The power of pink

Pink replaced Pearl Sample Elementary School's usual black and orange spirit colors Tuesday.

In a show of support for fourth-grade teacher Kellie Baker, who underwent a mastectomy at Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville Tuesday, the entire school donned variations of the pastel shade, which is linked to breast cancer awareness.

"It shows how much people really care about Kellie and are becoming more aware of breast cancer," said Pearl Sample kindergarten teacher Lizza Judd.

Last year, the 37-year-old teacher was diagnosed with the disease before she ever had the chance to have her first mammogram, according to Judd.

And her pre-teen students, along with the whole school, displayed thoughts of Baker in a number of ways.

Inside Room 11, some of Baker's girl students wore pink tops, pink dresses with pink ribbons in their hair to match.

One student even wore her pink shoes.

As for the boys, many of them wore pink, too.

A 9-year-old boy's shirt read, "Tough guys wear pink."

"We really feel like this is a supportive system (for) her," said Baker's 9-year-old student Wesley Ward, who said her surgery was scheduled at 1 p.m.

Amber Eley, 9, said Baker has done a lot for her and her classmates.

"And I think it's right to do a lot for her," the fourth-grader said.

On Monday, Reading Resource teacher Linda Dunn's announcement gave the guys an alternative to wearing pink.

Dunn told the boys they could wear red or orange because "that's pink's color cousin."

In addition to raising awareness, the Tigers also raised money for the cause.

They collected $600 in Baker's honor to donate to the Susan G. Komen For The Cure, an organization that supports breast cancer research.

And in an effort to brighten Baker's mood after surgery, the Tigers also gathered an assortment of mums to fill her home.

Those flowers will later be planted in her yard.

The faculty and staff at Pearl Sample have also put together a "special project" for Baker.

Judd, who lost her best friend to colon cancer earlier this year, said it's important to make people aware of the disease.

"That's why I'm so passionate about this," she said, with two pink ribbons drawn on both cheeks and a pink and white ribbon tied around her dark brown locks.

Judd said Baker, who found the lump on her own, went through months of chemotherapy before her doctors could even operate "because there were so many tumors with blood flow to them."

In June, Baker began to lose her hair.

Mother, teacher and friend
Baker has two children that attend Pearl Sample: 10-year-old Griffin, who is in the fifth-grade and 8-year-old Raegan, a third-grader.

Baker began teaching at Pearl Sample two years ago. Prior to that, she taught at A.G. Richardson Elementary School.

"Kellie was very open with her class and parents about what was going on," Judd said. "She rarely missed a day from school, except on treatment days."

She even taught all day Monday, Judd said.

"She is still so beautiful, always smiling and positive," said Judd, wearing a pink top. "She is a true inspiration to us all."

Prior to leaving for surgery, Baker called retired A.G. Richardson teacher Lynn Nelson to fill in for her during her leave.

"She knew that she could count on me," Nelson said, wearing a bright pink hoodie in honor of her colleague. "It was one less thing she had to worry about."

Baker is expected to return to work in three weeks.

That's just in time for the Halloween party. Baker's students are also making special cards for her.

Pearl Sample Principal Karie Lane said she was delighted to see all of the pink at the bus stops on Tuesday.

"It was very heartwarming," she said. "We have several breast cancer survivors here and the pink is to honor all of them and especially Kellie today."

Rhonda Simmons can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 125 or .