Meet the finalists

Kirstie is the heartbeat of Barrie School, serving as the sole nurse for students from infant through 12th grade plus summer campers while chairing the Campus Safety Team and supporting off-campus and international programs. She led the school through COVID with calm, research-based decision-making and continues to equip the community with ongoing training. Compassionate, humble, and unflappable, Kirstie mentors future nurses and treats every student, from minor scrape to major medical issue, with full attention and warmth.

Sasha is the sole architect of a comprehensive health system serving middle and high school students, international boarders, and special education populations, navigating cultural health beliefs, insurance complexity, and IEPs with a one-on-one mentality. She is the primary responder for athletic and psychiatric emergencies, a soccer coach, and proactively addresses community health trends through targeted wellness initiatives. Always smiling, supportive, and deeply knowledgeable, Sasha treats the body, mind, and soul and is the heartbeat of her school's safety net.

Wendy serves as her school's Magnus expert and a tireless advocate for healthcare leadership across her JK-12 community, partnering with offices from diversity to admissions while empowering students to advocate for their own health. She develops health protocols, shares her expertise with the National Association of School Nurses and the North Carolina Association of Independent Schools, and is pursuing her MSN in school nursing. Colleagues describe her as one of the kindest nurses they have worked with, a team player who treats every student like her own and is shaping the next generation of responsible healthcare consumers.

Carla, Canterbury School of Florida's first school nurse, built a comprehensive health program from scratch across two campuses, learning Magnus from the ground up and shaping workflows that strengthened student health management in her first year. She creates a warm, welcoming office where students feel safe and loved, knows every child by name and medical need, and leads professional development for faculty on health and safety. Trusted by students for comfort as much as care, Carla's leadership, innovation, and dedication have made an enormous impact on the Canterbury community.

Anna has navigated an exceptionally demanding year, including 911 activations, facility disruptions, and high injury volume, with calm, steady professionalism that reassures everyone around her. She supports students with ongoing health needs daily while responding to urgent incidents with quick thinking and sound judgment, and her innovative protocols have streamlined care and made the environment safer. Compassionate, prompt, and thorough, Anna is a calm and capable professional who puts the wellbeing of the entire school community first.

Mary is an anchor of her school community, bringing a calm, steady presence that reassures both students and staff during times of crisis. As a leader in student health, she balances physical and emotional needs through a whole-child approach and partners seamlessly with the school counselor to ensure students feel safe and supported. Her dedication, warmth, and unwavering commitment to student wellbeing make her a trusted voice of reason in every situation.

Elena creates a safe, calm atmosphere where children from nursery through high school feel heard while receiving compassionate care when it matters most. She treats the whole child, approaching her role as a calling rather than a job, and shows tireless commitment, often well beyond her normal hours, to students' social, emotional, and physical wellbeing. Her dedication fosters a school environment where every student feels seen, protected, and cared for.

Liz has taken on her role at Tree of Life Schools without seeking recognition, serving as an exceptional advocate for both students and the other nurses on her team. Her quiet leadership strengthens the broader nursing staff and elevates the standard of care across the school. Liz brings dedication and excellence to her work every day.

Keri shows up each day with a strong work ethic and genuine commitment to her students, even while facing health challenges of her own. She builds meaningful, individual relationships with every student, offering both medical care and emotional support in a safe, trusting environment. Keri embodies the spirit of nursing through her compassion, resilience, and dedication.

Keli exemplifies great leadership, supporting over 800 students across two campuses with exceptional dedication and care. She rewrote her school's entire health policy and continues to refine SOPs to ensure the highest quality of care for students. Compassionate with parents and tireless for students, Keli consistently goes above and beyond to strengthen her school community.