Leander middle school teacher Scott Harman's death a shock to family, campus

Scott Harman loved his family, teaching American history, visiting old battlefields, coaching sports and going to the beach. The Leander school teacher died suddenly of a heart attack on Friday, said his wife, Ami Harman. He was 56.

"This was truly unexpected," she said. "I loved him. We will miss him."

Funeral services are at 6 p.m. Friday at New Hope First Baptist Church at 200 W. New Hope Dr. in Cedar Park.

Harman had been teaching social studies to eighth graders at Stiles Middle School since the fall semester. He previously had taught the same subject to students at Canyon Ridge Middle School for 20 years, relatives said.

"He enjoyed getting to connect with kids and bring history to life," said his wife. "He taught by storytelling."

Parents of students at Stiles Middle School received a letter from the principal on Friday about Harman's death. "His passing has affected students and staff members deeply," said the letter. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Scott and Ami’s family and friends."

The school had a district crisis team on campus on Monday that is trained to deal with grief counseling and was available for students and staff, according to the letter. "We hope this resource can help process a deep sense of loss and grief," it said.

"Mr. Harman taught with a love for what he did and inspired us to work with passion the same way he did," an unidentified student said in a statement sent by the school.

"Mr. Harman served as a teacher in Leander ISD for 21 years," said Stiles Principal Jayme Spexarth. "He shared a love of all things history with his students. He was known for being patient and kind, especially to students who were new to the United States and learning U.S. history for the first time."

The school is focused on maintaining as much routine as possible for the students in Harman's class, said Spexarth. "Coverage for the rest of the year will involve help from the rest of the school's social studies team and assistance from a long-term substitute teacher," he said.

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Scott Harman was a Native American from the Choctaw tribe, his wife said. After graduating from Texas Tech University with a bachelor's degree in history and political science, she said, he was in the Navy Reserves, was a bull rider and also worked on a ranch.

She said she got to know him while they were both teaching in the Aransas Pass school district near Corpus Christi.

They married and moved to the Georgetown area to be closer to relatives, said Ami Harman, who also works at Stiles Middle School as a counselor. Their daughter, Addison, also attends the school.

"He was the most amazing dad," said Ami Harman. Scott Harman prayed with Addison every night and taught her to think of other people, she said.

"He wanted to make sure she learned things that were important to know in life, like always say 'thank you' and always ask if someone needs something," his wife said.

The family was able to donate his organs because he wanted to help others by doing that, Ami Harman said.

He would have wanted people to know about the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance, his wife said.

The alliance has about 10,000 Texans on a waiting list for organs, said Danny Johnson, the family services coordinator for the nonprofit.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Death of Leander middle school teacher Scott Harman a shock