Teacher Works Free Amid Cancer Battle

Stephanie Villaronga, a 29-year-old third-grade special education teacher in New York City, was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma in April 2025. She continued working through 16 rounds of chemotherapy, scheduling treatments around her job to maintain income. The city's payroll system, which spreads 10-month salaries over 12 months, meant that extended leave could reduce deferred summer earnings.

After undergoing a double mastectomy in December 2025, Villaronga took four months of medical leave for recovery and radiation treatment. Upon her return in April 2026, she was horrified to learn from her insurance company that she owed money for coverage costs and an "overpayment" during her leave. This resulted in nearly 80 percent of her pay being withheld.

Further notices revealed that because she had not worked the full 10-month school year, her summer pay was effectively eliminated. This left her without any teaching salary until October 2026, despite still undergoing treatment. Villaronga noted that this situation felt financially harsher than her maternity leave.

She has begun documenting her experience on social media and created a GoFundMe, aiming to raise awareness about the financial burdens of cancer treatment and advocate for better support systems for young adults diagnosed with the disease. Newsweek has reached out to the NYC Department of Education and the United Federation of Teachers for comment.