Science teacher Ms. Mari Rosales officially resigned this morning and will not be returning when school resumes tomorrow.

In a letter sent to certain staff members, Ms. Rosales announced that she is currently at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., where she is pursuing a degree in nursing.

The reason she gave just one day’s notice is that she feared immediate dismissal and the immediate loss of her health care benefits, the letter states. Ms. Rosales is a breast cancer survivor and depends on medication which she could not otherwise afford, she said.

“With everything that has happened with my health, it is clear that my heart lies in helping others to fight and survive as I have,” said Ms. Rosales, who this year taught Biology and Physiology.

She said she had wanted to share the news sooner but had “overriding fears” about losing her health insurance.

“Despite my feelings for my students, colleagues, and friends, I had to make the decision that was best for me, my health, and my future,”  Ms. Rosales wrote in her e-mail, which was addressed to eight faculty members. Ms. Rosales also made the letter available to The Boiling Point and gave permission to publish it.

Acting General Studies Principal Mr. Roy Danovitch, who as recently as Friday told The Boiling Point he was not aware Ms. Rosales was leaving, said today after speaking with her that she had she had left material that will be covered over the next two weeks.

“Ms. Rosales left behind lesson plans, finals, and all of her grading information,” said Mr. Danovitch.

“She made what she left us very user-friendly,” he said. “This allows us to take our time finding a teacher that can teach the class, because she left enough information for a sub to take care of the classes. I have been in contact with her regarding how this will affect students’ grades. All the things that involve grades have been discussed with her and will be taken care of.”

Still, the loss of a teacher was expected to be felt by students. Those reached for comment were surprised, but they also were supportive of Ms. Rosales, and showed concern regarding the continuation of their science courses just two weeks before finals.

“Although this harmed us, the truth is she is following her dreams — who are we to get in the way of that?” said Leora Nimmer, junior and current Biology student.

Senior Eitan Spitzer said he would miss her.

“My relationship with Ms. Rosales is very long – she has been my teacher, as well as an advisor,” said Eitan Spitzer, who takes Physiology this year. “The decision she has made is best for her. While I am sad to see her leave, this is the best decision for her.”

“I am upset she left,” said junior and Biology student Yael Wiener. “We will have a hard time replacing her.”

Mr. Danovitch said that he and Dr. Jay Smallwood, Science Department Chair, had already opened a search for a permanent replacement and that Ms. Rosales’ classes would probably be covered by in-house substitutes – other teachers — in the next few days while a long-term or permanent replacement is sought.

He does not believe that any members of the current Science Department staff will be asked to cover her class as they are “already quite busy.”  But he added that the timing, while inconvenient, offers sufficient time to find a new teacher, because of the few teaching days in the month of January.

“We are looking for a short- and long-term sub, someone who can finish teaching the last two weeks of her class, and who could potentially teach for the second semester,” Mr. Danovitch said in an interview. “We want to find the right person to teach classes, because the students deserve it.”

When asked how he had reacted to news of Ms. Rosales’ resignation, he said he was surprised, but at the same time he wished nothing but good for Ms. Rosales.

“I wish her the best,” he said.  “She wanted to do this, it was something she felt passionate for, so I am excited for her. I certainly was surprised because it is New Year’s weekend and we have to move quite quickly to find a replacement. We are working with just one day of notice.”

Asked if Ms. Rosales’ concern about losing her insurance was reasonable, he replied, “It is hard for me to know. A lot of things enter people’s minds when they make decisions about their future. It is hard for me to go into that, it is complicated.”

And he agreed she would be hard to replace.

“She taught science from a very personal level, because of what she went through as a breast cancer survivor, and it was incredibly inspirational,” Mr. Danovitch said. “She used that as a mechanism to talk about the body and medicine, and to talk about the experience of going through something like that. She was able to educate through personal anecdotes, and experiences.”

Ms. Rosales, he added, is someone “both brave and courageous,” qualities that are hard to find.