Nurse Paul Rademacher was running a little late.

Just before he was set to arrive at a meeting with Bruce Elementary Principal Dr. Shawn Nickerson, a third-grader had an asthma attack and needed immediate attention.

“That’s the epitome of Nurse Paul right there,” Nickerson said. “Always putting the students first.”

A few moments later, Rademacher walked into the meeting, surprised to also find HR —and a group of cheering colleagues— waiting with the principal. To his surprise, he was named the January Elementary School Nurse of the Month.

“All of the other nurses out there deserve this too,” Rademacher said. “I just happen to have a great staff that I work with that nominated me. I appreciate them.”

It was the launch of a new Nurse of the Month program, with a winner recognized in two categories, Elementary Schools and Secondary Schools.

As school districts across the country navigate how to safely continue in-person instruction, school nurses are a vital part of making sure that health and safety is top of mind for teachers, administrators, and students.

“Nurse Rademacher continues to sparkle through the pandemic, keeping the safety of kids and teachers at the forefront,” Nickerson said. “His knowledge of CDC guidelines and his ability to effectively articulate this to staff and families has definitely been the key to keeping [our school] safe through the pandemic.”

The Secondary School Nurse of the Month for January is Majorie Robinson-Vaval, of Worthing High School. Her work throughout the pandemic was highlighted as she coordinates staff meetings and regular emails to update everyone at Worthing on the latest health and safety protocols.

Her work extends beyond just the Worthing campus, as she regularly provides assistance or expertise to other Worthing feeder campuses. And, as many Worthing teachers are quick to point out, she does it all with a smile on her face and a caring attitude.

“Even though she gets swamped, she always has a smile on her face,” Worthing Special Education Teacher Jennifer Watson said. “She treats us like we are her babies. I love her heart and compassion.”

It’s all just a part of the job, Robinson-Vaval insists.

“I want to thank you for seeing me, and seeing the work that I do,” she said. “I love what I do, and I don’t ever want to stop doing what I do here.”

If you are interested in nominating someone for Nurse of the Month, you can learn more on the process here.