Students, staff show love for gym teacher before starting chemotherapy

OWENSBORO, Ky. (WFIE) - Students and staff members at Sorgho Elementary School wanted to make sure they showed their love for the school’s gym teacher before she begins chemotherapy.

Carla Clayton, who teaches gym at the school, was diagnosed with breast cancer on the second day of school this year. On Thursday, she will begin her chemotherapy treatments so students and staff found a way to show her support before her leave of absence.

“She is one of the most caring women,” says Terika Kemp, a PASS Assistant at Sogho Elementary. “She knows every student by name. She greets them every time they come into her room she greets them by name and shakes their hand. She’s like a big mother hen.”

And that’s why the school came together to show support with a surprise pink out. The entire school dressed in pink and had a parade around the school for their teacher.

“I don’t even know if I can put it into words," explains Clayton. "It was just unbelievably overwhelming and total shock.”

The staff at Sorgho said they wanted their co-worker to know she won’t be fighting her battle alone, armed with thoughts and prayers of her Sorgho family.

“I love what I do,” Clayton says. “I get to be a role model for 400 kids every day and it’s just I’m super blessed.”

Before she heads off she left her students with this message.

“I would just tell them to keep praying for me because that’s really my greatest need," Clayton explains. "Keep being leaders so when I get back we can just jump right back into things just like nothing ever happened.”

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