PORT TOWNSEND — A Blue Heron Middle School teacher killed in a car wreck Monday night south of Olympia was remembered by her colleagues and students Wednesday as a “compassionate” person.
Jan S. Wheeland, who taught a computer-based arts and technology program, suffered fatal injuries in a car wreck around 5:10 p.m. Monday on Interstate 5 in Maytown.
A crisis response team was at the school Wednesday to assist staff and students as they learned about the teacher’s death.
Wheeland, 50, was in her first year at the school, but was quickly befriended by many of her students, Principal Amy Fields said Wednesday.
“One of the characteristics of her is she was a very compassionate person who easily developed a rapport with kids,” Fields said.
“That came through loud and clear in the cards and messages” left by staff and students in the school’s library, she said.
A memorial service for Wheeland will be held after school Friday for students and parents who wish to attend.
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The rest of the story appears in the Thursday Peninsula Daily News Jefferson County edition.