2025 School Nurse of the Year Awarded to Mindy Schwarz!

School Nurse of the Year Criteria

1. Nomination may be made by fellow school nurses, school staff, administrators, supervisors, teachers, parents, students, community members or others. Please feel free to share this application throughout your district.
2. The nomination form can be found online at https://bit.ly/SNOY2025. Supporting documentation requirements are listed below and should be uploaded in the application at the time of nomination.
3. Include in the nomination application process
   1. Nomination form.
   2. Current resume/curriculum vitae including education, awards, committees, membership in professional organizations, certifications, etc..
   3. Supportive letters of recommendation. Maximum of three (3) letters each limited to one (1) page.
      1. Letters may be from school nurses, principals, supervisors, teachers, parents, students or community members.
      2. Letters should describe specific issues or topics related to the nominee's qualifications for the award. See selection criteria and Standards of Professional Performance for School Nurse as a reference.
      3. Letters should directly reflect on areas of rating that writers wishes to emphasize. Please spell out local and affiliate acronyms when used for the first time.
   4. Supporting documents should assist selection committee in determining how nominee demonstrates excellence in the above school nursing standards of practice. This can best be done by addressing:
      1. how nominee collaborates with students, parents, staff and outside entities to improve student health
      2. continuing education and professional development activities for self and others
      3. leadership roles within district, community or state
      4. professional mentoring to other staff and school nurse colleagues
      5. data collection and use of data in decision making
      6. publications, presentations or project development
      7. how nominee promotes role of school nurse to others
4. The total upload file is not to exceed 10 pages (10 one-sided)
5. Submission deadline has been extended to March 28, 2025.

School Nurse Administrator of the Year Criteria

1. Nomination may be made by fellow school nurses, school staff, administrators, supervisors, teachers, parents, students, community members or others. Please feel free to share this application throughout your district.
2. The nomination form can be found online at https://bit.ly/SNAY2025. Supporting documentation requirements are listed below and should be uploaded in the application at the time of nomination.
3. Include in the nomination application process
   1. Nomination form.
   2. Current resume/curriculum vitae including education, awards, committees, membership in professional organizations, certifications, etc..
   3. Supportive letters of recommendation. Maximum of three (3) letters each limited to one (1) page.
      1. Letters may be from school nurses, principals, supervisors, teachers, parents, students or community members.
      2. Letters should describe specific issues or topics related to the nominee's qualifications for the award. See selection criteria and Standards of Professional Performance for School Nurse as a reference.
      3. Letters should directly reflect on areas of rating that writers wishes to emphasize. Please spell out local and affiliate acronyms when used for the first time.
   4. Supporting documents should assist selection committee in determining how nominee demonstrates excellence in the above school nursing standards of practice. This can best be done by addressing:
      1. uses data to identify problems, issues or trends and uses that data in decision making for district school health services
      2. has addressed issues of health with students, parents, staff and outside entities
      3. assures the presence of school health services in organization decision making 
      4. defines vision and mission for district health services
      5. supports school nurses and other school health services staff
      6. articulates to school administration and staff the value of research and its application to the practice of school nursing and school health services
      7. assures policies, procedures and guidelines are evidence -based and designed to improve the quality of school health services
      8. demonstrates respect, equity, and empathy in actions and interactions with students, their families school staff, other healthcare professionals, internal and external stakeholders, and community partners
4. The total upload file is not to exceed 10 pages (10 one-sided)
5. Submission deadline has been extended to March 28, 2025.

Previous Award Recipients

2024

2023

2019

Pictured: WASN President Joan Simpson (L) Gretchen Forbes (R)	Pictured: WASN President Joan Simpson (L) Lisa Jensen (R)	Pictured: Jack O’Meara (L) Rosemary Dolatowski(R)
Katheryn Etter School Nurse of the Year Gretchen Forbes Madison Metropolitan School District	School Nurse Administrator of the Year  Lisa Jensen Fort Health, Palmyra/Eagle School District	2019 School Nurse Advocate of the Year Rosemary Dolatowski

2018

Pictured: Marie Magnan (L) WASN President Val Hon (R)	Pictured: WASN President Val Hon (L) Sally Zirbel-Donisch(R)	Pictured: Rep Eric Genrich (L) Jack O’Meara (R)
Katheryn Etter School Nurse of the Year Marie Magnan Prescott School District	School Nurse Administrator of the Year  Sally Zirbel-Donisch Madison Metropolitan School District	School Nurse Advocate of the Year Representative Eric Genrich

2017

Pictured: Lisa Heinzen (L) Rebecca Wendel (R)	Pictured: Rebecca Wendel (L) Susan Stroupe (R)	School Nurse Advocate of the Year Award not presented in 2017
Katheryn Etter School Nurse of the Year Lisa Heinzen Albany School District	School Nurse Administrator of the Year  Susan Stroupe Racine Unified School District	School Nurse Advocate of the Year

2016

Pictured: Anita Schubring	School Nurse Administrator   of the Year Award not presented in 2016	Pictured: Douglas White (L) WASN President Val Hon (R)
Katheryn Etter School Nurse of the Year Anita Schubring	School Nurse Administrator of the Year	School Nurse Advocate of the Year

2015

Pictured: Mary Kay Logemann	Pictured: Joan Simpson	School Nurse Advocate of the Year Award not presented in 2015
Katheryn Etter School Nurse of the Year Mary Kay Logemann	School Nurse Administrator of the Year  Joan Simpson	School Nurse Advocate of the Year

2014

Pictured: Kerri Schmidt (L) Louise Wilson (C) Melinda Vose (R)	Pictured: Senator Luther Olson
Katheryn Etter School Nurse of the Year Kerri Schmidt AND School Nurse Administrator of the Year Melinda Vose	School Nurse Advocate of the Year Award Senator Luther Olson

2013

Pictured: Louise Wilson (L) Sharon Kaltenberg(R)	Pictured: Louise Wilson (L) Isa Chase (R)	School Nurse Advocate of the Year Award not presented in 2013
Katheryn Etter School Nurse of the Year Sharon Kaltenberg	School Nurse Administrator of the Year  Isa Chase	School Nurse Advocate of the Year

M. Kathleen Murphy Press Release

Twyla Lato Press Release

Bette Carr Press Release

On May 15, 2008 The Milwaukee District Nurses Association presented M. Kathleen Murphy RN MSN, FNP-BC with the MDNA Leadership Award. She received the award at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 2008 Nurse of the Year Awards. Kathleen Murphy is the Health Services Coordinator for the Milwaukee Public School District.

Rose Dolatowski, 2006 School Nurse of the Year