Bench for Mrs. Gutierrez

Mrs. Heidi Gutierrez taught for Porterville Unified School District for 21 years . She taught third grade at Santa Fe Elementary Dual Language Academy. She was a vibrant and energetic teacher who was loved by her students and colleagues.

In January 2009, at age 35, Heidi was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent a double mastectomy and chemotherapy, while maintaining her roles as wife, mom and teacher. She went into remission until January 2012 when they discovered the cancer had metastasized to her arms, hips, skull, and vertebrae. While no cure was available, she continued to remain postive and embraced each day as a gift.  Throughout her battle, she continued to teach, pour into her family, and maintain life as normal as possible.

Heidi's hard fought battle with cancer ended on October 7, 2017 at age 44. While her physical presence is no longer with us, her sparkly spirit lives on through the lives of her family, friends, students, and colleagues. As a tribute to her life and legacy,  Santa Fe Elementary  would like to place a reading bench in front her classroom.  On the bench will be inscribed: "Mrs. Gutierrez's Superstar Readers" (because she referred to her students in this way).
 
You can be a part of this memorial by donating to this fund. The estimated cost is $1,500 and we would like the bench installed by the first of the 2018. Monies donated in excess of the goal will go toward the Team Heidi Scholarship Fund, benefitting local high school graduates whose lives have been impacted by cancer. 

If you would like to read Heidi's story in her own words, please visit www.kaweahdelta.org/Patient-Stories/Heidi-G-.aspx

Thank you for your generosity in helping bring this memorial to life at Santa Fe Elementary.