The beloved Latin program at San Jose's Lincoln High School, in jeopardy because its longtime teacher is leaving, has been saved.

Jane Gaylord, a 10-year Latin teacher from San Benito High School, was hired this week.

Principal Chris Funk said Thursday that Gaylord will teach Latin as well as English.

Lincoln High is the only school in the San Jose Unified School District that offers the ancient tongue, considered a dead language because it isn't spoken anymore. But it's the root of the romance languages, as well as the base for many medical and legal vocabulary words.

``I'm ecstatic beyond belief,'' said Rebecca Lopez, whose daughter, Xochitl, 15, takes Latin at Lincoln.

Lopez and a few other parents passionately lobbied the principal and others to find a teacher to replace veteran Latin teacher Janet Miller, who is taking a job at a private school next year. The program has long been a draw to this economically and socially diverse magnet school.

Not only has Latin helped Xochitl with her English, French and Spanish classes, but the teen also attributes her A-plus in biology and better understanding of history and government to Latin, as course work includes studying ancient Rome.

Inquiries about filling the position flooded Lincoln High School after a June 6 story in the Mercury News about the threat to the program, according to school staff. Gaylord was not available for comment Thursday.

Miller said Gaylord is an ``excellent replacement.''

``I feel such a sense of relief knowing that the program is still going forward,'' Miller said.