LOCKPORT, N.Y. — The victim of a 2-car crash on Transit Road in Cheektowaga Monday night is being remembered as a dedicated teacher.
Jennifer Hylkema, 51, of Lockport died after police say an alleged drunk driver hit her car while she was pulling out of a parking lot.
By Tuesday morning news of her death had spread amongst family, friends, and co-workers at the Stanley G. Falk School where Hylkema had been a teacher for 25 years.
Falk School Superintendent Rachael Green told 2 On Your Side, it was "devastating."
Hylkema had been a 6th-grade math teacher at the Falk School's Roosevelt Campus in Kenmore but had worked across the school's other three campuses as well. The Falk School is set up for students with special learning, social and emotional needs.
Green said Hylkema was well-loved and had a special way of connecting with the kids.
Students and staff had just gotten back from winter break on Monday.
"You know she's reconnecting with kids she's connecting with colleagues and friends and then just the sudden loss, the devastation it's just shocking," said Superintendent Green.
Hylkema's car had been hit between Cloverleaf Drive and Rehm Road.
Cheektowaga Police and the Erie County District Attorney's Office later charged 24-year-old Alondra Ramirez-Santiago with 2nd-degree vehicular manslaughter, driving while intoxicated, and reckless driving in connection to the crash.
"It's nothing there is a lesson plan for and you know as we work through that how are we going to work through our own grief while we support and kids and their grief," Green said.
The school notified parents Tuesday morning so the difficult conversation about losing a teacher could happen when students returned home.
By Wednesday morning, Green said the school's many counselors and other resources had been able to speak with teachers in need of help. She said counselors will continue to juggle classroom issues and this tragic event through the grieving process.
"We will always remember Jen as someone that just had a gentle kind approach...she was a true team player, she was always one to step up...that was always her role, she was a rock on the sixth-grade team," said Green.
While the grieving process will be their focus in the immediate future, the Superintendent said conversations about how to honor Hylkema's dedication to the school have already begun.
Related Video: