A teacher at Franklin-Simpson High School is back at work this semester after her life took a turn she didn't expect last summer.

We met with Amanda Watt during her first week back at school.

"On June 11 this past summer I was diagnosed with breast cancer," said Mrs. Watt.

Amanda Watt then began treatments at Vanderbuilt.

Despite her love of teaching, she had to leave the school last semester.

"I guess I was really surprised," said Mrs. Watt. "I was 33-years-old, and normally they're not expecting a healthy 33-year-old to find breast cancer."

"Amanda is a very determined young lady," said Steve Thurmond, Mrs. Watt's father. "She is dedicated to what she does. She loves to teach."

Her passion for sharing knowledge about history and psychology is obvious in her classroom.

"With a good team of doctors at Vanderbuilt, I am able to be back at school, and I'm excited to be here," said Mrs. Watt. "I've missed my students a lot."

And her students say they've missed her.

They've done as much as they could since last summer to show how grateful they are for their teacher.

Several events were dedicated to Mrs. Watt, including Junior Miss last September.

"We wore ribbons during the show, and at the door, everyone got a ribbon when they came in just to show our support and respect for Mrs. Watt," said Haley Mefford, a senior at FSHS.

The FS Cheer and Dance teams collected money from both home and guest fans at their first football game and donated it to Stand Up To Cancer in Mrs. Watt's honor.

Many athletes have placed symbols on their jerseys, like the football players, who chose to use stickers that simply displayed her initials.

"I kept mine on my phone just to remind me what she's been through, but as a team we had them on our helmets," said Caleb Carpenter, a senior football player at FSHS. "It just showed that she was fighting and so should we."

"She has been a role model to other young women who might experience this same situation," said Thurmond, "Through prayer, through determination, through the strength that you get from family and friends, that you can survive these types of traumas."

"I've learned to take each day as a precious day that you have," said Mrs. Watt. "Somedays you don't want to come to school. Somedays my kids don't want to come to school, but what a day it is today that I get to be here."

According to her father, they hope Mrs. Watt is cancer-free, but to be safe, the doctors will continue through with every step of her treatment.

We honor Amanda Watt as this week's Hometown Hero.