Mesa teacher continues to teach while battling cancer

PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — Mrs. Jennifer Adams is a teacher at Cambridge Academy in Mesa, who says she loves teaching first grade more than anything. In fact, she says it is that passion that helped her fight, and ultimately beat cancer.

In March of 2023, Adams was diagnosed with breast cancer. However, she refused to allow her battle affect her students. When it comes to first graders, there is so much social and academic progress and Adams says she doesn’t ever want to miss a minute of it. That’s why she continued to come to class, even after her chemotherapy appointments.

In fact, the principal at Cambridge Academy told Arizona’s Family that Adams asked that her prep period be scheduled for her last hour of the day. That way, she had plenty of time to get to those appointments, but it meant she would not miss any class time with her students.

While her students learned about reading, writing and arithmetic from their teacher, they also learned important lessons about life; such as perseverance, toughness and never giving up.

“Don’t let anything stop you,” Adams says about the message she talks about with her class. “You can keep going forward. There will be obstacles in the way, but you find different ways around them.”

“She’s really strong,” says 9-year-old Amelia, a former student of Mrs. Adams. She and her mom nominated Adams for the Silver Apple Award and even helped us surprise the first-grade teacher.

When our crew presented Adams with the Silver Apple, she could not help but shed tears as she thought about the battles of the past year.

“This past year has been a little difficult for me,” Adams explained. “I was diagnosed with breast cancer last March. I’ve continued working. I still wanted to give my best to the kids… when I see the difference I make in their lives, that is what makes it worth it.”

Ken Gable from Arizona Bank and Trust presented Adams with a check as part of the Silver Apple Award.

“I’m going to hold back the tears in this presentation,” Gable told Mrs. Adams. “Congratulations from Arizona Bank and Trust. We really appreciate all the work teachers do to educate our kids and take good care of them, and you’ve clearly made an impact on your classroom. On behalf of Arizona Bank & Trust, we’d like to present you with a check of $1,000.”

What’s truly priceless to Adams, however, is being in her classroom. This place has given her motivation and strength in what’s been the fight of her life. Adams says she is now in remission.

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