Jan Borja retired last year from New Trier High School, where she’d worked for 40 years.

On Feb. 3, she died after a struggle with breast cancer.

Borja began as a New Trier German and Spanish teacher in 1970. After taking on other leadership roles throughout her career, Borja was named principal of the freshman-only Northfield campus when it was opened in 2001. She assembled a leadership team and crafted a philosophy that still guides the school, administrators said.

“She had a positive influence on thousands upon thousands of students, staff, and parents through her roles as a caring and outstanding teacher, adviser, and leader,” said Paul Waechtler, the man who succeeded Borja as Northfield campus principal last year.

After she retired, colleagues called Borja a leader and a mentor for a new generation of principals and administrators, as well as a student advocate who pushed for a new way of thinking at the academically competitive district — focusing on social and emotional elements, not just test scores.

To Borja’s daughter, Kristin Endre, she was “just mom.”

“When she was home she was just attuned to her family and having fun and making sure we had a great upbringing,” said Endre, 32.

Borja is survived by her husband, Jesus, her daughter, Kristin Endre, and her son James, 29. She is also survived by her mother Edith Harris Johnson, brother Richard Harris, sister Jean Bukowski and grandson Charles Endre.

Visitation will be Tuesday from 3-9 p.m. at the Donnellan Family Funeral Home, 10045 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Cornog Auditorium at New Trier High School’s Northfield campus, 7 Happ Rd. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to the Kellogg Cancer Center, c/o NorthShore University HealthSystem Foundation, 1033 University Pl., Suite 450, Evanston, IL 60201 or northshore.org/kellogg-cancer-center.