- April 15, 2025
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Buddy Taylor Middle School counselor Randi Fasnacht lost her long battle with cancer in the early morning hours of April 7.
Fasnacht, 61, had been a school counselor in Flagler County since 2005. She worked at Indian Trails Middle School, Bunnell Elementary School and, for the last seven years, at Buddy Taylor Middle School. She continued to work at BTMS until spring break last month, Principal Cara Cronk said.
She was named Bunnell Elementary's Teacher of the Year in 2015 and Buddy Taylor Middle School's Teacher of the Year in 2021.
A funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, April 19, at 10 a.m. at Palm Coast United Methodist Church.
In a message sent to district staff and faculty, Flagler Schools Superintendent LaShakia Moore shared the news of Fasnacht's passing.
"Ms. Fasnacht was a dedicated and compassionate educator who poured her heart into supporting students, particularly the eighth-grade students she served with unwavering care and commitment," Moore wrote. "She was not only a trusted counselor, but also a source of encouragement, wisdom, and strength for so many within the school community. Her absence will be felt deeply — not only at Buddy Taylor Middle School, but across our entire district by those who had the privilege of knowing and working with her. Please join me in keeping Ms. Fasnacht’s family, friends, and the entire Eagle community in your thoughts and prayers."
Dozens of parents, teachers and former students posted tributes to Fasnacht on the Flagler Schools Parents Facebook group.
I wish everyone got to know her. She had time for everybody. She was concerned about people. If Randi could help and be supportive, she was always there. It is a tough loss for all of us.
— CARA CRONK, Buddy Taylor Middle School principal
"She was amazing," Cronk said in an interview with the Observer. "I wish everyone got to know her. She had time for everybody. She was concerned about people. If Randi could help and be supportive, she was always there. It is a tough loss for all of us."
Fasnacht had been battling cancer for 10 years, but it never diminished her spirit and dedication to helping students with their problems, Cronk said.
"She would go into remission and come back," Cronk said. "The whole time she was battling (cancer), except seeing her lose weight, you wouldn't know it. She was here for the kids, here for the staff and nothing was going to deter her from that. From outside appearances you would not know what she was going through. She always puts everybody else first."
One former student who responded to the Flagler Schools Parents post said, "Ms. Fasnacht was the absolute reason why I was able to graduate high school. My heart breaks. This amazing woman literally stood by my side (Way above and beyond) through the hardest time in a teenage girl's life when others turned away or looked down. She will greatly be missed."
Fasnacht is survived by her wife, Sara Riley, and their adult daughters, Rose and Mae. Riley said it has been amazing to see the deluge of tributes from community members.
"I didn’t know her impact was to this extent," Riley said. "I'm very grateful. It helps in dealing with all of this. And this is even beyond schools. I’ve got friends who are working on a memorial scholarship in her name and a pickleball tournament in her name. We’re heartbroken, but we are so grateful for the outpouring of support and love. It’s been wonderful for all of us."
Fasnacht began her teaching career in Minnesota in 1987. In an Observer article about her nomination for Flagler Schools Teacher of the Year in 2015, she explained why she transitioned into school counseling after teaching in a classroom for 13 years.
“When you are teaching you can do some counseling, and believe me, our teachers do a lot of counseling already,” Fasnacht said. “What attracted me to counseling was being able to talk to them individually, and do classroom guidance with them about issues bothering them.”
Cronk said Fasnacht hated attention placed on herself.
"She was not in it for herself at all," Cronk said. "She truly was in it to help everybody. She was a role model for a lot of the counselors because of her experience. She was well-loved. This is hitting hard. Her kids she was working with are definitely feeling it too. I've gotten quite a few emails from parents, saying she was always kind and patient and always helpful. That is our Randi.
"I wish everyone got to know her," Cronk added. "She had time for everybody. She was concerned about people. If Randi could help and be supportive, she was always there. It is a tough loss for all of us."
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