Dos Palos, CA (March 3, 2026) — A Dos Palos educator who died in 2024 after contracting rabies is set to receive national recognition for her service to students and her community.
The National Teachers Hall of Fame (NTHF) announced that Leah Seneng, a longtime art teacher at Bryant Middle School in Dos Palos, will be among 12 educators honored on the National Memorial to Fallen Educators in Emporia, Kansas. The memorial recognizes K–12 school employees across the United States who died while performing their professional duties.
Seneng, 60, died on November 22, 2024, after contracting rabies following a suspected bat bite. According to Fresno County health officials at the time, investigators believed Seneng was bitten by a bat in Merced County in October 2024. She later became ill and was hospitalized before her death. Health officials reported that rabies vaccinations were administered to healthcare workers and household contacts, and authorities stated there was no broader public health threat.
Friends and colleagues remembered Seneng as a dedicated teacher and artist who cared deeply about her students and the natural world. Reports at the time indicated she encountered a bat in her classroom and attempted to remove it without harming it.
The National Teachers Hall of Fame said Seneng’s name is one of 12 newly identified educators awaiting inclusion on the memorial. The existing monument on the campus of Emporia State University currently holds 189 engraved names and has reached full capacity.
To expand the memorial and ensure the newly identified educators are recognized, the organization has launched a fundraising campaign titled “$12 for 12,” running from March 3 through April 3. The campaign aims to raise at least $25,000 toward the estimated $50,000 cost of constructing an additional black granite monument that will include the 12 educators.
“We have a moral obligation to remember the educators who gave their lives to protect and serve their students,” said Maddie Fennell, executive director of the National Teachers Hall of Fame, in a statement announcing the campaign.
Community members in Dos Palos and across the country can support the effort through donations to the memorial project. The organization is encouraging supporters to share the campaign online using the hashtag #12for12.
Located at Emporia State University, the National Memorial to Fallen Educators is the only national memorial dedicated specifically to K–12 school employees who died while carrying out their duties. The monument serves as a place of remembrance for families, colleagues, and communities honoring educators whose lives were lost in the line of service.
For Seneng’s community in Dos Palos, the recognition reflects the lasting impact of a teacher remembered for her creativity, kindness, and dedication to her students.
