The title of  Education Support Person of the Year for 202o was awarded to the school nurse, Mrs. Peggy Serek.

Q: How long have you been a nurse at GW?

A: This is my fifth year at GW. I was a part-time nurse for one year and the full-time nurse since then.  

Q: How did you decide you wanted to be a nurse at school and why?

A: I decided to become a school nurse because I love working with children. I spent a few years substituting as a nurse in the Wayne schools and found that I really loved the atmosphere of working in a school. The sense of community among the teachers, administration, and support staff was a big draw for me.  

Q: What is your favorite thing about being a nurse? Tell us about your experience working as a school nurse.

A: My favorite thing about being a nurse is helping and educating others. As a school nurse, I work with students who have chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, food allergies, and seizure disorders.  Some of these students I only see when they need assistance and others I see multiple times a day. When we are in school full time I see about 30-50 students a day in the health office. Students visit the health office for multiple reasons: first aid, illness, injuries, and medications. Nurse Boyd and I perform health screenings every year on all students. This includes taking their height, weight, blood pressure, and vision or hearing screenings. 

Q: What is the most rewarding part of being at school?

A: The most rewarding part of being in a school is being part of a community. The staff at GW is amazing and I am happy to be working here. At GW we work together as a team to create a healthy and safe environment that is optimal for learning.

Q: What are your strengths and weaknesses as a school nurse?

A: I believe my strengths as a school nurse include the ability to stay calm and to react quickly and confidently in emergency situations. I am a good listener and have a good rapport with the students. 

Q: What has been your biggest challenge?  How has the Pandemic affected your ability to work as a school nurse?  How do you keep positive during this pandemic?

A: My biggest challenge as a school nurse has been the Covid pandemic. Our goal is to have a safe environment for all students and staff.  We now have an isolation room if a student is sick with multiple symptoms. Nurse Boyd and I contact parents of any students who are home ill to determine if they have covid like symptoms. We also work with parents to determine if a student needs to quarantine due to travel or being exposed to the virus. If we have a student who tests positive, there is a procedure in place for us to follow. I keep positive during the pandemic by spending time with my family, reading, and exercising. It has certainly been a hard time for all of us, children and adults.