Karen Adams

Sharpstown International School (SIS) Nurse Karen Adams has already been honored once this year for her work with HISD students. Now, HISD’s Secondary Nurse of the Year for 2014 is getting recognition at the state level: the Texas School Nurse Organization has named her its 2014 School Nurse of the Year.

“It’s very gratifying,” said Adams of receiving the award, “but I was shocked. What I do here is for my kids. I don’t do it for recognition; I do it because I want to and the kids need it. That’s the most important thing to me, that the kids get what they need.”

Adams was nominated for the award by SIS Dean Pam Hubbert.

“Nurse Adams represents her profession with compassion and integrity,” said Hubbert. “She truly cares for every child in our building. No one on campus receives as many birthday, quinceañera, or graduation announcements as Nurse Adams. Her bulletin board is filled with notes from current and former students. This is a testament to all the lives she has touched.”

“Nurse Adams handles emergency medical cases with efficiency, calmness, and professionalism,” added Principal Thuy Le-Thai. “Students and adults alike feel very much supported by her.”

“What I admire the most about her is the fact that she helps everyone,” noted Stephanie Cruz, an SIS alumna who served as her clinic assistant before graduating in 2013. “She helps students who don’t have medical insurance get treated without having to pay anything.”

Adams will be formally recognized at the TXSNO’s annual conference in mid-November.