A Jefferson County high school teacher killed Wednesday when he was hit by a rolling bus has now been identified.

Mark Ridgeway, 58, was a 10th grade history teacher and a bus driver at Mortimer Jordan High School. He was a 20-plus year employee whose wife, Connie, is an English teacher at the school.

Principal Craig Kanaday released this statement:

“Mark Ridgeway, a graduate of Mortimer Jordan, dedicated his life to serving people. He pastored a church until his recent retirement this past summer all while teaching the students of Mortimer Jordan High School and driving a school bus. He was a selfless and devoted person to his faith, his family, and his school. As a personal colleague of mine for more than 25 years, Mark leaves behind cherished memories but also a great void among all circles of his life. It’s in times like these that I am reminded that life is fragile and precious.”

Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies, Kimberly police officers and Kimberly firefighters responded to the school at 6:36 a.m. Wednesday, said sheriff’s Lt. Joni Money.

Authorities said Ridgeway was performing his standard checks on the bus before beginning his morning route.

The unoccupied bus began to roll and struck Ridgeway. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

Ridgeway leaves behind four children. According to his biography, he was also the senior pastor at Faith Worship Center in Sumiton.

He was the chairman of Mortimer Jordan’s History Department.

“We ask for prayers for the victim’s family and the faculty and staff and student body of Mortimer Jordan‚’’ Superintendent Walter Gonsoulin said.

School was canceled on Wednesday but will re-open Thursday.

Gonsoulin said grief counselors will available.

“As you can imagine, this is a tight-knit community as a whole, a tight-knit faculty and staff as well,’’ Gonsoulin said. “When you have a faculty member that passes away, it’s going to affect them.”

“This is a time we all stick together as a family, we lean on each other,’’ he said. “We support the victim’s family.”