The Unit 5 School District is mourning the loss of Shawn J. Anderson, a beloved eighth-grade teacher at Kingsley Junior High School, who was found dead following a bicycle accident on Monday in Hudson.

The McLean County Coroner, Kathy Yoder, identified Anderson as a 57-year-old resident of Normal. First responders discovered him unresponsive next to his bicycle on a trail at Comlara Park. An autopsy revealed that Anderson died from cervical spinal injuries, with toxicology results still pending. He was pronounced dead at the scene late Monday afternoon.

Anderson dedicated 25 years to educating students in the Unit 5 School District. He began his teaching career at Chiddix Junior High in 2000 before transferring to Kingsley Junior High in 2004. Colleagues, students, and families remember him for his passion for teaching, commitment to students, and decades of service to the community.

“Shawn was an incredible educator and mentor whose impact on students and staff will be felt for years to come,” the district said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and all those whose lives he touched.”

The McLean County Sheriff’s Office and the coroner continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident. Anderson’s passing is a profound loss for the Unit 5 School District and the broader community he served so faithfully.

He will be remembered for his dedication to education, his love of students, and the positive influence he had on generations of young learners.