CLEBURNE — Students and staffers at Cleburne High School are mourning the unexpected death of Assistant Principal Krista Findley.

The respected educator was killed on her way to school Thursday morning in a non-weather related accident.

On Friday, the buses were still running; TAKS testing continued; and the school was gifted with a scientific solar energy panel courtesy of TXU.

Findley, 54, would not have wanted education or opportunity to stop in her absence.

"She believed that life was for the living," said government teacher Ed Wall. "I said she would want you to carry on and get an education and be the greatest thing you can be."

Findley was en route to school Thursday morning when she was killed in a traffic accident.

She served two years as assistant principal at Cleburne High School, but had been a government teacher for years before.

Outside her office door on Friday there were flowers, and a note from teens in the student government. "We'll miss you," it read.

"Some of our children that come to school don't have champions, and she was there for them," said Principal Monte Pritchett.

Funeral services for Findley are set for Sunday.

The school district, administrators, and students will remember Krista Findley at a memorial on campus Monday.

E-mail jstjames@wfaa.com