An 8th Grade C.O. Wilson Middle School teacher died Thursday night after a two-year battle with kidney cancer. Twenty seven year-old Jodi Green Esquivel is remembered as a fighter - after doctors found a tumor in her kidney in 2007. 12 News Reporter Liz McKernan has the story.

"There was a smile on her face everytime she walked in the door. Even being sick, she was always smiling" said Tina Oliver, assistant principal at C.O. Wilson Middle School.

Tina Oliver remembers Jodi as a fighter, battling cancer for the last two years, and remembers how much Jodi loved her 8th grade students.

"Thats the only time I ever heard her cry - was about what she would do because she didn't want to miss class" said Oliver.

"I've cried for about three days when I found out" said Jaci Oliver, who wrote two poems in Jodi's memory.

Teachers and students have come together to remember Jodi, wearing the color green to symbolize her fight against kidney cancer.

Jaci Oliver read part of her poem describing Jodi's fighting spirit.

"The fighter in you - the fighter in me, will never add up to the fighter that she be" said Jaci.

Poems that help students remember the laughing Nederland High School graduate - who was involved with the middle school's National Junior Honor Society. Jodi is survived by her three year-old daughter Hallie and husband Justin.

"Everybody's told me all day about how God has a plan and that its all part of the plan. She's up in heaven now" said Jaci.