A 27-year-old Jacksonville elementary school teacher was one of two people who died in a traffic crash about 12:30 a.m. Sunday, according to the Duval County Public Schools.

Bloneva Palmer's Volkswagen Golf collided head-on with a Honda Accord driven by 31-year-old John Groves on Florida A1A in Jacksonville Beach after the Accord crossed the center line near 11th Avenue South.

Palmer died at the scene and Groves died after being flown to UF Health Jacksonville. Witnesses told police Groves had been driving recklessly before the crash.

Palmer taught kindergarten students at Sadie T. Tillis Elementary School since August 2010, according to the school district.

Principal Marianne Lee sent a letter Monday to students' parents that alerted them to the death and that psychologists and social workers would be on campus.

"We expect that each student at Sadie Tillis Elementary School will be affected by this tragedy even if they did not personally know Ms. Palmer," the letter reads. "School psychologists report that children usually go through the same stages of grief that adults do. However, they do not follow a specific pattern or order."

She said psychologists recommend that children vent feelings through artistic expression. The principal encouraged parents to talk with their children and answer questions honestly and simply.

School district officials said if a parent doesn't want their children to speak with school psychologists, they can send a note or call (904) 573-1090.

Palmer's aunt said she called her niece "My pumpkin" and that the entire family moved to Jacksonville 19 years ago. Family members were still planning the 27-year-old's funeral and the family's spokeswoman wasn't available for comment.

However, the aunt said Palmer smiled often and she will always remember it.

"The smile you saw was the same one you saw as a baby," she said.

Derek Gilliam: (904) 359-4619