Penn Trafford Teacher Remembered for G.R.I.T.

By: Shannon Kroskie Smith

Jackie Landram lived with grace, resilience, integrity, and tenacity (G.R.I.T). For 16 years, she taught seventh-grade English at Penn Middle School in the Penn-Trafford School District. These traits were exhibited to her colleagues and students day in and day out, and never more so than during her seven-year battle with ovarian cancer.

“[Jackie] was just the ultimate example of living with grit,” said Meredith Hodge, a Penn Middle School math teacher. To remember Jackie, comfort other cancer patients, and create a meaningful hands-on service project for students, the entire Penn Middle School staff rolled up their sleeves to create the charity Landram’s Light with Meredith Hodge and her colleagues Steve Weir, Rick Steele, and Kelly Podkul leading the effort. “Jackie was a positive light for us in our own lives and struggles, and now we hope to share that light with others,” explained Hodge.

Drawing inspiration from a similar project started by fellow teacher Holly Hallman in the Hempfield Area School District, Landram’s Light began fundraising to provide cancer comfort care totes to patients at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at UPMC East, where Jackie was treated.

The Penn-Trafford administration supports Landram’s Light’s fundraising efforts. First-year fundraising events included teacher jeans’ days, student candy cane sales, and a joint student/faculty activity, “Pie in the Eye,” in which students raised money by throwing pies at teachers at a school assembly.

Landram’s Light’s first fundraising efforts resulted in 50 cancer care totes delivered to UPMC Hillman Cancer Center patients at UPMC East in Monroeville. The customized tote bags included messages of encouragement written by Penn Middle students and a blanket, water bottle, beanie, lip balm, hand sanitizer, puzzle books, and hand warmers. Penn Middle School staff members and students, including Landram’s son Dylan, a student at Penn Middle, assembled the totes for donation.

The patients who received the totes were surprised by the gift and very appreciative. One patient specifically remarked on how uplifting the students’ supportive messages were.

Landram’s Light is an ongoing effort. Organizers hope to increase the number of tote bags they can donate in subsequent years. 

“Jackie had a profound impact on the lives of everyone she met,” said Hodge. “We are all just trying to shine her light and carry on her legacy of living with GRIT.”