Nurses in the News
2022 NYSASN Distinguished Service Award
from the Western New York Educational Service Council
Zone 13 representative, Barbara Baer, accepted this award at a recent dinner hosted by the Western New York Educational Service Council. Please see below for a transcript of the remarks made by her former superintendent during the presentation.
It is my honor and privilege to conclude our program by introducing this year’s recipient of the Dr. Robert W. Heller Distinguished Service Award. The WNYESC created this award- also known as the Friend of the Council Award- in honor of the exceptional qualities and legacy of Dr. Robert W. Heller who served as the WNYESC Executive Director from 1966-1998 while also serving as a professor emeritus in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy in the SUNY University at Buffalo’s Graduate School of Education. During his tenure, Dr. Heller had a widespread influence on educational leadership across New York State.
In recognition of the critical role played by school nurses… (read more…)
Along with BOD members, Gerri Plechner, President (4th from right), LouAnn Gleason, NASN Director (3rd from right), Annette Cobb, President-Elect (2nd from right) and Ponzella Johnson, Zone 3 rep (4th from left), NYSASN members gathered at the NASN’s 54th Annual School Nurse Conference held in Atlanta Georgia. Come join us next year in Orlando, Florida!”
Watch “School Health and Vaccines for Children PSA | Dr. Lawrence & Gail Adman” on YouTube
School Nurses Highlighted in the Media
Recently, no less than three NYSASN members have been highlighted by pieces appearing in printed or television media. We congratulate each of them for getting the word out on the role of school nurses. Each of these pieces can be viewed by following the links below.
- NBC’s Today Show ran a piece that paid tribute to Eileen Shimkus, a Zone 2 member, who works at Our Lady of the Hamptons School in Southampton.
- Parents Magazine published an article, in the December 2021 issue, written by Holly Giovi, Zone 2 member, who works at May Moore Primary School in Deer Park School District: I’m a Mom and a School Nurse
- Family Doctor: A Journal of the NYS Academy of Family Physicians published the article, Managing Student Health: Q & A with a School Nurse, in their Winter 2022 issue which was co-written by NYSASN Board Member and Communications Liaison Chairperson, Joan Verardo,
Chautauqua County Recognizes Second Week of COVID-19 Heroes
Mayville, NY: Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel and the COVID-19 Response Team recently announced the second week of COVID-19 Hero nominations for February 16-19. Nominations are recognized in a video posted weekdays on the Chautauqua County Government Facebook page, and each nominee receives a personal note from the County Executive’s Office.
Jill Kenney is the school nurse for Pine Valley Central Schools, where she has been keeping students and staff up to date on COVID-19 and other health related information as it evolves. She has always gone above and beyond for the students of PVCS.
To view COVID-19 Heroes videos, visit www.facebook.com/ChautauquaCountyGovernment.
To all the wonderful school nurses out there who continue to work during this COVID-19 pandemic, NYSASN wants to hear from you! Share your experiences with us by sending them to communications@nysasn.org and we will post them to our website. The more good news we hear the better to help lift our spirts during these difficult times.
Many thanks to the School Nurses who have responded to our request for sharing their stories during the COVID-19 pandemic. Check out their “Good News” submissions here.
School Nurses Serve on NYSED COVID Task Force
In June 2020, NYSASN SNO Chair Olga Jeanne Dolly, MSN, FNP-C, SNT, and NYSASN President, Lou Ann Gleason, MSN RN, were invited to serve on the NYSED COVID task force committee. The task force included experts and stakeholders from every part of NY State. The meetings offered the opportunity for school nurse professionals to provide input that was used to make informed decisions about the safe reopening of schools during the pandemic. The information gathered was then synthesized and analyzed to form the basis of the guidance document that was presented to the Board of Regents at the NYSED meeting in July. The completed document was the guide schools and school districts used as they planned for the safe reopening of their schools. During their time representing NYS school nurses as part of the task force, the NYSASN Board Members also advocated for the presence of a Registered Professional Nurse in every school building and for adequate PPE for school nurses to be available when school reopened. The inclusion of school nurses with other professional groups in planning for students and staff safe return to school exemplified the invaluable role of nurses in ensuring the health and safety of the school population
Do you know about other Nurses in the News?
We’d love to hear about them, and help to share the news of their accomplishments.
Let us know at info@nysasn.org.
