Local

Clay County teacher killed in boating accident was 'miracle worker,' says mom of student

Latest: Friends, family remember Clay County teacher

A beloved local teacher is dead after a boating accident in St. Augustine.

Jodi Nesi was a speech pathologist in Clay County.

On Wednesday, the Middleburg wife and mother of three would have been celebrating her 43rd birthday with family.

TRENDING: Untreatable super-gonorrhea spreading orally, WHO warns

Investigators with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission said her husband was driving the boat Saturday when she fell overboard.

FWC said Nesi was kneeling near the bow of the boat and rough water caused her to lose her balance and fall overboard. FWC said the boat ran over Nesi, and she was struck by the propeller.

To Shannon Hube, Nesi wasn’t just a close friend.

Hube has two sons with speech problems. Her youngest, Brock, is non-verbal, and Nesi had been helping him along.

“She just was a miracle worker,” Hube said. “She could get so much out of (a) kid, it was amazing.”

Nesi routinely had one-on-one sessions with students during the summer.

Tuesday, it was supposed to be Brock’s turn.

“It was just really hard this morning to sit and concentrate, and think about what we were supposed to be there for, so we were trying to do everything in Jodi's memory, carrying on what she wanted us to do,” Hube said.

Nesi was a speech pathologist at Plantation Oaks Elementary, though next year she was moving on to Oakleaf Junior High.

“I can't even imagine what [Nesi’s family is] having to go through now,” Hube said.

But Nesi leaves behind a legacy.

With her help, Hube's oldest son, Bruce, Jr., got past his speech problems.

Now, he's dual-enrolled, and has colleges looking at him for baseball.

LOCAL NEWS: Jacksonville father of 3 recovering after fiery head-on crash on I-295

“I contribute that all to her helping him early on,” Hube said. “She's done so much for so many people. She was just such a great person.”

Nesi's husband, Al, sent Action News Jax this statement:

“I'm just overwhelmed by the love of everyone. I'm a humble person, and Jodi was, too. And the love and support that everyone is trying to give is overwhelming. And I just want to tell everyone, ‘God bless’ and tell them all, ‘Thank you.'”

Visitation for Jodi Nesi is from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 13, at the Jacksonville Memory Gardens Funeral Home.

Nesi’s funeral is at 11 a.m.  Friday, July 14 at Orange Park Methodist Church.