Jeannie Fenchel

Jeannie A. Fenchel, beloved teacher at Zia Elementary school for almost two decades, was found dead Wednesday morning - the last day of school and the day before her 56th birthday. The cause of her death is unknown, pending results of an autopsy. Fenchel, originally from Coronado, Calif., moved to New Mexico with her husband in 1993 after brief stints in Colorado and Texas. She found a job at Zia Elementary School and has taught second- or third-grade there since 1994, according to Zia principal Ruth Cerutti. She became a national board certified teacher last year. For almost two decades, she established a reputation with parents and fellow teachers for giving 100 percent to her students. "She would work 80 hours a week to make sure that every student succeeded," said Albuquerque Public Schools Board President Martin Esquivel, whose son was in Fenchel's class two years ago. "She cared deeply about her craft." She specialized in connecting with every child in her classroom. "She understood the spectrum of kids' needs, whether they were bright or dyslexic or had some other challenge. She figured out a way to reach every kid she taught," he said, calling her "clearly one of the best teachers we've ever at Albuquerque Public Schools, I think." School board members held a moment of silence for her Wednesday night at a board meeting. "Zia was very fortunate to have her here," said Cerutti, who recalled Fenchel being tech-savvy and eager to give students hands-on experiences. She learned of Fenchel's death early Wednesday, but decided to send a letter home to parents rather than telling students immediately. Fenchel's husband of 30 years, Gregory A. Fenchel, 59, said there were no signs she was ill. On the last night of her life, he said, she corrected students' papers, as she did seven nights a week, while they watched "Dancing with the Stars: The Results" together, celebrating the win of country singer Kellie Pickler. "She sees the kids need help, she's right there on the spot," he said. "She was all heart, just a dream teacher." Besides giving her all in the classroom, she put energy into friends and family. "She was so proud of her kids," said Zia fifth-grade teacher Tammie Lamphere, referring to Fenchel's sons, 24-year-old Greg Jr., who recently became a registered nurse, and Jeff, 22, a student at New Mexico Tech in Socorro. "She was nothing but love, and she exhibited that to her students and to her co-educators," she said, her voice catching. "I'm really going to miss her." A funeral will be held at Calvary Albuquerque, 4001 Osuna NE, at 11 a.m. May 31. The Albuquerque school district will find a way to pay its respects. "We'll find a way to honor her in the next couple of months. She's the type of person you name a library after," said Esquivel. "She's the type of person you don't forget." Fenchel is survived by her husband and two sons, and two brothers, Christopher Ackerman, 60, of Coronado, Calif., and Peter Ackerman, 58, of Pasadena, Calif.