Board of Education Chief Support Officer

Charlie Wise, Chair Chris Bauer

Kay Sharon, Vice Chair
lori.pfeiffer
Dawn Johnson Chief Operations Officer
John Stith
Andrea Palmer
Ben Sego Chief Academic Officer
Greg Sutton
Teresa Morgan, Superintendent

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: John Wright

OCTOBER 22, 2018 Community Relations Specialist
(270) 769-8867
john.wright@hardin.kyschools.us

The following is a statement from Hardin County Schools Superintendent Teresa Morgan:

“We are saddened about the loss of two members of the John Hardin High School family.
Jacob Barber and senior Katarina Peeters passed away over the weekend in an automobile
accident. Jacob had just graduated from Hardin County High School.

Katarina was a wonderful student that enjoyed her time in and out of the classroom. She
was truly loved by family and friends. She was also a member of the school’s archery team.
She had lots of potential and had a successful life in front of her.

Jacob was a leader and a young man that had a full and vibrant life ahead of him as well.
He also was a wonderful student and was admired by his peers, his family, teachers and
school staff.

The burden that these families now bear is overwhelming. Their worlds have been shaken
to the core by the pain of this unspeakable tragedy. We encourage our community and the
rest of the HCS family to keep these families in their thoughts and deepest concerns.

John Hardin High School principal Mark Wells constantly reiterates the importance of
family with his students. He also reminds them often that even though they all have
different last names, they are family. I am confident that the Bulldog family and that of
Hardin County High will ban together and hold tight in their unbreakable bonds of love,
courage and determination. I ask our Hardin County community to keep these students
and staffs close to its heart.

Our district motto this year is #HCSStrongerTogether. We will all need each other to begin
the healing process and nurture it through to completion. Our HCS family has a
longstanding tradition of taking care of each other and providing love and support,
especially in times like these.

Hardin County Schools has additional counselors available for students and staff for as long
as they are needed.

We also know that two other John Hardin students were injured in the accident. We
continue to think about them, their families and friends as they walk the road of recovery.

-more-

65 W.A. Jenkins Road ● Elizabethtown, KY ● Phone 270-769-8800 ● Fax 270-769-8888 ● www.hardin.k12.ky.us

Equal Education and Employment Institution
 All of these families will have our continued support. Family takes care of each other and
the HCS family will continue to share its love and support.”

For further questions, please contact John Wright at 270-769-8867 or 270-307-5382. Please do not
contact the school. Emotions are raw today and they do not need the additional weight of speaking to
the media.

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