Great Bend Kansas: The community is grieving the loss of 14-year-old Rubi Perez, an eighth-grade student at Great Bend Middle School. She was found deceased on Thursday morning, April 9, 2026. The news hit the school and the town hard, leaving students and staff in shock.
Rubi was described as a young student whose absence is already deeply felt across the halls of the school. Friends and classmates are struggling to process what happened, while teachers are trying to hold things together in a very emotional moment.
The Great Bend USD 428 school district quickly responded after the tragedy. Officials confirmed that counseling support was made available for students and staff right away. The focus has been on helping people cope with grief in real time.
A crisis response team was placed directly at Great Bend Middle School. The team includes school counselors along with outside mental health professionals. They are working with students one-on-one and in groups to help them deal with the loss.
District leaders said the goal is to make sure no student feels alone during this time. Superintendent Khris Thexton spoke about the importance of support and communication, saying grief is different for everyone and reaching out matters.
The district also extended counseling services across all USD 428 schools. Families and staff were given access to additional online support tools through approved mental health resources to help them outside school hours.
As Great Bend continues to mourn Rubi Perez, the focus remains on care and stability. The school community is leaning on each other, trying to move through a painful moment one day at a time.
