The Cherokee County School District celebrated school nurses today with the presentation of the annual CCSD School Nurse of the Year Awards!
The awards program, now in its second year, was developed with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, a CCSD Partner. As part of National School Nurse Appreciation Day and National Nurses Week in May, a top school nurse from each CCSD Innovation Zone (a high school and its feeder schools) was announced. The Zone winners advanced to the CCSD School Nurse of the Year Award judging, with the winner selected by a panel of nursing professionals and retired educators.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower today presented the 2022 CCSD School Nurse of the Year award to Etowah High School Nurse Cathy Alexander! The presentation was made before her colleagues from across the school district at the annual professional development event for school nurses held at Cherokee High School. Ms. Alexander received prizes including an iPad, $100 gift card, engraved plaque and honor banner, sponsored by Children’s Healthcare, in honor of her recognition.
“The past two years have reminded us all of the important role nurses play in our lives, and we cannot thank our school nurses enough for their service to our students and staff,” Dr. Hightower said. “Our nurses do bandage cuts and scrapes, but their role is so much more: they dispense critical medication, support medically fragile students, respond to emergencies and provide healthcare guidance. Our schools are safer, healthier and happier thanks to their expertise and care.”
The School Nurse of the Year Innovation Zone winners, who each received a $100 gift card and an honor banner as part of the awards celebration, are: for the Cherokee Zone, Ana Maria Scoretz of Cherokee HS; Creekview Zone, Kim Bishop of Ball Ground ES STEM Academy; River Ridge Zone, Betty Miller of Arnold Mill ES; Sequoyah Zone, Jenny Juneghani of Hickory Flat ES; Woodstock Zone, Kimberly Horton of Woodstock HS. Janet Read, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta community development officer, spoke at the event, and treated all of CCSD’s school nurses to breakfast.
Ms. Alexander is beginning her 20th year as a school nurse and her eighth year at Etowah High School, where she serves more than 2,400 students and more than 100 teachers and staff. Prior to joining CCSD, Ms. Alexander worked for the Cherokee County Health Department and a regional hospital in the material/child unit and labor and delivery. She earned her associate degree in nursing from Georgia Southwestern College. Ms. Alexander also recently was honored as Etowah High’s 2021-22 Support Staff Employee of the Year.
“One of my favorite opportunities has been getting to know the students and watching them grow so much during their high school years,” Ms. Alexander said. “Many lasting relationships have been built over the years. I love when students return to catch me up on their post high school days. They often share that they appreciated the time that they spent in the clinic, sometimes just needing a break. Between the illnesses, daily injuries, medications and chronic health conditions of our students, I have been able to get to know many of their parents as well. I am also very blessed to work with some of the best teachers and staff anywhere. Their support means so much to me.”
Principal Robert Horn said Ms. Alexander has earned this trust and support through her dedication to serving everyone with kindness and respect.
“Cathy makes herself a part of our team as she has established relationships with most of our staff members. She interacts with people in our school in a positive and fun-loving manner,” Principal Horn said, noting that she also brings compassion and calm professionalism to her role. “I am very proud that she is our nurse, and I hope she decides to stay here for a very long time.”
As one parent shared: “She takes exceptional care for those with illnesses and disabilities and always does her job with full heart and soul. Her calm and caring nature are her strong suits. She is a beacon of light in our community.”
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