In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Atlanta Public Schools is proud to highlight the stories of survivors who continue to serve students and their school communities. This is the story of Sandra Hernandez, a first-grade DLI Spanish teacher at Morris Brandon Elementary School.
R.N. Fickett Elementary School (FES) recently transformed into a sea of pink as students and teachers participated in the school’s inaugural Breast Cancer Awareness Walk, “Pink Socks and Walk It Out.” Organized by the FES Trojan Cheer Squad, students proudly sported pink apparel as they walked in support of breast cancer awareness.
The walk, which circled the school grounds and extended up Rux Road, symbolized a call to action and highlighted the importance of teaching empathy and community responsibility.
“We had this event to teach our kids to take action and to teach them to have empathy for other people,” FES principal Benita Grant said. “What better way to get them to understand the importance of other people’s health and walk for a cause?”
For a week before the event, FES teachers introduced breast cancer awareness through classroom literature and visual displays to help students grasp the disease’s broader impact.
“Many of our students have heard of breast cancer but haven’t fully understood the magnitude of it,” Grant said. “We have teachers battling breast cancer, and some of our parents were not survivors. This walk is a way for our students to honor those affected and understand that one day, they could be part of finding a cure.”
The entire school community embraced the event, with each class crafting colorful signs to carry during the walk. FES hopes to make this event an annual tradition to continue spreading awareness and engaging future generations in the fight against breast cancer.
“Breast cancer impacts so many lives, and by walking together, we are standing with survivors, fighters, and their families. Every step we take brings us closer to a cure.” Grant said.
Enjoy the slideshow below from the “Pink Socks and Walk It Out” Breast Cancer Awareness Walk. #APSGoesPink
In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Atlanta Public Schools is proud to highlight the stories of survivors who continue to serve students and their school communities.
Jalysa Stewart is a 4th- and 5th-grade teacher at Kimberly Elementary School, and this is her story:
In 2022, I felt a lump in my right breast, and I didn’t know what it was at first. I waited a couple of days following that self-examination and later decided to go to the doctor and see what was happening. I shared my concerns with my mom and went to the doctor. My gynecologist referred me to the Breast Care Center of Macon, and that’s where I started the treatment plan to cure my Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) breast cancer.
During my journey, I wasn’t employed by APS. However, I had a great family unit that ensured I was mentally, spiritually, and physically okay. They supported me through every surgery, and the community I lived in supported me by wearing pink on the days of my surgeries.
The surgeries and not being able to hold my three-year-old were the most challenging part of my journey. She could tell something was wrong. My family explained to her that I had boo-boos, so she would have to be gentle and hug me in specific ways. One night, she wanted to sleep with me, but I was still healing and sore. I had to keep telling her and myself that we would lie together little by little and when I could. We would sit together, and I would read to her, watch TV, and sometimes sit outside. She motivated me to heal. It healed me even more to see her excitement when we could finally hug and I could hold her. She was a champ!
Today, I am happy to report that I am 100 percent cancer-free! I am truly blessed by those who supported me then and those who support me now.
Q: What advice or encouragement would you give to individuals who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and are undergoing treatment?
A: I would advise someone who has been diagnosed and is undergoing treatment to use music as a coping mechanism. Find a song that brings you peace and calms you. Surround yourself with people who speak positively about you daily, hour to hour, minute to minute; this will help. On the low days, remember that you are a vibe, someone full of strength, and your story matters.
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes to an end, the APS Department of Health and Physical Education invites everyone to wear pink this Wednesday, October 30. By participating, we honor survivors like Jalysa, remember those we’ve lost, and support the ongoing fight against this disease. Don’t forget to engage with us online using the hashtag #APSGoesPink! Together, we can raise awareness and advocate for progress in breast cancer prevention and care.