SAN ANTONIO – A year has passed since Alfred “Mr. Fred” Jimenez, a special needs teacher at Northside Independent School District (ISD), suffered a head injury in a classroom incident that led to his death.
His widow, Margo Jimenez, continues to seek answers about what exactly happened that day, as she struggles to cope with the loss and advocates for change in the education system.
A Tragic Incident
On Feb. 7, 2024, Jimenez, who worked as an instructional assistant in the Applied Learning Environment (ALE) classroom for students with cognitive disabilities, was pushed by a student. The impact of the push caused Jimenez to hit his head.
He was hospitalized and passed away 10 days later.
“It feels like it just happened,” Margo Jimenez said, reflecting on the painful anniversary. “I still haven’t gotten the closure I need.”
A Life Shattered
Margo, who previously battled and beat cancer in 2018 before she lost her son the following year in a car accident, credits her late husband for helping her through some of her darkest days.
She remembers “Mr. Fred” as her soulmate, describing him as “the nicest man you could ever meet.”
“He was a dream,” Margo Jimenez said. “He was my soulmate.”
Margo continues to grapple with another devastating loss.
“‘What now? Who do you turn to?‘” Margo asked. “You really have no one, honestly.”
Seeking Answers
Jimenez continues to seek clarity from Northside ISD and the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) about the circumstances surrounding her husband’s injury.
According to an incident report, Alfred was pushed by a special needs student but other details remain unclear.
“I wish somebody would tell me what happened,” Jimenez said. “I don’t know if there were other teachers in the classroom or if he was by himself. I just don’t know.”
She expressed sympathy for the student involved, saying that she was told the child repeatedly apologized.
“I feel really bad for that student,” Jimenez said. “It’s not his fault.”
Advocating for Change
Jimenez said she believes the lack of resources in the classroom may have contributed to the tragic event. She is now pushing for legislative changes to improve the safety and support of teachers in similar environments.
“It’s very hard,” Jimenez said. “I just pray to God that I’m here long enough to help make some kind of change.”
Official Statements
In response to last year’s incident, Northside ISD extended its condolences to Margo Jimenez, stating: “This was a tragedy and we extend our sympathies to Mrs. Jimenez as she continues to grieve her loss.” The district referred inquiries to SAPD.
San Antonio police provided a report outlining the details of the incident, stating that the student who pushed “Mr. Fred” was attempting to grab another student’s arm.
When “Mr. Fred” intervened to calm the student down, the student turned and pushed him, according to the report.
Margo, however, is still seeking clarification on the number of students and teachers present in the classroom at the time.
Northside ISD again referred questions to police, but officers have not provided further information.
Margo Jimenez said she is planning a balloon release in honor of her late husband at 5 p.m. Sunday at Bonnie Conner Park.
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