Oakland school community remembers teacher after Ghost Ship fire

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Friends and family are sharing their memories of the victims of the deadly Ghost Ship warehouse fire that killed at least 36 people in Oakland.

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One of the people we honor is 30-year-old Sara Hoda, a teacher at the East Oakland Urban Montessori School from Walnut Creek.

When you're six-years-old it's not easy to understand the loss of life.

The class learned Monday morning that their beloved teacher died in the Oakland Ghost Ship warehouse fire.

"Anytime we lose a community member we feel it," said Tamia Beyah, director of operations at the school. "In a case as tragic as this one, for sure we feel it."

"Yes, it's definitely hard," said Principal David Castillo. "Yes it's definitely hard. We are here to support our students, creating spaces for them to be able to talk with their teachers and share their feelings."

Heart shaped cards was Monday's classroom activity. Each one is a special tribute to Hoda. She worked in the classroom as a support teacher. Friends say Hoda was compassionate and loved gardening and kids.

Grief counselors are on hand to console the school community as they process their loss.

"Many of our students go through a lot of grief on a regular basis, a lot of trauma," said Castillo. "This is East Oakland, and we just look to support them."

It was Sara Hoda's first year working at the Montessori school. In that short time it's clear that she left a lasting impression.

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