Clarke Central High School physical education department teacher and varsity tennis assistant coach Evan Adams poses in the CCHS Crawford Gym on Oct. 3. Adams was diagnosed with breast cancer in June of 2024, which was followed by various treatments and an ongoing clinical trial. “I’ve remained pretty positive throughout this whole process because I know once I get negative, it would make it so much harder. And why not make it easier, right?” Adams said. “I’ve had my moments, of course, and those moments were picked up by my boyfriend and my best friend and my mom. ” Photo by Maypop Wren
Evan Adams, CCHS physical education department teacher and varsity tennis assistant coach, maintains an openness in the classroom and on the court.
Clarke Central High School physical education department teacher Evan Adams stands in front of her Physical and Health Education class of 30 freshmen. She’s an open book.
It’s the middle of the semester and students are in their mental health unit. But, it’s not just a slideshow or notesheet Adams is reading off from. It’s her own experiences with post-traumatic stress and anxiety following a car accident a few years prior.
Adams is an open book.
Students are learning about nutrition and exercise. Adams talks about her own body and experiences with physical activity without shame or guilt, encouraging her students to embrace the same positivity.
Adams is an open book.
However, not all of her experiences are ones she can use to prompt positivity.
In June of 2024, Adams was diagnosed with cancer. Throughout her diagnosis and treatments, including an ongoing clinical trial, Adams has remained an open book, yet only her pages have turned.
She has continued working, taking off as little time as she could. And through it all, she has remained open with her students and varsity tennis players.
“I believe that if you can talk about it, then that’s all you need, that’s how you heal.”
— Evan Adams,
CCHS physical education department teacher and varsity tennis assistant coach
Adams arrives at her team’s tennis match right after a doctor’s appointment. Her players, many of whom she’s coached for several years, gather around her, asking for an update. She meets their concern with honesty, not silence.
She is an open book.
Adams sits at her desk the day after being absent. She looks up and there’s a crowd of students around her, asking if she’s okay.
“Last year, (my) students saw me when I lost all my hair when I was in the middle of chemo. So, they got to see it all, and I was super open and honest with them,” Adams said. “I believe that if you can talk about it, then that’s all you need, that’s how you heal.”
Adams is an open book.
