Teacher says she got COVID-19 at school, gave it to husband who died

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    KENOSHA, Wisconsin (WISN) — A Kenosha teacher said she is not returning to the classroom when the district resumes in-person learning because she remains too concerned about the spread of COVID-19.

Jeanne Hoffman believes she contracted the virus while in the classroom.

She thinks she gave COVID-19 to her husband and he later died.

Her story has been shared across the country.

“I never would have given my husband’s life up,” Hoffman said. “I would have chosen to stay on unpaid leave. If I would have to resign, that would have been a small price to pay.”

She appeared Wednesday morning on ABC’s Good Morning America to talk about the loss of her husband, Jim, from COVID-19.

Hoffman said she brought home the virus after teaching at Kenosha Unified Schools.

“I feel terrible that I ended up spreading this to my family,” she said.

At the beginning of the school year, Hoffman took unpaid leave because her husband had underlying health conditions.

When she had to return to in-person teaching, she said she was assured that anyone in the building showing symptoms would be sent home but that wasn’t the case.

“There were times I had to walk in the hallway and that’s when I would pass other staff members and that’s when I noticed they sound like they don’t feel well,” Hoffman said.

Soon after, she tested positive for COVID-19.

Hoffman said KUSD enforced COVID-19 protocols, but it just wasn’t enough.

“I don’t feel the buildings have the ability to prevent (the spread) until the vaccinations and mitigations work together,” she said.

Hoffman is currently on unpaid leave taking care of her mother who is recovering from the virus.

She said she doesn’t feel comfortable going back until everyone is vaccinated.

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