Canal Winchester
Local Schools
Sad News About a Beloved CW Staff Member
![Alexa Stakely, Speech-Language Pathologist]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1720731658/canalwinchesterschoolsorg/wiuokq85ux8eelw50xvy/AlexaStakely.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1720731658/canalwinchesterschoolsorg/wiuokq85ux8eelw50xvy/AlexaStakely.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1720731658/canalwinchesterschoolsorg/wiuokq85ux8eelw50xvy/AlexaStakely.png","width":580}])
Megan Anthony
We are deeply saddened to share that a member of our CW Family, Speech-Language Pathologist Alexa (Gough) Stakely, passed away this morning from injuries she sustained in a tragic incident late last night. "Ms. Alexa," as her students knew her, was a dedicated Speech-Language Therapist in our preschool program at Winchester Trail Elementary and had been with our district for five years.
Ms. Stakely’s family shared that she died heroically while trying to save her 6-year-old son during a carjacking. Thankfully, her son was not injured and is now with family. Please keep Alexa’s son, family, and friends in your prayers during this difficult time. The family has asked us to share this information with her community, and we’ll be providing updates as we receive them.
Alexa was passionate about children and speech-language therapy. She was smart and compassionate, and she cared so much about helping children develop their ability to communicate. She was a great mom who was incredibly dedicated to her son. Ms. Stakely made a difference in the lives of the students and families she worked with and will be missed by so many in our community and beyond.
This is incredibly difficult news to process as an adult, and may be even more difficult for children, especially those who worked with or knew Ms. Alexa. Our partners at Nationwide Children’s Hospital shared resources with us that may be helpful to families when talking with their children:
- Podcast: Talking with Children and Teens about Death and Dying (PediaCast 530)
- Article: When a Family Grieves (Nationwide Children’s Hospital)
- Ohio Health also offers free grief support services, including support groups for all ages, one-on-one counseling, workshops about grief and loss, expressive art therapy, and information and referral services. For more information about these services, please call (614) 566-5377.
As we process this heartbreaking news, we encourage families to utilize the resources provided to support each other. Please take care of yourselves and your loved ones during this challenging time. Thank you for your understanding and support as we navigate through this difficult period together.