Najee Hardaway, a 26-year-old fourth-grade teacher at Lomond Elementary School in Shaker Heights, Ohio, died on Monday, May 24, 2026. Claims of a car crash being the cause of his death have been debunked, with officials confirming that the cause of death has not been made immediately available.
The Shaker Heights City School District confirmed Hardaway's passing, with Superintendent Dr. David Glasner announcing the news to families and staff. Hardaway was remembered as an outstanding educator who cared deeply for his students.
Claims of a car crash came from unverified social media accounts, including a now-deleted post from Forever Missed. However, local news outlets and school district officials have only confirmed that Hardaway passed away at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center.
