Port St. Lucie, Florida – The Manatee Academy K-8 School community in Port St. Lucie gathered on Sunday to honor the memory of Jamie Felix, a beloved teacher tragically killed in front of her children on Friday.
According to social media posts from the school, Felix, who had been recognized as teacher of the year, was described as bringing joy, passion, and dedication to her students and colleagues. Her husband, who also worked at the school until October 2023, later took his own life outside a rental car facility, as reported by the police.
Ray Felix, identified as Jamie’s husband, had served in various roles at the school, including maintenance worker, paraprofessional, dean’s clerk, and behavior technician. The district spokesperson mentioned that he was twice awarded school related employee of the year.
A district spokesperson expressed condolences and highlighted Jamie’s positive impact on the school community. They also announced the provision of on-site grief counseling services for as long as needed to support those affected by the tragedy.
Tessa Alette, a former student of Jamie Felix, fondly recalled her as the best math teacher and one of the most respected educators at the school. Describing her as caring and attentive to her students’ well-being, Alette shared that Jamie had a special bond with her geometry students.
Adding to the outpouring of tributes, another student emphasized Jamie’s caring nature and dedication to her students. Alette also mentioned that Jamie, a devoted mother, had a unique hobby of collecting rubber band balls for one of her sons.
Court records revealed that Jamie had filed for divorce and sought court protection due to allegations of domestic violence by her husband. While specific details were not publicly available, the local news station, WPTV, has requested access to review the contents of these documents.
The community’s remembrance of Jamie Felix as a dedicated educator, compassionate mentor, and loving mother continues to grow, with students and staff coming together to honor her memory and support one another during this difficult time.