May 6, 2020 is National School Nurse Day, and MCSD’s nine school nurses have played a key role in the district’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, National School Nurse Day comes with the theme of “School Nurses: Supporting Students in Times of Crisis.” District Lead Nurse Stacey Tool-Crawford said her team has stepped up to the challenge brought on by the pandemic.
“The school nurse role has evolved since the coronavirus pandemic closed schools in March. Our school nurses have continued to make contact and provide support for our students with chronic health conditions. They also coordinate with other school support staff to make sure students and families are getting school lunches, school learning packets and other supplies as needed,” Tool-Crawford said. “The nurses provide daily screenings for our food service, maintenance and transportation staff who continue to work in the district. The nurses also made cloth masks for these employees.”
The district’s nurses continue to provide education to the staff and families regarding U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations during this pandemic; they will continue to make sure procedures are in place to keep Bobcat students and staff safe.
Whether they are ensuring safety during a global pandemic or helping students stay healthy and happy during a typical school day, MCSD’s nurses provide quality care and education to young Bobcats.
School nurses Christina Malcom of Miller Middle School and Megan Bell of Hoglan Elementary said there are many reasons they love what they do.
“I love being a school nurse because every day is different. Parents trust me to take care of the loves of their life for 8 hours a day and that’s not something I take lightly. I love my job, my students and the staff I work with. Thank you to the community for giving me this privilege and honor!”
– Christina Malcom, Miller Middle School nurse
“As a nurse working for the Marshalltown Community School District, I am lucky to be surrounded by an amazing group of nurses and health aids in each of our buildings. I love getting to know my students, and I miss the smiling faces that I would normally see in the halls each morning. I am lucky that I get to work with great teams in our buildings and within the district to help support our students and families”.
– Megan Bell, Hoglan Elementary School nurse
