National School Nurse Day was established in 1972 to foster a better understanding of the role of school nurses in the educational setting. This year, it is celebrated on Wednesday May 8, within National Nurses Week, which spans May 6-12.
National School Nurse Day was established in 1972 to foster a better understanding of the role of school nurses in the educational setting. This year, it is celebrated on Wednesday, May 8, within National Nurses Week, which spans May 6-12.
Flagler Schools is proud of its nurses and other health care professionals who aid our students throughout the district. Currently, the district employs 13 nurses and 10 School Health Assistants (SHAs), who are supported by Stephanie Ear, school health coordinator for the Flagler County Health Department. She works in tandem with the district’s Students Services Director, Marquez Jackson.
Ear notes that her biggest challenge is keeping the health teams on top of the changes that occur with state regulations and forms that are required of all Florida school districts. She also has noticed an uptick in the number of students utilizing the clinics.
The nurses and SHAs work throughout the school year at each of Flagler Schools’ nine campuses.
“They are there throughout the school year and throughout the day,” she says, adding that a nurse is in place during the Elementary School summer session.
All of the nurses are licensed and the SHAs go through medication training and annual training, including CPR certification.
Of course, the health team also interacts closely with the district’s social workers if there are instances when students need additional support.
With the 2023-24 school year coming to a close, Ear encourages parents and guardians to make sure students stay active and to utilize the summer break to get all the required immunizations so there is no issue before returning to school in August. The Flagler County Health Department provides free immunizations to all children up to age 18 by appointment only.
Families can find out which immunizations are required on the district website, https://www.flaglerschools.com, where they can click on the Students and Families tab and scroll down to Health Services.
Additionally, Ear encourages parents and guardians to utilize the Heiken Children’s Vision Program. Florida students in pre-K through 12th grade are eligible. For more information about this no-cost service, visit floridaheiken.org. Florida Heiken only accepts applications through its portal.
As we take time to honor our health care teams this May, Ear says she’d like to give a “shout-out to all of them for what they do every day.”
Flagler Schools Student Services Director Marquez Jackson acknowledges the amazing work of the school nurses and the SHAs, as well as the support of the Flagler County Health Department, and Ear in particular.
“We don’t give enough credit to our Department of Health and what Stephanie does as a liaison,” he says. “She is very committed."
Jackson says that despite the nationwide shortage of healthcare professionals, “We are fortunate to not only have a nurse but an SHA allocated at each school,” he says. “This will continue into the 2024-25 school year.”
