MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — A local third grade teacher at Berkeley Heights Elementary School passed away Tuesday after a fight against a rare blood disease.
Sarah Stocker, 26, is being remembered in the community with an outpouring from her family and friends on social media and by those she worked with at Berkeley Heights.
Stocker left the school in December and was admitted to Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore to begin treatment after doctors diagnosed her with aplastic anemia.
Berkeley Heights Principal Amber Boeckman said Stocker had a positive impact on her students and colleagues.
“Just a ray of sunshine that’s really when I think of her or when anybody thinks of her, that’s our first thought,” said Boeckman.
Boeckman reflected on stories about Sarah’s goal to be an educator from a young age.
“She knew what she wanted to do from a very young age,” said Boeckman. “She worked her way through Fairmount State to get her degree and landed a job here. We couldnt of been more blessed to have her. I just wish we could of had her for a longer time.”
Boeckman said there are plans in place to memorialize Stocker.
She says the staff has been collecting funds to purchase a star in her name and they will be planting a tree on the school grounds.
“We’re going to let her mom choose the tree that she thinks will best reflect Sarah,” said Boeckman. “Definitely something pink, her favorite color. That we can plant here so that we can remember her forever.”
Boeckman said Stocker’s parents have established a donation fund at City National Bank to help cover the cost of the hospitalization.