Following the crash-related death of a respected teacher on Thursday, Canton-Galva schools were closed and counseling services were offered.

“Our community and school district lost a great teacher, Mrs. Ashley Austin, last night. Today, counseling is available to our kids in both buildings,” a statement on the Canton-Galva USD 419 Facebook page states.

On Friday of last week, there was an accident on Highway 56 between Canton and Galva. Ashley Austin was traveling to work at Canton-Galva High School when a motorist veered across the center line and collided with her SUV, according to the McPherson County Sheriff’s Office. A few days later, her injuries claimed her life.

Austin left behind large shoes, according to students and teachers. She launched the Canton-Galva FFA program, which had an effect on the whole neighborhood.

The agricultural science instructor is also recognized as a leader who enabled students to develop in ways they never would have imagined.
Colleagues such as educator Tina McMannis remarked that Austin set a good example.

She attempted to teach these children about servant leadership, and she lived it every day. According to McMannis, “I watched her take kids who really had no agricultural background at all and show them how agriculture can affect everyone.”

According to McMannis, Austin had an effect on FFA programs not only in McPherson County but all throughout Kansas.

For us, Austin was everything. Secretary of the Canton-Galva FFA Chapter Jase Beltz stated, “She truly was that role model in a lot of our lives and changed a lot of our lives.”

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