School community mourns teen killed in Albany crash

NewsChannel 13 is hearing from the school community of the 13-year-old boy killed in a crash in Albany Monday night.

His family has given NewsChannel 13 permission to identify Tea’Shawn Walker.

The Hackett Middle School community was in mourning on Tuesday.

"When the students arrived, we did have a message that teachers were able to read to the students and share with them so that they could then understand what happened," said Superintendent Kaweeda G. Adams.

Superintendent Adams is remembering Tea’Shawn walker as a good student, an athlete, who touched the lives of his classmates and teachers.

"He was a good student, he was a member of our basketball team, our modified basketball team, teachers enjoyed having him in class, and he had a great personality. This is definitely a loss for Hackett Middle School and our district," Adams said.

The district now supporting the teen’s family.

"Our school has reached out, they’re providing food and comfort for the family, being there to support them in their time of need, and respecting their privacy as well is something that’s very important," she said.

NewsChannel 13 recently interviewed Tea’Shawn for a Top Teacher report about his school social worker, Ava Holt.

In a nomination letter, he told NewsChannel 13 he often had conversations with her about how he was feeling, while the two drank tea.

He wrote—she deserved to be nominated because she is a very special person who made him feel comfortable.

"He was a very compassionate young man, as you can tell in the nomination of Ms. Holt for the Top Teacher award," said Adams. "And just understanding the value of what his social worker brought to the table, someone to talk to, someone to be there for him."

A GoFundMe has been set up for the family.