State School Superintendent Richard Woods congratulates 2017 Georgia School Nurse of the Year Fran Overdyke, a longtime county school nurse with GCPS. Mrs. Overdyke is the second GCPS nurse to win the award in the last three years. Joanne Giel was honored as the state’s top school nurse in 2015.
May 9 is National School Nurse Day, and our opportunity to say “thank you” for what our county school nurses do to support education by ensuring our students are safe, healthy, and ready to learn.
One of GCPS’ 13 county school nurses is assigned to each local school to provide consultation and training on health-related issues for all students. Our schools nurses frequently serve as part of Student Support Teams, Individualized Accommodations Plan teams, and Individualized Education Program teams. County School Nurses work closely with school clinic staff to support student health services. A nurse’s clinical assessment and support allows schools to meet the health needs of students with chronic and acute health conditions during the school day. School nurses train staff to understand emergency signs and symptoms, and when and how to get help, allowing maximum in-class time for students who require medical interventions.
They also provide the following health-related support for the district’s schools:
- assistance with the development of individualized health management plans for students with chronic health conditions, such as allergies, asthma, epilepsy, and diabetes;
- supervision and training of clinic workers and training of other school staff, including teachers, cafeteria staff, and bus drivers;
- oversight of school AED (automated external defibrillator) programs;
- support for immunization compliance; and
- prevention efforts and response to communicable diseases.
On National School Nurse Day, we celebrate the contributions that school nurses are making to the health and learning of our students.
Thank you!
#ThankASchoolNurse
When students stay healthy throughout the year, absence due to illness is significantly reduced. Healthy students are ready to learn, and regular attendance supports teaching and learning in Gwinnett's classrooms. On the GCPS website, find health and wellness resources that offer helpful tips and reminders about practicing good health and hygiene habits.