrant Support Program, the Master Reading Teacher Program and the TEA Limited English Proficiency Student Success Initiative.

Dorothy Gray received a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from Lamar University on May 10.

"She had such a passion for helping children in ESL and in all of the programs that she served," said Brenda McDaniel, Dorothy Gray's supervisor at the Region V ESC. "She worked individually with teachers and administrators and will be terribly missed."

BISD staff and students say Denise Wenzel was a wonderful and outstanding teacher. She'd taught at Vincent Middle School for a number of years before moving to Marshall this year.

"This is a very sad time for the BISD family," said Superintendent Dr. Carrol Thomas. "The employees were on a volunteer mission, extending their skills to impoverished children of a small, rural community. I ask that you pray for the team of BISD employees and their colleagues in this dire time."

COMMENTS FROM KFDM BULLETIN BOARD

dwright wrote: Dorothy was a good friend of mine...my heart aches for Gary, Chris and Paul...and for all of the family. We pray for you all and ask that God will comfort you as only He can. Dorothy was always a lovely lady, a loving wife and a loving mommy. She was so proud of her boys,Paul and Chris. One thing I will always remember Dorothy saying is so true of her view of life and her attitude toward others...."There is plenty...(of life success, happiness), for everyone! There's no need for us to be stingy with anything." Dorothy certainly had a heart for education and reaching those less fortunate.

YifanLu wrote: I was so shocked when I saw this. I known Chris for a long time, and you never think something as terrible as this would happen to someone you know. May God be with them.

cenafreak123 wrote: my heart goes out to ms. wenzel's family as well as the grays. although i am no longer in ms. wenzel's 2nd period class, i think about her often and will miss her deeply, as well as the gray boy. i love them and pary for the best.

momofatoddler wrote: What a terrible tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and with the entire faculty and students of BISD who have been impacted by this terrible loss. God bless everyone.

CAmmieMcDaniel wrote: Mrs.Wenzel was the greatest teacher ever. Gary Gray you and your son have my biggest mourning, your son is my best friend and he is so close to me, when i heard about this tragedy I instantly thought of him and borke down in tears worrying about his being, im sorry for your loss and know that my heart is here for yall. To the family of D. Wenzel, she was my favorite teacher in 7th grade, when i first heard about this i thought it was a rumor then more and more text came in about her and i realized it was true, i too am sorry for your loss.

anupama21 wrote: I am a mother of a student who had Ms. Wenzel this year and everyone realizes that she is irreplacable as a teacher and as a mother. My daughter was very attached to her and we hope her soul rests in peace. My condolences go out to her family.

sly007 wrote: mamaof5, thank you so much. You don't know how much you have helped us, knowing about the boys. We are just so upset. I can't stop praying over and over.

mamaof5 wrote: My husband works for Marshall and has been told that the boys are fine. Denise was a wonderful teacher and will be missed more than words can say. My son (her student) husband - our entire family is devastated. The Gray family is in our prayers as well. My heart hurts tremendously!

melondaisy wrote: Dr. Dorothy Gray was a beautiful individual who had a deep passion for educating all that were around her, including herself. She graduated from Lamar University on 5-10-08 with a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership. Dr. Gray worked very hard to complete this degree...and...she did it! I will miss her caring smile and tender heart...Love Always

2009baby wrote: Ms. Wenzel was amazing!!!!! I loved her so much. I feel so sorry for her family and especially for her daughter. She will always be in my heart!!!

itsalexis wrote: Mrs.Wenzel was my favorite teacher in 7th grade.
A couple days before she left for Mexico I was talking to her about how she was the best, and about how she was my password for my email adress.
:/
R.I.P mrs.Wenzel, We love you. Always in our hearts. <3

hasadog wrote: All I have to say is that Mrs. Wenzel was one of the best teachers I have ever had.I am sad this happened:[[