PALM COAST, Fla. — Students and staff at Flagler Palm Coast High School on Thursday were mourning the loss of Principal James Russell, who recently had announced that he had contracted COVID-19.

What You Need To Know

  • Flagler Palm Coast High School principal recently died

  • He said on Facebook last month that he had tested positive for coronavirus

  • Tom Russell previously served as Volusia County's superintendent

The Flagler County School District confirmed Russell's death in a statement issued Wednesday.

Russell's cause of death was not announced. But last month, he posted on Facebook that he had contracted the coronavirus. In the post, he said he tested positive November 16 and that "so far this is a (mild) case of COVID-19 if there is such a thing. Allow me to be blunt this is nothing like the flu! Covid wrecks the body In so many ways and never the same way twice."

School leaders said Russell, who went by Tom, was quick with a smile and words of encouragement. 

"The Flagler Schools family sends our prayers to Julie Russell and her children. Tom was a valued member of our district, a person everyone leaned on for advice and counsel. He was quick with a smile and word of encouragement. He had the ability to bring calm to the most hectic moments," Flagler Schools Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt said in the district's statement.

Russell was Volusia County superintendent until last year prior to being Palm Coast's principal.