A Palm Beach County community is heartbroken after losing a beloved teacher in a tragic hit-and-run accident in Wellington.
Early Monday morning, 62-year-old Toshimi Abe-Janiga was struck and killed by a car near the Lakefield community. The driver fled the scene, leaving her family and community searching for answers. The Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office is investigating, urging anyone with information to come forward.
Abe-Janiga, originally from Japan, was a celebrated educator who touched countless lives during her career. In 2021, she was named Palm Beach County’s Teacher of the Year, a recognition that meant as much to her students as it did to her. Abe-Janiga taught English, Black history, and Holocaust studies at Riviera Beach Preparatory and Achievement Academy, an alternative school serving predominantly Black students. Her teaching went beyond textbooks, encouraging her students to broaden their horizons.
“You have to leave your community, your city, your state,” she once said in an interview. “When you see both the good and the bad, that’s when you can grow.”
Her unique perspective made her an exceptional teacher. When she first came to the United States in the early 1990s, Abe-Janiga developed international study abroad programs and coordinated English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at Lynn University. She later transitioned to teaching in alternative education, where her passion for fostering understanding and empathy truly shined.
Abe-Janiga took over teaching a Holocaust studies elective from Brian Knowles, a district leader in cultural and historical education. She believed her students, many of whom faced systemic struggles, could deeply connect with the stories of persecution and resilience from history.
“When I break it down, they understand,” she once explained. “They face struggles every day. I feel lucky to teach the Holocaust here because they know what pain is.”
Her students adored her, celebrating her Teacher of the Year award as if they had won it themselves. For them, it wasn’t just her achievement—it was a “family win.”
Abe-Janiga was just days away from her 63rd birthday. Her loss has left a void in the community she served so passionately.
The hit-and-run occurred at the intersection of Aero Club Drive and South Club Drive. Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS.
As the investigation continues, the legacy of Toshimi Abe-Janiga lives on in the lives she touched and the lessons she imparted. Her dedication to education and her students will never be forgotten.
