‘We love her with all we have’: Parlier Unified teacher diagnosed with cancer

PARLIER, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – Teresa Peña has been teaching and inspiring students at Brletic Elementary in Parlier for more than 30 years. Recently, the first-grade teacher was diagnosed with cancer.

Fabiola Rodriguez says Peña or Mrs. Peña, as she is known, is a true inspiration within the district.

“So she has been one of the teachers that everybody looks up to,” said Rodriguez. “She is the teacher that will give her one. Like I could tell you, she will give anything off her back to make sure that her students have what they need.”

Teresa’s son, Jose Peña, is also a teacher at Brletic Elementary.

“I wouldn’t have been able to survive so to say as a teacher just because it’s a lot more rigorous than people imagine it to be,” he said. “She was just so helpful in every facet of the job and it’s just wonderful being able to eat lunch with my mom every day.”

He says his mom’s cancer diagnosis is recent.

“Over the summer they found a mass went and did a biopsy and came back with cancer,” he said.

Parlier Unified School District also released a statement writing in part:

Mrs. Peña, you have the strength, support, and love of all of us to defeat this challenge. We believe in your resilience and are with you every step of the way. We are in this together!

Parlier Unified School District

Teresa’s friends, family and especially her son Jose want her to know how much she has inspired them.

“Thank you for teaching us how to love and now we love her with all that we have,” he said.

Jose says his mom will continue to work as long as she feels well enough to do so.

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