Two teachers have missed much of the school year because of serious illnesses. Health teacher Jana Pixley-Alter may not return this year, but Technology teacher Jona Wright  returned last month.   During the last few weeks of the previous school year, Wright left on medical leave to begin cancer testing.  In May, she was diagnosed with lymphoma—a unique type of cancer that could occur in a number of areas throughout the body.
 “There are several areas the cancer can go to,” Wright said. “In my case, it just happened to be my stomach. It started out there, and it was detected early enough that it didn’t spread.”     Fortunately, lymphoma is a very treatable cancer. Wright began stomach radiation and was able to return to school last month.    Another teacher, Pixley-Alter, has been on leave for the entire school year thus far due to a medical problem that she said “is now being taken care of.”   Pixley-Alter declined to comment on the specifics of her health issues, but she does hope to return in the fall.
 She is grateful for all of the cards and calls from students and staff, and she said she is eager to return in a few months.
“I just miss the students,” Pixley-Alter said.
 Patricia Ward is currently teaching health class and has spoken with Pixley-Alter.
 “Pixley-Alter’s condition is not life-threatening,” Ward said. “She’s on the road to recovery.” 
 Ward declined to identify her diagnosis or go into further details.
 Like Pixley-Alter, Wright has also received an outpouring of support.
 “I’m excited to be back,” she said. “The students have been exceptional, and I sincerely appreciate all of the support, cards, emails, and telephone calls from people all across the district.”  The adjustment to dealing with cancer hasn’t been easy. Talking about her health is a private issue for Wright, and she said she is not used to being so open or having so much attention.    “I’m just so private that I never talk about those things to people very much,” she said. “I’m not used to being the center of attention.”
 During the time Wright was on medical leave, she noticed the impact of her disease on those closest to her, mainly her family.     “We’ve grown closer as a family,” she said.    But her family wasn’t Wright’s only support system.     “I was surprised by how giving, caring, and supportive people were,” Wright said. “Many more people reached out to me than I ever expected.”   Wright said all of her substitutes did “an excellent job.”
 Ward, who taught Wright���s classes during the first semester, said she has a master’s degree in technology and a medical degree, which complement both classes she has taught this year.
 Ward plans to continue teaching Pixley-Alter’s health class until the end of the year or until Pixley-Alter returns.