Kirk Spiegel, Second-Grade Teacher at LAUSD's Pinewood Elementary, Commits Suicide off 210 Freeway Overpass

Marilylindo25

So saden by the news... I can't believe it... Such a good a genorous man...he was vry helpful with everyone... Loved going to book fairs and share his knowledge with ppl that care... The only person I've met that spoke six languages.... :(, he was not my teacher we met him through a family friend... He was not vry social, but when we had just got to California he showed my family and I around, took us to lots of family events, etc....I hav nothing but good memories of Kirk...may you rest in peace...and god rest your soul....

Gary

I had known Kirk many years ago and was shocked to hear that he had taken his life. During the time I had known him he was always upbeat and very positive. He was also a very dedicated and hard-working teacher. The teaching community has lost a truly outstanding teacher who always went the extra mile in helping his students.

lulu

okay all of these rude people shut up im in 7th grade and i had him as a second grade teacher and here i am i have been in honors for lots of years none of u guys know what a tough time he had in school he was a great guy for all of those who knew him!!!!! I think u guys shouldnt judge a book by its cover ya i know he wasnt that handsome but he was a great guy inside! he taught me good and im about to graduate middle school! =) he didnt have the students he diserved he was a great guy and was an awsome person he cared about all his students! my little cusin had him this year for 2nd grade and now because of all those people who made him feel bad, hope you guys feel BAD. Now my little cusin has to have a new teacher! he gave all his love to his job! NOW I HOPE ALL OF YOU READ THIS BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY SAYS NOTHING BAD ABOUT HIM!!!!!!! RIP KIRK SPIEGEL......

EM Reed

Kirk and I started teacher at the same time at the same school. He was a very sweet, but socially awkward guy. He cared deeply about his students.

RAK

Kirk and I talked many times. He often asked me why people did not like him. It was always a hard topic to discuss. Kirk did have some minor social issues, but nothing bad. It just caused him discomfort when he was around a lot of people. (Especially rude people, jme!!) Everyone has some kind of social issue, but he had a tough time. Kirk did great around kids and parents. It was just during unplanned or social moments that he felt uncomfortable. I guess it was a very painful time for him. RIP Kirk! Things should be much better now.

Ryanlang1991

Damm I knew him he was a teacher at my skool .. this is sad . God bless his family

Penncatt

I knew Kirk for over 20 years and taught alongside him when he was a kindergarten teacher. We chose him to be my nephew's kindergarten teacher. Kirk was a great teacher and a very kind man. Many students loved him and parents thought the world of him. Kirk hit into bad times and slipped into depression over private issues. Nothing to do with the quality of work as a teacher. Kirk was a great teacher who at one time even had his lesson taped because the principal wanted to show how good a teacher he was at staff development. I have deep respect for him and hope that God has mercy on his soul.

Sal

@ Teacher2 i know Kirk Spiegel very well im 19 and i've known him most of my life he said none of the teachers were really his friends they just said Hi and bye but never a friendship did the other teachers offer him, if I remember correctly none of the teachers wanted to be friends with him as for Betty most of the things she said were right i wont say what out of respect for Kirk but I am deeply hurt of this tragic news. He wasn't crazy I know for a fact he wasn't, Kirk was a very responsible man always took pride in his work and what he did. All I ask is for some respect for the man, Please.

PLINK

Kirk would spend his weekends hunting for books that he could give out to his friends and students. He went out of his way to communicate with families and help them out as much as he could. Kirk was proud of his ability to speak several languages. He would spend many of his vacations with families from different countries. Kirk loved children and he did everything he could to make their lives better. He will be missed by many students and families.

Sal

yes he would go hunting for books I know he would always go to other countries and speak it's language and meet different people he would tell us when he would comeback from vacation my family was very thankful for everything he did for us, I know how many books he has since over many summers I would help take the books he had in his classroom and haul them in my mom's truck to his home and then bring all the books back from his home to his classroom and oh it was ALOT of books, he pretty much had a personal library in his home and classroom, on my way to my class today while i was driving my mom told me that if it wasn't for him we wouldn't have been able to get a Ford Temple we owned since my mom and Mr. Spiegel had an agreement about the car since a previous T.A defaulted on her payments and my mom didn't and she paid the car and well I remember that Ford sure it gave us some problems but over all it was reliable just like Mr. Spiegel also if it wasn't for him we wouldnt have been able to save up money for our first computer i remember it was sometime in the late 90's an HP he helped us with the computer teaching us how to use it and much more. Mr. Spiegel at first didnt know much about computers untill my dad helped him set up his own computer and since that day when my dad helped him Mr. Spiegel began to read PC magazine like no tomorrow learning about computers and learning how to solve computer problems and so on. I also remember i helped him fix his Mercedes with touch up paint and just some things like that i remember he wanted me to paint his rear bumper for him with some black spray paint i honestly thought it was a bad ideal but well I did him that favor I even washed his car waxed it, and from what I remember Mr. Spiegel spoke (apart from english) Spanish Portuguese French and i think Hebrew but I am not sure about Hebrew but I know he was Jewish, and yes he did have some personal and private problems he shared with my family and we shared our personal and private problems with him as well, from what I can remember he really didnt have many friends or so he said, but after his death it seems as if he really didn't realize he had so many friends, or we didnt realize he was our friend, but i found out early this morning around 12:30 since my friend over facebook posted I woke my mother up to tell her the news she was shocked my dad still doesn't know but well my family was really close to Mr. Spiegel, he will forever be missed but never forgotten.

Liddie

I just found out today of his passing and I truly sad. I worked with him 4 years as his T.A. .He was one of my mentors..Kirk always let his heart and soul take over and I admired him for that..... He always told me I rather help one of my studetns by giving them a book that send money to another country. I am sad but fortunate that God gave me an opporpotunity to meet him. He has truly touched my life and despite the layoffs has inspire me to be a teacher.... I have not met another teacher who would offer me there time to mentor me........ Kirk i hope you have found peace.....WhenI have my own classroom I hope to carry the qualities you had as an effective teacher with a good heart.

Guest

Thanks for your comments Sal. It is so true that people who are feeling so down don't know how much they are cared about and can feel lost and alone.For everyone with negative comments about the mental health of teachers, Kirk is no longer here to speak or defend himself. He didn't kill children, but himself. Yes children will grieve and be affected as we all will. It is up to the parents to put it in an appropriate context for there understanding. I believe that compassion is more appropiate than judgement at this time. My friend is married to his brother and I saw Kirk for many years at our Passover meal. He always showed great caring and interest in others. Kirk may Hashem allow your soul to be at peace and renewed and to see the good you have done. You are missed.

Sal

I Knew him he wasn't unstable, if he was unstable he would have done something horrible in the classroom, he was a great teacher always tought his kids what they needed to know, he would always spend hundreds on dollars on books for his students, he would always help others who were in need, I know this since my family knew him very were we were so close to Mr. Spiegel, i am sad to hear he passed away but he was a great man, he had a good heart, he never hurt anybody he always did what what expected of him as a teacher and went above and beyond to give his students a better education, no other teacher in that school did that, he even bought computers for students who didnt have one and needed one.

Pinewood 1992

He was my summer school teacher in 3rd grade. He was a good person...R.I.P

Ana Salinas15

he loved the kids when i was in he's class he treated us nice he even gave us stuff dont judge he was a goood person

PironD

He was my second grade teacher and he was always so nice to me and my family. You people really shouldn't judge him without knowing what good of a person he was.

Ana Salinas15

he was a good teacher he was my 3 grade teacher a good person..dont judge a guy u dont know image that was u have a heart

Gizelzarate

Well I also work with him, you people who judge with out knowing shouldn't .He was a loving teacher that the students liked and loved him. He always help that family who needed help.You ask him for a favor he will never say no . Instead of judging him just pray for him.

Ana Salinas15

he was my second grade teacher nice guy

Coin

What thoughtless idiot wrote all of the junk about this teacher?? Mindless jerk.

Concerned teacher

Has it actually been verified that this was a suicide? Sometimes a note is left behind and usually a suicide victim will reach out to others before committing suicide. Any evidence of this? Strange that this person would jump off an overpass. Could he have gotten out of his car and accidentally fell off the overpass. It was the middle of the night. Any witnesses?

M&O

I also worked with Mr. Spiegel he was a caring person who wouldn't think twice about giving books and materials to students that he knew needed it. A very polite man with no close family from what he told me. I will pray for his soul.

PLINK

This teacher spent many years dedicating his life to the teaching profession. I know for a fact that he cared for each and everyone of his students. Anyone of us could suffer from a mental breakdown. It is a real shame and a loss and I will personally miss him.

Denisecervantes24

Mental Illness is a sad disease it can happen to anyone. I don't know why this human being felt this was his only way out. May his soul RIP and lord give comfort to his family.

jme

ummm according to you jesus freaks, jesus punishes you for killing yourself..but I guess jesus freaks will arrange the bible in order to suit themselves..no wonder rapist, baby killers, and old gang bangers turn to jesus in the clink.

Betty

Wow you people dont even know this guy and your judging him just because he was a teacher. He was out ill for sometime according to the article. Maybe his family wouldnt help him. Maybe he was running out of money. Maybe he was running out of his medical plan. Maybe he didnt want to be reduced to a homeless person he decided to take his life. None of these things have anything to do with his ability to teach in a classroom.

jme

the list you just named off does not give good reason to end a life..running out of money? homelessness bound? running out of medical benefits? no family help.. Cmon Betty, get it together! people are just saying, who wants a role model for their 7 year olds who has mental illness.. maybee betty was raised by a quack, but that doesnt mean its ok for others.

Disgusted By Your Comments

There are so many important people in life who had something GREAT to teach who have killed themselves. Those people have probably done so much more than you ever will. Just because you didn't kill yourself - automatically makes you better than them? Maybe you need to have a mental evaluation.

teachteach

Well said Betty. So true. I worked with him. We shouldnt judge especially when you dont know all of the conditions.

jme

you worked with him but obviously didnt communicate with him..if you agree with betty, you and her need to get your heads examined. also if you agree with betty, and this guy worked with you..it clearly shows LAUSD needs to look deeper when hiring times come..here we have two teachers in the same school teaching our kids.. one was suicidal and here we have another one who only gets half of it.

GNK

What kind of educational experience do you have? My guess is you have no idea what you are talking about. LAUSD has it's issues but don't try to place those on this poor guy! He did his very best, something you probably have no idea about.