Still smiling
Longtime CCS kindergarten teacher stays positive through personal challenges
Finding out that two of your family members have cancer in the same year might send some people reeling.
But for Jennifer Schild, a kindergarten teacher at Community Christian School for 36 years, her choice has been to remain positive through the adversity.
Schild, of Badger, has continued to come to school with a smile on her face for the kids she teaches, according to Jean Black, business manager at CCS.
Schild’s husband, John Schild, was diagnosed with cancer in March.
Then in August, a week before school started at CCS, her son Justin Schild, a senior at Fort Dodge Senior High was diagnosed with leukemia.
“She was determined that she wanted to start the year out with her kids because she felt it was really important not to have a new teacher right away when school started,” Black said.
As a result, CCS postponed the start of their kindergarten classes for one week.
When school began, Jennifer Schild was ready to go, according to Black.
“She has come in and missed a minimal number of days to be with her son for his major chemo treatments or testing days,” Black said. “So her dedication is far beyond what anyone can comprehend.”
Her mission as a teacher is to get kids to love coming to school.
“I love the kids and I want them to succeed and I try to make it fun for them,” she said. “That’s my goal. I want them to meet their potential, but I am friendly.”
Schild, a native of Briarcliff Manor, New York, wasn’t always as engaging as she is now.
“I used to be very shy,” she said.
But when she moved to Iowa to attend the University of Northern Iowa in the late 1970s, she was forced out of her shell.
“I was far away from home, so I couldn’t go home like a lot of kids,” she said. “So I just had to start talking to people.”
Eventually she got involved in a gospel team where she played the guitar.
“I had to get up in front of people with my guitar,” she said. “They needed a guitar player and that helped me build my confidence.”
She shares her musical talent with her students.
Most recently, she was working on CCS’s annual patriotic program that includes songs honoring the United States of America.
In Schild’s personal life, it’s about faith.
“I know that God is in control and I just have to trust him each day,” Jennifer Schild said. “There is a little phrase that says ‘you either get better or bitter,’ and I’m not going to be bitter about it. I am not going to get mad. I am not mad at God. I am not mad at anybody.”
“Do I like this journey?” she asked. “No — but if we can be an example to people that you keep persevering, and I can still put a smile on my face every day and I will. I will keep smiling because God is good and he has a plan. I don’t know what that plan is, but we are just going to keep on keepin’ on, because I am not going to give up.”
John Schild, a native of Newton, worked at Payless Cashways Building Materials in Fort Dodge.
There he was the company’s chief estimator, Jennifer Schild said. He also designed and built decks.
“We call him Big John,” Jennifer Schild said.
John Schild,who stands at six-foot-six, and Jennifer Schild have been married for 43 years.
Together they have raised 10 children, seven of whom were adopted.
John Schild and Jennifer Schild met during a Christian retreat in Clear Lake on a Friday in February, Jennifer Schild recalled.
They played each other in a game of foosball, Jennifer Schild said.
“He still beats me in that game today,” she said.
For a man who worked so hard to provide for his family, Jennifer Schild said the past 10 years haven’t been easy.
“It’s been tough on my husband because it’s just been one thing after another,” she said. “The last 10 years have been hard on him. He just can’t do what he used to. He used to do everything. He’s a good man.”
Jennifer Schild said the key to her successful marriage has been communication.
“Trusting God and communicating and never going to bed mad,” she said. “We talk it out. If he’d fall asleep, I would wake him up and say we are not done, we need to finish this.”
John Schild’s cancer is inoperable, Jennifer Schild said.
His kidneys are failing, she said.
It’s not known how much time he has left.
“We don’t know,” Jennifer Schild said. “The cancer will eventually grow more, but the radiation did help some. God knows how long.”
Jennifer Schild was faced with losing a family member to cancer 20 years ago.
Her biological daughter, Jaclyn Schild, passed away at age 12 after her battle with leukemia.
Jaclyn Schild died Sept. 19, 1996.
Justin Schild’s condition is improving, according to Jennifer Schild.
Justin Schild, who played wide receiver for the Dodgers, suffered an injury in practice before later being diagnosed with leukemia.
“It just didn’t seem like he got better after that,” Jennifer Schild said.
Justin Schild has been undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments in Des Moines since Aug. 24.
Jennifer Schild said he’s making progress.
“He’s at zero cancer cells right now,” she said. “So he will continue going to Blank for three years until he’s out of the woods.”
Jennifer Schild said Justin Schild has had a great attitude throughout.
The hope is that Justin Schild might be able to return in time to play soccer.
FDSH soccer games begin in April.
The rest of the family has been helping Jennifer Schild balance her life.
“We have to make sure that we have rides for Justin and John,” she said. “We have to make sure they get to the doctor when they are supposed to. The ones that are still in the area help when they can.”
Jennifer Schild’s colleagues at CCS said the way she lives life in and out of the classroom is commendable.
“I think her exceptionalism comes from her positive outlook on life and in the classroom in general,” Diane Macek, lead teacher, said. “She’s a very positive person and takes everything in stride.”
Maurita Aubrey, a part-time licensed administrator, complimented Jennifer Schild’s ability to work with kids.
“She gets down to the kids’ level and that’s awesome in kindergarten to interact with them and treat them with respect,” Aubrey said. “Having fun with them, but also encouraging them in their progress.”
Jennifer Schild is retiring at the end of the school year.