Dayle Whitworth, the principal of High Lakes Elementary School and a 16-year employee of the Bend-La Pine School District, was killed this morning when she lost control of her vehicle and drove down an embankment in southeast Bend.

Bend police Sgt. John Diehl said Whitworth, 55, was driving a 1993 Ford Explorer on packed snow and ice at 8:43 a.m. on Bear Creek and Byram roads. She was in four-wheel drive when she lost control, slid off the road and down a 10-foot embankment. She was wearing her seat belt, Diehl said.

The vehicle started to roll onto its left side, Diehl said, and then hit a juniper tree. The vehicle landed upside down on top of the tree.

Bend-La Pine School Superintendent Doug Nelson said the staff at High Lakes was notified about 10:15 a.m. during an emergency staff meeting. Students were told by their teachers when they returned from recess.

”I think the whole district is saddened by the loss of Dayle,” he said. ”Someone said, ‘It’s like losing a mother and a best friend.’ ”

The school remained open today. Counselors and others were called to the school to console students and faculty.

Whitworth, who grew up in Bellevue, Neb., was hired in 1985 as an English teacher at Bend High School. She taught there for two years. In 1990, she became the Talented and Gifted Program developer.

She served as assistant principal at High Desert Middle School and principal at Thompson, Amity Creek and Kenwood elementary schools, before leaving Kenwood to serve as the first principal at the new High Lakes Elementary School this school year.