'Double tragedy': Driver of car that killed Tampa art teacher is former colleague

TAMPA — Some students knew him as Mr. D.

They said he was the greatest art teacher. Ever. And no one will be able to replace him at Chiles Elementary School. Ever.

"We miss him so much," one of his students wrote on a card.

On Thursday, while riding his bicycle to work, 46-year-old Joe Dyals pulled in front of a minivan and was struck, Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies said. He died at University Community Hospital.

The loss of the longtime art teacher, a staple at the school since it opened in 2001, was more trying because of how it happened.

The driver, Mara Lyn Colee, is a former colleague of Dyals' at the school. She taught special education, and Dyals would often help out with her students. Colee transferred to Forest Hills Elementary in June.

"It's a double tragedy," said principal Kim Pietsch.

Dyals created extra art projects for Colee's students, patiently devoting his time to help them excel. He always went the extra mile, Pietsch said.

"He was a really dedicated educator," said Pietsch. "I don't want to say that this was his life. But teaching students and his passion for that and dedication to the school was really the fire that kind of kept him going."

Dyals had another fire that was important to him — the school's kiln. Pietsch said it was important to him that every child complete a clay piece each year.

Dyals' mother, Linda, said her son knew he wanted to be an art teacher since he graduated from the University of Florida.

He talked about his students and projects a great deal, she said.

"I know he thoroughly enjoyed it," she said.

Because Dyals taught art, he had an impact on every student in the school, Pietsch said. The fifth-graders had him for six years, starting in kindergarten.

Students and faculty plan to design a memorial in his honor.

Dyals was outgoing, meticulous and friendly, Pietsch said. And when it came to his job, she said, Dyals was hardworking and professional.

Dyals had worked for Hillsborough County schools since 1993, said school district spokesman Stephen Hegarty. He taught at Tampa Palms and Folsom elementary schools before joining Chiles.

Linda Dyals said her son was always artistic. As a kid, he loved getting pencils, coloring books and watercolors. He eventually developed specialties in pottery and pen and ink drawing.

Dyals wasn't married and had no children, but he was close with his brother, Jason, his sister, Elena Harvey, and his parents.

He was a bit of a homebody, said his father, Ben Dyals.

He liked reading, working in the yard and fishing, but didn't hunt because he was too much of an animal lover, the elder Dyals said.

He said they went on two fishing trips this summer. Both times, Dyals caught the biggest bass — about 4 pounds.

"Joe's been fishing with me since he was about 6 years old," he said.

Dyals talked to his father last week, eager to get copies of the fishing photos so that he could show them to his friends. But, his dad lamented, he never got to see them.