Across Cobb County Schools, several teachers and staff members have shared their experiences with breast cancer in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The stories highlight the personal challenges faced by educators and support staff, many of whom continued working during treatment.
Michelle Lanier, a first-grade teacher at Pitner Elementary, learned she had breast cancer just before the 2024 school year began. Despite fear and uncertainty, she chose to remain in the classroom while considering treatment options. “When you’re going through something like that, you want to still have that passion and joy in your life, you want to have the little people you love the most who don’t have any idea what’s happening in your life but can put a smile on your face,” said Lanier. She underwent surgery during Fall break and returned after a week of recovery. Lanier noted that having other breast cancer survivors at her school made her feel supported: “It is nice to know that someone else knows what that felt like, so you can smile and laugh and be like, wow, can you believe we did that? Can you believe that this came into our lives, and we are still here to talk about it?”
At Kennesaw Mountain High School, English teacher Niki Jaquish and Math teacher Sherry Williams were both diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019. For Jaquish, this was her second diagnosis after first overcoming it in 2016; she completed extensive rounds of chemotherapy and radiation while continuing to teach. “Having breast cancer and teaching is not a club you’d sign up for, but at the same time, some of the most powerful relationships I’ve had with people have been formed in that way, and walking this journey with a coworker was oddly empowering,” said Jaquish. Williams recalled mutual support between them: “I knew she was just down the hallway if I needed anything, she would check on me.” Both teachers missed very few days despite physical challenges. Jaquish credited students for helping her persevere: “The students quite literally gave me life. They were quirky, funny, and supportive and looked out for me in ways I didn’t even realize were happening.” In 2019 Jaquish received Teacher of the Year honors at Kennesaw Mountain High School.
Marianne Moraweic has worked as a bus driver for Cobb Schools for ten years. Diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in October 2024, she decided to keep working through treatment whenever possible: “Throughout chemotherapy, I continued to work, but there were days here and there where it was too much… My kids know Mrs. Marianne is always smiling… so on those days I wasn’t feeling so great, I never let them see it,” said Moraweic. She emphasized how being around students helped her cope: “You don’t realize how strong you are until you have to walk down that bumpy road. The students actually made me feel better; just being around them was actually really helpful.”
Diona Swinney from Pebblebrook High School found out about her diagnosis before the start of the 2024 school year while celebrating her granddaughter’s birthday at Disney World. Swinney took leave during chemotherapy but stayed involved by sending customized wristbands with encouraging messages such as “You Are Amazing” to her students: “To be honest, I just wanted to live… The kids give me light; teaching gives me light.” She described an emotional moment when a student visited because they lost their mother to breast cancer: “One of my students… came to check on me- this brought me to tears…” Swinney continues wearing pink daily as a symbol of awareness.
Nerlie Alexandre from Belmont Hills Elementary received her diagnosis following concerns raised by doctors after a scan in late 2023. Despite initial hesitation about further testing or treatment disruptions at work, Alexandre scheduled medical appointments outside school hours so as not to miss class time: “I just kept on moving like nothing was happening,” she said. Alexandre delayed surgery until summer break so she could finish the academic year uninterrupted: “It’s the heart we have for what we do… Sometimes you can’t put yourself on the back burner anymore…” She expressed solidarity with fellow educators facing similar battles.
All six educators interviewed indicated they found comfort knowing support systems existed within their schools—from colleagues or administrators willing to assist as needed—and noted how common such experiences are among staff across multiple campuses.
Breast cancer remains widespread nationally; according to data from organizations such as the American Cancer Society (https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/about/how-common-is-breast-cancer.html), approximately one in eight women will develop breast cancer over their lifetime.
Every teacher or staff member featured reported being free from breast cancer following their respective treatments.
