A beloved teacher from Ida S. Baker High School in Cape Coral tragically died in a car crash on Thursday night. The community is mourning her loss and honoring her impact on the lives of students.

On Monday, the Cape Coral Police Department confirmed with WINK News the identity of the teacher as Alex Ashby. 

The teacher’s family has requested privacy as they grieve. According to Cape Coral police, she was driving on Pine Island Road early Friday morning when her car swerved and crashed into a large utility pole near Southwest 19th Avenue. It was a single-car crash, and there were no passengers. The teacher died at the scene, and police confirmed that drugs and alcohol were not involved.

Maria, a junior at Ida S. Baker High School, shared her memories of the teacher.

“She’s probably the best teacher that I’ve had my whole life, just because she would be there if you needed help, she would be there this year, like, I know a lot of kids got impacted by her, because she was just always there for everyone,” said Maria. “She would put people before her. When I walked in that classroom the first day of school, she was just full of excitement, jumping up and down. And she would wear these funny clothes; her boots were always my favorite. And she would always walk around the class, smiling; she would never be upset with the kids. She was always just joyful.”

The teacher also battled cystic fibrosis and was actively involved in community organizations, spreading awareness about the illness. The Piper’s Angels Foundation, one of the organizations she supported, expressed its sorrow in a statement.

“We are completely devastated by her loss. She’s a joyful and radiant soul who brought immense positivity to Piper’s Angels Foundation and the Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis communities. Her love and inspiration will leave an everlasting impact on us and all those who had the privilege of meeting her. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her husband, two kids, and friends and family who love her so much. Piper’s Angels Foundation is here to support her family through this difficult transition and through their CF journey ahead,” the statement read.

The school district’s crisis response team provided grief services, and the school distributed flyers to parents and teachers on how to discuss loss with students.

The community continues to remember and honor the teacher’s lasting impact on her students and those around her.