CANAL WINCHESTER, Ohio — The Canal Winchester Local School District is mourning the loss of one of its teachers after an incident in southeast Columbus Thursday morning.
Alexa Stakely, a speech-language pathologist in the preschool program at Winchester Trail Elementary, died from injuries sustained while trying to save her 6-year-old son after her car was briefly stolen. Her son was not injured in the incident.
District Superintendent Kiya Hunt sent a letter to families Thursday afternoon to share the tragic news of Stakely's passing.
The letter says she had been a speech-language pathologist in the district for five years and was fondly known by her students as "Ms. Alexa."
Stakely is described in the letter as compassionate, dedicated and a great mom.
"Alexa was passionate about children and speech-language therapy. She was smart and compassionate, and she cared so much about helping children develop their ability to communicate. She was a great mom who was incredibly dedicated to her son," the letter says.
A release from the Columbus Division of Police said that Stakely was a single mother and worked a second job as a waitress in order to support her son. She had finished her shift and was picking her son up from the babysitter's house when the incident occurred.
"Ms. Stakely made a difference in the lives of the students and families she worked with and will be missed by so many in our community and beyond," the superintendent's letter says.
Police are asking anyone who may have video of the incident or anyone loitering in the area to send it to them here or scan the QR code below.
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