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West Branch schools mourn teacher, 33, who died in crash
BUTLER — The West Branch Local School District is mourning a teacher who was described as “born to be leader.”
Jennifer L. Baker, 33, of Kensington, died in an accident while driving south on Rochester Road.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is still investigating the crash, which happened just south of Georgetown Road about 8:38 a.m. Thursday.
The patrol said Rikki S. Wheatley III, 19, of Mechanicstown was driving north on Rochester Road, went left of center and hit Baker’s vehicle head-on.
Baker was not wearing a seat belt.
Baker’s children, Jacob Baker, 7, and Madilynn Baker, 4, were passengers in the car. They were taken to Canton Aultman Hospital, where a spokesman said she had no information on them.
The patrol said Wheatley was flown to St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Youngstown, where a spokesman said he had been treated but not admitted.
“I watched her grow from a wonderful young lady and student,” Dr. Scott R. Weingart, superintendent of the West Branch School District, said of Baker.
“She was born to be a leader,” he added.
Baker served on a districtwide teaching team that focused on student achievements.
The team “focused on what were doing right and what we can work on,” Weingart said.
She was also on the Local Professional Development Committee for the district. The committee oversees the classes that teachers must take to renew their educational licenses.
“That really speaks to her professionalism,” he said. “She was interested in improving herself and helping others.”
When he learned of the accident, Weingart said, the district activated its crisis intervention team. It consists of members of the West Branch Ministerial Association who are trained in helping both the students and staff.
They also help to provide accurate information to others about such incidents.
The district also has a system to notify parents by phone about major problems within a few minutes. It also was activated so parents would know what happened when their children returned from school.
Weingart noted that Baker and her husband, Brent, “were big into farming.”
wilkinson@vindy.com