JTA President expresses sadness at death of principal and wife

President of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) Mark Smith, has expressed sadness at the tragic death of the Principal of the Jessie Ripoll Primary School, O’neil Stevens.

Stevens and his wife Camesha Lindsay-Stevens were killed in a motor vehicle collision in North Carolina in the United States on Friday.

Their two daughters were reportedly injured in the accident and have been hospitalised in critical condition.

Smith, in a statement on Saturday described Stevens as “a true stalwart, a friend, colleague [and] a really dynamic principal”.

The school confirmed on Saturday that the Stevens perished in a motor vehicle crash. Loop News understands that the accident took place while the couple was on their way to the airport.

“We're really saddened by the news that O'neil and his wife succumbed to injury sustained in a car accident in the United States. I am heartened by the news that his children, who were also in the motor vehicle, are still alive, although in critical condition. We ask that we continue to pray for them as they are battling for their lives in the hospital,” Smith said.

“And on behalf of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association, I extend profound condolences to his immediate family [and] the Jessie Ripoll School community,” he added.

Smith also urged the primary school’s board of management and the leaders of the school to assist with providing support for the students and teachers who would have been affected by Stevens’ passing just days before the reopening of school.

“I am being advised that school will be closed on Monday. And I pray for the new leadership to help to stabilise things because of this profound sense of grief that the school has been plunged into, but we continue to monitor the situation,” Smith stated. He shared that the JTA will also provide support for the Jessie Ripoll school community.

“We have, it's still very early, and so we continue to provide whatever support that we can as an association and ask that all those that are in a place that permits them to support the surviving family and friends that they do so.

And we continue to unite around the Jessie Ripoll school family at this time, and around O'neil and his wife's family also,” Smith said.