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Jason Zimmerman talks to his sixth grade students n small group sessions at Sunset View Elementary in Provo Thursday, October 26, 2006. 

MARIO RUIZ/Daily Herald

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Parents of students at Amelia Earhart Elementary gather for a meeting to discuss ways to deal with the death of fifth-grade teacher Jason Zimmerman on Wednesday, August 15, 2012. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald

Spenser Heaps

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Provo School District Superintendant Keith Rittel speaks to parents of students at Amelia Earhart Elementary during a meeting to discuss ways to deal with the death of fifth-grade teacher Jason Zimmerman on Wednesday, August 15, 2012. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald

Spenser Heaps

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1. Recently deceased Provo teacher subject of child porn probe: http://bit.ly/RhXbIV

Spenser Heaps

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7. Warrant details child porn probe into Provo teacher: http://bit.ly/OXchgV

MARIO RUIZ/Daily Herald

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PROVO — An award-winning Provo elementary school teacher who died over the weekend remains the subject of a child pornography investigation.

According to sources close to the investigation, Amelia Earhart Elementary fifth-grade teacher Jason Zimmerman is being investigated for downloading numerous files suspected of containing child pornography. Sources have confirmed that a search warrant was issued and that Zimmerman’s computer has been sent to an out-of-state forensic lab for analysis. Officials do not yet know if the suspected child pornography depicts any local victims.

Zimmerman died last week at his father’s home in Idaho, a number of weeks after the search warrant was served, but the investigation into what is on his computer continues. Details regarding Zimmerman’s death were not immediately available Wednesday and no official statement had been released by local police.

Wednesday evening, the school held a meeting focusing on helping children deal with grief. During the meeting, Provo School District superintendent Keith Rittel stated that he read the information the Daily Herald reported earlier in the evening and that the information was consistent with the district’s understanding of the situation. Rittel also said that as of 2 p.m. Monday the investigation into Zimmerman had not uncovered anything “that would result in charges,” though Rittel acknowledged that the investigation was unfinished. In addition, school officials do not know the official cause of Zimmerman’s death.

“I have received no definitive information about how this man died,” Rittel said.

Officials at Wednesday’s meeting — which took place in the school’s gym — also provided a sign-up sheet for parents interested in talking to the police. After the meeting, a group of parents clustered around the sign-up sheet, adding their names. Among them was Veronica Halversen. She said she was hoping to get answers about what happened.

Halversen added that her son was in Zimmerman’s class two years ago and that at the time Zimmerman was a well-liked teacher.

“He was really strict and really hard but all the kids loved him,” she said.

Minutes earlier, Pam Romero also signed up to hear more while saying that Zimmerman had been an excellent teacher.

“I’d rather be able to tell my child what I know for sure,” she explained of her decision to talk to police.

In the meantime, school officials were focused on helping the students cope with losing a teacher. Associate superintendent Greg Hudnall spent most of the meeting outlining strategies for explaining death to young children and answering questions about what students will be told. He also introduced a crisis team that had been organized to help parents and students deal with Zimmerman’s death.

“The goal is to provide as much support as possible to help parents help their children,” he said after the meeting.

Before joining Amelia Earhart Elementary, Zimmerman taught at Sunset View Elementary. In 2006, he won the Milken National Educator Award and in 2004 was Provo School District’s Teacher of the Year.