NE Iowan with Terminal Cancer Gets Teaching Certificate

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Charles City woman with terminal cancer has personally received her teaching certificate from the executive director of the State Board of Educational Examiners.

The executive director, Duane Magee, gave Amy Heiter her certificate Tuesday at Washington Elementary, where she did her student teaching. Heiter was diagnosed with a rare form of terminal cancer in 2013 just after she completed her first period of student teaching preschool and first grade at the school.

Heiter underwent treatment before returning to teach. She had one more test to take so she could receive her certificate, but was unable to do so because she learned in October 2014 that her cancer had returned.

Heiter's doctors have told her there is no cure for her cancer, and all they can do is give her a better quality of life during the time she has left.