Shelly Vilsaint

• Teacher

To hear friends and colleagues tell it, the “accent” on Shelly Vilsaint’s last name belonged firmly on the second syllable.

Shelly was a special education teacher and the co-chair of the special education department at Frederick Douglas Academy III in Claremont Village, the Bronx, who was beloved by students, their families and colleagues. She went above and beyond to help others, even driving from her home in New Jersey during the pandemic to meet her students in the Bronx and make sure they got their work done, colleagues said.

“I can recall a time during the shutdown when we had a special ed student completely tune out because he felt like he could not keep up,” said Shadika Zanre, the other department co-chair. Shelly “made home visits to make sure that student stayed on track.”

Sometimes Shelly paid utility bills for parents in need. She was also generous with colleagues. When a fellow teacher lost her home in a fire shortly before Thanksgiving, Shelly gave her $600 and found her a motel room with a kitchen.

Not long after that, on Nov. 29, 2022, Shelly was killed in a car and truck collision that shut the Cross Bronx Expressway for hours. She was 49 years old.

As news of her death spread, the reactions among staff and students included “widespread grief, disbelief, a lot of tears, everybody trying to come together,” said Chapter Leader Jeremiah Conway. “We teach in one of the poorest areas of the Bronx, and our kids come to us with so much trauma. Ms. V, as we all knew her, made sure every single kid knew that they were loved and appreciated.”

“The way she advocated for the students and found ways to support them and their parents was incredible,” Zanre said. “She took great pride in her position as co-chair. And to be honest, it was a position I took with her encouragement. Much like she did with the students, she encouraged the people around her to be the best they could be.”

That didn’t stop in the school building. “She pushed parents to be more involved, provided them with resources and set up drives at our school to benefit them,” Zanre said. She was involved with “all the charity” at the school. Just before she died, Shelly organized a Thanksgiving turkey giveaway and there were so many turkeys collected that they lasted well beyond Thanksgiving.

“Through strong rapport and dedication, she was able to reach parents and students that most of us could not,” Zanre said. “It is not an exaggeration to say she can be credited as the reason for many of our students graduating. The way she pushed them, guided them and was even assisting their parents was amazing.”

Math teacher Issiaka Sow agreed. “Shelly actually had a thing for working with students that teachers had a tough time teaching,” Sow said.

“Once we returned to the building after the pandemic and students were struggling to get back into the swing of things, she had a personal list of students and parents she would call in the morning to make sure the child woke up and was on their way to school,” Zanre said. “It was not strange to see her playfully arguing with students about how they needed to wake up and get to school right now.”

A native of Trinidad who immigrated to the U.S. about 20 years ago, Shelly worked as a hairdresser before starting her own business as a behavioral health specialist. She held undergraduate degrees in psychology and anthropology and a master’s degree in education, graduating with honors.

Shana Williams, a former social studies teacher at FDA lll, said Shelly got involved with her Model Congress Club, but looked to translate political action into real-world legislation. Shelly met with Chantel Jackson, the New York State assemblywoman from the district, to craft a bill related to social-emotional learning.

In addition to her work with the Model Congress, Shelly, who was a certified fitness coach, found time to serve as the girls’ basketball coach and the badminton coach and enjoyed taking members of the girls’ basketball team to Brooklyn Nets games at the Barclays Center.

Shakeema Cheek, the algebra teacher Shelly helped after a house fire, said her friend mixed kindness with tough love. One reason for Shelly’s upbeat attitude, Cheek said, was that she had survived cancer in her 20s. “She said she lived every day like it was her last,” Cheek said.

“She was giving, optimistic and loved life,” said Shelly’s cousin, Ceiji OJoe. “She was a devoted teacher, a loving mother and a compassionate friend.”

Shelly created a Care Closet at the school, getting fellow teachers and neighborhood merchants to provide canned goods, juices, clothing and toiletries to help students from struggling families.

She was honored with the Frederick Douglass Academy lll Rookie of the Year Award in 2017-2018 and with the school’s Teacher of the Year Award several times. The UFT African Heritage Committee recognized her children at its annual celebration on Feb. 3 and honored their mother for her “dedication and commitment to the nurturing culture of the FDA III community.”

“A life committed to excellence, service and compassion,” said her son, Raavohn Langaigne. “That’s how we will remember this extraordinary woman.”

Shelly was so beloved that three days after her death, students held a vigil in her memory separate from the one teachers conducted a couple of hours later, English teacher Alacias Enger said.

“Her contributions to our school will be missed. Her personality will be missed,” said Zanre. “She was not only one of our school’s greatest assets but also a great friend to many of us.”

In addition to her son Raavohn, Shelly is survived by another son, Kyyllii Jaa Langaigne; daughters Kaschee Thomas and Le Chel Riley; her father, Winston Farrell; a grandson, Keyvon Peoples; sisters Laurell Langaigne-Pollonais and Latoya Farrell; and brothers Neil Langaigne, Sean Farrell and Tony Farrell. She was predeceased by her mother, Miniver Langaigne.

Condolences may be sent to Shelly’s family at 30 La Tourette Place, Bayonne, NJ 07002.

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