Zone 2 | Paula Saltzman
Suffolk County

Schedule of Upcoming Meetings:

Tuesday, March 14th, 2023:
Topic: Emergency Medicine

Thursday, May 11, 2023
Nurse’s Day Dinner & Celebration

February 2023: An Invitation for Nassau and Suffolk County School Nurses and T1D Students and Families from JDRF

The TypeOneNation Summit will be held on March 25, 2023, at Farmingdale State College and is a free educational and networking opportunity for all impacted by type 1 diabetes (T1D). This event will bring our community together to learn from T1D experts, hear about the latest breakthroughs in T1D research, meet vendor exhibitors, connect with others impacted by T1D, and more. This event is designed for all ages and stages of life with T1D, whether you are a caregiver or student living with T1D, it is a great opportunity to learn and connect with our community.

The flyer below has information about the event, and we ask that you please share this with the school nurses in Suffolk County. All are welcome to attend.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. Thanks in advance for all that you and your fellow nurses do to support those affected by T1D.

Best,

Michelle Nardelli
Development Manager, Signature Events
Greater NYC Chapter
e: mnardelli@jdrf.org
MS Teams: (332) 217-0492
200 Vesey Street, 28th Floor
New York, NY 10281
jdrf.org/greaternyc

 Download flyer.

Fall 2022

Welcome back to the 22/23 school year! With Immunizations almost completed, we are soon beginning our vision and hearing screenings and that ongoing pursuit of school physicals. Good Luck! Our first SCASN meeting was held on October 11 and our topic of discussion was Valtoco (Diazepam nasal spray). The speaker went over seizures and the effectiveness of Valtoco, using the new delivery system. The Neurelis representative was there as well. Zone 2 has 76 current members, 36 new members joined on October 11. This was a great turnout for our first meeting. Our next Suffolk County meeting will be held on January 10, 2023, and the topic will be “Orthopedic Injuries in Children.”

I continue to invite all school nurses to join NYSASN with phone calls and with e-mails. I will be reaching out to all Zone 2 members whose NYSASN membership is coming due. It is so important for all school nurses to be a member of our professional organization and to get involved in any way that you are comfortable. I look forward to our April conference in Syracuse.

Stay Strong.

Paula Saltzman, BSN, RN
Zone 2 Representative
zone2@nysasn.org.

Zone 3 | Ponzella Johnson
Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond Counties

March 2022 – Gail Adman, NYC Director of School Nursing, records YouTube video on Covid vaccines

Ponzella Johnson, BSN, RN
Zone 3 Co-Representatives
zone3@nysasn.org

Zone 4 | Cynthia Scinto
Putnam and Westchester Counties

August 2021
Since last report Zone 4 has held two meetings.  On April 8th, a meeting was held by Zoom to discuss any issues that were on anyone’s mind as we all navigated the challenges of increased numbers of students returning to fulltime in-person instruction, updates to travel advisories, planning of end of year celebrations and proms. March and April saw frequent changes to guidelines on distancing, in person instruction, indoor gatherings, return from travel and members were interested to hear how others in our Zone were planning and coping.

Our second Zoom meeting of the quarter was held on May 12th, School Nurse Day. Because at the time we needed to be planning for a School Nurse Day celebration, indoor gatherings were still considered a somewhat risky venture, we decided to make our EISN award presentation during a Zoom meeting. Maria Reino, of West Patent elementary school in Bedford Hills was recognized for her many contributions to her school and community. Chris Burdick, member of the 93rd district of the New York State assembly, and his assistant, Heather Lackey, joined our Zoom celebration to say a few words and present a proclamation in honor of Ms. Reino. Also shared during our meeting were the proclamations issued from Westchester County Executive, George Latimer, and Putnam County Executive Mary Ellen Odell.

Cynthia Scinto, BSN, RN, NCSN
Zone 4 Representative
zone4@nysasn.org

Zone 5 | Constance Griffin
Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, Sullivan and Ulster Counties

Fall 2022

Zone 5 hosted an event on October 19, 2022 in Goshen, NY which was sponsored by Neurelis. The topic was on “Seizures and the Use of Nasal Diazepam.” The same topic and event will be held again in November for those that could not make the event in October. Two members are assisting in planning a mini-conference day for Zone 5 members in the winter or spring of 2023. Topics being considered are orthopedic injuries and issues and/or transgender and  ndocrinology. Zone 5 continues to look for persons to take on various leadership roles within the organization. Please let us know if you can help by contacting the Zone 5 Representative below.

Constance Griffin, BS, RN, AE-C, NCSN
Zone 5 Representative
zone5@nysasn.org

Zone 6 |
Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington Counties

Interested in being the Zone 6 Representative? Encourage networking among School Nurse colleagues in your area while developing leadership skills with the support of our NYSASN Board. For more information, please contact Annette Cobb at presidentelect@nysasn.org.

Zone 7 | Jeannine Kaskoun
Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Rensselear, and Schoharie Counties

Jeannine Kaskoun
Zone 7 Representative
zone7@nysasn.org

Zone 8 |
Clinton, Essex and Franklin Counties

Interested in being the Zone 8 Representative? Encourage networking among School Nurse colleagues in your area while developing leadership skills with the support of our NYSASN Board. For more information, please contact Annette Cobb at presidentelect@nysasn.org.

Zone 9 | Lou Ann Gleason
Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties

School Nurses’ Day Celebration—Zone 9

NYSASN Zone 9 Nurses celebrated School Nurses’ Day on May 11, 2022 at the Jefferson Lewis BOCES Center in Watertown, New York with a covered dish dinner. We started the evening with a visit from Olivia Patterson from NYS Assemblyman Mark Walczyk’s office. She delivered Assemblyman Walczyk’s Citation Honoring the School Nurses of the New York State Association of School Nurses.

Senator Patty Ritchie sent a Proclamation Honoring Local School Nurses upon the occasion of National School Nurse Day that I delivered and read to the nurses that were present.

Our speaker for the evening was Officer Shane Ryan from the Watertown City Police Department and the Drug Task Force. His presentation was on the Substance Abuse Trends in our area, precautions, and some common signals that may indicate drug use followed by an opportunity to ask questions.

We had a time of sharing over dessert. Jeanne Dolly, SNO Chair, shared information about the upcoming program that will be held at Welch Allyn in August. We also had a discussion about the benefits of membership in your professional organization. It was great to get together for a celebration and some networking. The event was also available by Webex for nurses that could not attend in person.

Lou Ann Gleason
Zone 9 Representative
zone9@nysasn.org

Zone 9 | Suzanne Smith
Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties

School Nurses’ Day Celebration—Zone 9

NYSASN Zone 9 Nurses celebrated School Nurses’ Day on May 11, 2022 at the Jefferson Lewis BOCES Center in Watertown, New York with a covered dish dinner. We started the evening with a visit from Olivia Patterson from NYS Assemblyman Mark Walczyk’s office. She delivered Assemblyman Walczyk’s Citation Honoring the School Nurses of the New York State Association of School Nurses.

Senator Patty Ritchie sent a Proclamation Honoring Local School Nurses upon the occasion of National School Nurse Day that I delivered and read to the nurses that were present.

Our speaker for the evening was Officer Shane Ryan from the Watertown City Police Department and the Drug Task Force. His presentation was on the Substance Abuse Trends in our area, precautions, and some common signals that may indicate drug use followed by an opportunity to ask questions.

We had a time of sharing over dessert. Jeanne Dolly, SNO Chair, shared information about the upcoming program that will be held at Welch Allyn in August. We also had a discussion about the benefits of membership in your professional organization. It was great to get together for a celebration and some networking. The event was also available by Webex for nurses that could not attend in person.

Suzanne Smith
Zone 9 Representative
zone9@nysasn.org

Zone 10 | Janel Kondakoff
Cayuga, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, and Oswego Counties

January 2023

Zone 10 School Nurses are invited to attend a dinner presentation discussing the anti-seizure medication VALTOCO on February 8th, 2023.  Please click here for further details and registration information.

Fall 2022

Welcome back to a new school year. Our first meeting will be November 9th at the McMahon Ryan Advocacy Center, 601 E Genesee St. Syracuse, from 5-7:30 PM. If you’d like to join us, email Zone10@nysasn.org or text me (315) 350-4850. Looking ahead, January 2023 we will hold another meeting. This will be with a representative from Valtoco the seizure rescue medication delivered via nasally. We will provide CE’s for those attending.  Email or text, as indicated above, if you would like more information. Please, consider joining our professional school nurse organization, NYSASN. Whether youare a veteran school nurse, or new to school nursing, being a member of NYSASN adds value to our profession. Remember we are stronger together! If you have content you’d like to share or an idea for a school nurses meeting, I encourage you to reach out to me.

Janel Kondakoff
Zone 10 Representative (Interim)
zone10@nysasn.org
(315)350-4850 txt

Zone 11 | Annette Cobb
Broome, Cortland, Chemung, Chenango, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, and Tompkins Counties

Fall 2022

An upcoming meeting is scheduled on Nov 16th at the Hilltop Inn, Elmira. A speaker from biotech company, Neurelis, will discuss the anti- seizure medication Valtoco. Please contact Annette for more information.

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New members are always welcome! Please join us for our next meeting where you can learn new information and meet other School Nurse Colleagues. We look forward to seeing you!

Annette Cobb, RN
Zone 11 Representative
zone11@nysasn.org

Zone 12 | Jennie DeLang
Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates Counties

August 2021
In the beginning of April, Anne Pawlowski moved from Zone Representative to interim Membership Chair and I began the role of Zone Representative. Unfortunately, we had no nominees for our EISN winner. On May 16th at 6pm we had Neurologist David Burdette explain the use and efficacy of a new intra nasal medication, Nayzilam. We have not yet set a date for our next meeting, but I would like this to be a meet greet. My hope is to schedule an in person meeting sometime in September. Our current membership stands at 41.

Jenny DeLang
Zone 12 Representative
zone12@nysasn.org

Zone 13 | Barbara Baer
Erie and Niagara Counties

March 2023

It’s March and we are all anxiously awaiting the end of the snow season here in WNY!  We continue to meet virtually, which seems to have encouraged more people to attend since they don’t have to leave the comfort of their homes.  Our speaker for March was Dr Jennifer McVige from Dent Neurologic Institute speaking to us about pediatric migraines, new treatments and exciting new trials for our kids who suffer from migraines.  On tap for April we have Steven Cohen, Attorney, who will speak about legal issues for school nurses.  We also have a tentative presentation from the makers of Gvoke at the end of April.  Our May meeting will be a social gathering, venue to be determined.  We also will be awarding a $1,000 scholarship to a local senior who plans to pursue a four-year nursing degree.  Applications will be distributed to local high schools before April 1.  Congratulations to this year’s recipient of the Excellence in School Nursing Award, Julie Murray.  Julie has served in several leadership roles with the WNYASN, is active in the community, and is the heart and soul of her alternative high school.  It’s a well-deserved honor for one of our own.

Barbara Baer, BSN, RN
Zone 13 Representative
zone13@nysasn.org

Zone 14 | Jill Kenney
Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chataqua Counties

November 2021
This past May I received a letter dated May 13, 2021 from Cattaraugus County Legislature. It stated proclamation for School Nurse Day, which was read at the May 12, 2021, session of the Cattaraugus County Legislature for Zone 14. I had also received a proclamation from the Office of the County Executive Chautauqua County earlier in May, also for Zone 14.

A “Welcome back” letter was sent out to School Nurses along with an updated mailing list for school nurses new to Zone 14’s area. I attended the School Nurses Forum on September 8th with Erie 2 BOCES and learned about what’s new with NYS Center for School Health presented by Melissa Trau, Director of NYS Center for School Health. Shelly Wells and Cathy Burgess of the Chautauqua County Dept. of Health and Human Services Erie County Resources gave a presentation on “School Reopening amidst COVID-19”.

We have tried to meet in person during September and October 2021, but with all the added responsibilities of School Nurses and COVID-19, it’s been hard to set a date. We are planning on meeting October 28, 2021, at Southern Tier Brewery in Lakewood , New York.

Jill A. Kenney, RN
Zone 14 Representative
zone14@nysasn.org