Woman bashed to death in classroom named

Police have named the teacher bashed to death in a Tokoroa classroom yesterday as Lois Dear, aged 66.

Detective Inspector Garth Bryan, who is heading the homicide inquiry, said Ms Dear had been in her classroom preparing for the new school term when she died.

Police did not yet know the cause of death or any motive.

Twenty five police were working on the inquiry, completing a scene investigation at the school and interviewing neighbours, teachers and other potential witnesses.

"At this time we are not interviewing any suspects," Mr Bryan said.

Ms Dear was a new-entrant teacher who had been at Strathmore for nine years. Her 1994 Toyota Corolla hatchback was taken from the school and found in Tokoroa at about 9 last night.

Detective Inspector Bryan appealed for more sightings of the car. "We believe the person responsible for Lois' death has also stolen her car," he said.

Ms Dear's brother Harley described her as a "workaholic" who lived for her job. She has a son and daughter and five grandchildren.

"She was just a really neat person -- wouldn't harm anyone, loved animals, loved to work and liked her teaching role. She had been a teacher pretty much from when she left school right until now," Mr Dear said.

"She was a workaholic in terms of her teaching, but she wasn't a workaholic for work's sake, she just loved the job. But in particular she liked seeing the result with kids."

Mr Dear said she had plans to retire at a country property with her family but he did not know when she planned to give up teaching.

She had been looking after her 95-year-old father, who lives in a Tokoroa resthome, because her two brothers lived farther away.

Mr Dear, who lives in Auckland, said he had just delivered the news of her death to their father.

Murray Robson, deputy principal at the 280-pupil school, described the teacher as "absolutely dedicated" to her job and the children.

"The kids always come first and she is often at the school at 6am to prepare her classes."

Neighbours of Ms Dear said she was friendly, loved teaching and kept to herself.

"She's just like a grandmother, like someone's grandma, really friendly," said one.

Mr Robson spent the afternoon telling other teachers what had happened and trying to get the message out to the community that the school would be shut.

Ms Dear's body was found about noon yesterday by a teacher. It is understood she had head injuries.

Strathmore principal Murray Kendrick was out for the day and arrived home at 7.30pm to the news.

"I am amazed," he said. "I cannot imagine how something like this can have happened.

"You expect teachers to be reasonably safe while going about their job in New Zealand."

Counselling services would have to be made available for staff and the pupils who used the classroom.

"A lot of our children have been through that classroom and to see it being in that way will be fairly drastic."

Police had told Mr Kendrick that the school was likely to be closed for at least two days.

Staff would be there this morning to look after students who had not heard and turned up to school.

Mr Robson said the death had implications for other schools.

"Like a lot of schools, we tell our teachers to go home, but they are so hard-working they stay for long hours."

The 12-classroom school is rated decile one - the poorest level - by the Ministry of Education.

It caters to mainly Maori and Pacific Island students.

Many of the pupils arrive with poor spoken-language ability, but last year's Education Review Office report said that by the time they reached Years 4 to 6, they were achieving at or above national expectations.

The report also said the school placed a priority on "ensuring a safe physical and emotional environment for students".

Mr Robson said it was a close-knit school and community. "This is going to take some getting through."

Ministry spokesman Vince Cholewa said a trauma response team would be sent to help pupils, staff and the school community.

* Anyone with any information about the killing or Ms Dear's car can contact Operation Strathmore on 0800 525368.

* Did you know Lois Dear? Share your memories with us - email the Herald newsdesk.

- additional reporting: NZPA