August 28, 2015
Photo courtesy/Colette Davis
Janiya Castleberry, left, and her teacher Allison McGinnis, who died days apart after being injured in separate car accidents.
On the eve of reopening, the Helen A. Fort/Newcomb Middle School is reeling from the death of one of its teachers and her former student in separate traffic accidents.
Teacher Allison McGinnis, 29, was killed while running Thursday on Rt. 206. The accident left another person dead and closed the highway for hours.
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McGinnis' former student, Janiya Castleberry, a 13-year-old who was to start 8th grade this academic year, died Aug. 20 at Cooper University Hospital from injuries related to a separate traffic accident on Aug 2.
Teacher Danielle Steen, who teaches 8th grade, said Friday the Pemberton school community is in shock over the loss of the both the language arts teacher and student.
“I was just with Allison at Janiya’s funeral on Monday. Just makes me realize that life is short and we should live it to the fullest,” Steen said.
Castleberry had a bright future ahead, Steen said. The student was enrolled in her advanced class last year.
“She was like the sunshine of our morning every morning,” Steen said. “I was honored to be her teacher.”
Janiya was severely injured after her older sister lost control of the family car when a tire blew and the vehicle flipped over in Southampton, said the children’s mother, Colette Davis.
Davis described her daughter, the youngest of four, as “like the morning sun, always very happy. She loved to sing and dance, she loved to put on a show for someone. And she always tried to help her fellow students if they were struggling with something, she loved school, she loved to learn.”
She said Janiya and McGinnis were close and that the teacher was the first to visit her daughter while she was in a coma after the accident. McGinnis (pictured below with Janiya) "was a beautiful, beautiful teacher," Davis said.
A release from the school district several days ago described Castleberry "as a shining star" with "spunk and a willingness to go the extra mile to meet her goals and be a good friend."
The school district set up grief counseling after Castleberry's death and is adding more in the wake of her former teacher's death.
Another teacher at the school, Debbie Seeley, 60, said she and McGinnis had bonded over teaching and running -- Seeley jogging slowly, McGinnis preparing for foot races, including an upcoming marathon in Hawaii.
"She was planning to run up a volcano," Seeley said. "We were paired on a shuttle race, on scooters. Her at her age, me at mine. But we won. It was a bonding moment."
"She had such a big heart and a fabulous smile. I saw her right after the viewing for Janiya. She was dressed all in white. She sparkled."
McGinniss recently broke up with a boyfriend and spent a lot of time talking to Seeley about it.
"I told her you are a gift and you will find the right person," said Seeley, choking up.
Seeley said the school staff has been calling and texting each other since news of the accident on Rt. 206, where McGinnis' death began circulating.
According to the school district, McGinnis had a master's of science degree in teaching from Rowan University. She was also a cum laude graduate of Rowan's bachelor's program in English and a dance minor, according to the college.
Before coming to Pemberton, she had worked at Authentic Education in Hopewell and as a 5th-grade teacher at Lindenwold Middle School.
At Pemberton, she taught Language Arts and was part of the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program for both 7th- and 8th-grade students.
McGinnis was hit by a pickup truck occupied by Patrick Miller, 28, of New Hanover, and David Eldridge, 31, of Wrightstown.
Miller was heading north on the highway when his truck veered into the southbound lane and struck McGinnis, according to State Police.
The vehicle struck several trees and came to rest in a ditch off the road. Eldridge died in the wreck. Miller was flown to Cooper in critical condition. There was no information available Friday about his condition.
Pemberton superintendent Tony Trongone said, “Our hearts go out to the family, friends, students and fellow colleagues of Allie McGinnis. Our close-knit community will get through this by supporting one another. I would like to express our sincere condolences to all those affected by this loss.”
The district noted, "This news comes on the heels of the heartbreaking loss of middle school student Janiya Castleberry on August 20th. "
The district said middle school faculty have received personal phone calls from staff. Students who had McGinnis as a teacher last year will also receive a personal phone call, according to the district.
Additionally, parent letters will be mailed home. Notifications regarding grief counseling will be posted on the district's webpage and Facebook page.
The district noted: "This news comes on the heels of the heartbreaking loss of middle school student Janiya Castleberry on August 20. "
A crisis team will be available to offer counseling and support on Monday, August 31 and Tuesday, September 1, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at both buildings of the middle school, said the district.
These “safe rooms” will stay available once school begins and students are encouraged to go to the safe rooms to talk, grieve, or receive counseling whenever they need. Additional information regarding grieving will be posted on the district website.
A vigil to honor both McGinnis and Castleberry will be held after formal services for McGinnis.
The district said notification of the vigil will be posted on its website and the district's Facebook page on a date that has not yet been determined.
PhillyVoice staff writers Elisa Lala and Michael Tanenbaum contributed to this report.
