Jennifer Podhora's Impact on Wisconsin Hills Students Was 'Very Profound'

Last September, the students in Jennifer Podhora’s classes were thrilled their teacher was back at Wisconsin Hills Middle School.

She had started at the Brookfield middle school in September 2011 but her year of teaching was cut short because she needed cancer treatment. She stepped away from the school in spring 2012, focused on her health and was told she was cancer free last summer.

“Kids are amazing in that they will always rally around someone in need,” said Principal Robyn Martino. “I think they felt like they were truly instrumental in making her smile. … She definitely made a difference in the kids’ lives.”

The victory was short lived.

The cancer came back last fall and Podhora again left Wisconsin Hills Middle School. She was never able to return to the kids she loved at the job she just started.

The 28-year-old teacher from Waukesha, a 2007 Carroll University graduate, passed away May 4. Her funeral was held last weekend.

The past six days at school, Podhora’s students sounded a recurring theme as they reflected on the few months they spent with their teacher, according to Martino. Those comments are:

• “She was a great teacher and an even better person.”
• “We will miss her smile and laugh.”
• “You were never impatient with me.”

"I think her impact, in the very short time she was with us, was very profound,” Martino said.

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After Podhora graduated from Carroll University in Waukesha, she took a teaching position in Missouri. She taught math for four years there but returned to Wisconsin in 2011 to teach middle school math at Wisconsin Hills.

From day one, it was obvious Podhora cared about her math students.

“She loved the kids and wanted what was best for them,” Martino said. “She just had a passion to give back and make sure she could make a difference in the lives of her children. That was self-evident in everything that she did.”

And her students rallied around her. They sent her cards every day while she was out last school year, a tradition the staff took up this school year. They held bake sales to help raise funds for Podhora’s treatment and they found other little ways to support their beloved teacher.

The school alerted parents to Podhora’s death on May 5 so they would have time to talk with their children before they started school May 6 following the weekend. School staff also went into each classroom to talk with students and a support team was at Wisconsin Hills to help with the grief.

The students were “upset and sad that their teacher wasn’t able to return,” Martino said.

One mother reached out to Martino after Podhora’s death to share how the teacher had inspired her daughter in her quest for education. A similar story was shared on Brookfield Patch’s Facebook page:

“My daughter Taylor had her for math last year,” wrote Lisa Thompson Schalk. “Taylor thought highly of Ms. Podhora. We prayed she would get better and when we saw her at locker setup this year, Taylor was ecstatic. Ms. Podhora gave Taylor a big hug and Ms. Podhora told us how glad she was to be coming back from her leave. That was short lived. She will be missed. May her young soul rest in peace.”

Podohora didn’t just give to the students though. Martino described the young teacher as a woman who had strong faith, loved laughing, had a great sense of humor and was genuine, sweet and thoughtful.

“She had just a real cute way of finding a bright spot in each day,” Martino said.

The staff at Wisconsin Hills Middle School is working through their loss, along with the students.

“I think we knew that this day was coming, but once it comes it doesn’t make it any easier,” Martino said. “The reality of that hits … how hard it is to lose somebody that is part of your team.”

But Podhora wouldn’t want the school to mourn her passing. She worked to find joy and was grateful for all the support and love she received from her students and the staff at Wisconsin Hills, Martino said.

“She was so appreciative of all of that and would want us to celebrate her,” Martino said.

Podhora’s obituary also gives a glimpse at what was important in her life:

Jen was passionate about God, family and friends.  She enjoyed playing tennis, going on adventures with friends, teaching and learning more about her faith. Jen lived her life finding humor and positiveness in every situation and sharing her contagious laughter. Throughout the last year, she inspired those around her to join in the fight against cancer.