CANTON ‒ The 11-year-old who died Saturday from injuries suffered in a house fire is being remembered by her teachers as "a smart, sweet, funny and kind student who would go out of her way to help others," her school principal said in a prepared statement.
Monica Black, principal at Youtz Intermediate School, said the school community is saddened by the loss of Harmony Fowler.
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"Her contagious spirit brightened everyone’s day," she said, adding that Harmony had been a student of the month and a member of a girls' leadership club. "She will be dearly missed by all of her Youtz Family. "
Harmony died after being removed from life support at Akron Children's Hospital. She had not regained consciousness after the fire at 929 Third St. NW on the evening of July 12. The fire remains under investigation.
Her family declined to comment. Harmony would have entered sixth grade at Youtz.
“She was a sweet girl who had a fun sense of humor,” math teacher Jacob Wilson said in a statement relayed by the Canton City Schools administration.
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“Harmony was a tenacious young lady who touched the lives of many people in the Canton City School District," said Tracy Sallie, former counselor at Belle Stone Elementary, in a prepared statement. "She had a beautiful smile and spirit that will long be remembered by those who loved, counseled, guided, befriended, and taught her every day. Our continued thoughts and prayers go out to her family, especially her grandmother and sisters, at this time.”
Geneva Parker, a teacher and adviser of the girls' leadership program at Youtz, described Harmony as a diligent and curious student who discovered a profound passion for learning during the school year.
The leadership club to which Harmony belonged is Girl Leaders who strive to be Dynamic Intelligent Victorious Awesome in all they do, or DIVA for short.
"Initially hesitant and unsure of her academic abilities, she began to immerse herself in her studies, finding joy in the process of understanding new concepts and solving challenging problems," Parker said in a prepared statement. "This newfound enthusiasm translated into a noticeable improvement in her grades, as she consistently engaged with the material and sought help when needed."
She said Harmony's classroom experience became more enriching as she actively participated in discussions and collaborated effectively with her peers.
"Harmony’s journey from uncertainty to academic excellence became a source of inspiration for her classmates and a testament to the transformative power of a genuine love for learning," Parker said. "Harmony was one of my dedicated DIVAs who blossomed into an outstanding leader.
"She cared about other’s feelings and showed kindness. She was compassionate towards others and loved being with her friends. She always volunteered to help me in the classroom and to help her classmates."
Parker said Harmony had learned how to crochet to make scrubbers to sell to raise money for "fun baskets" to be given to hospitalized children.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Harmony’s family and everyone affected by this loss," Superintendent Jeff Talbert said in a prepared statement. "The entire district is deeply saddened. She touched the lives of many and will be missed.”
Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or nancy.molnar@cantonrep.com. On X, formerly known as Twitter: @nmolnarTR.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: 'A tenacious young lady.' Canton City educators remember 11-year-old killed in house fire
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